Language and Literacy
Language and Literacy is an Area of Learning in the curriculum. It focuses on developing children’s language and literacy skills. These enable children to interact effectively in the world around them, express themselves creatively and communicate confidently.
Teachers should enable children to develop knowledge, understanding and skills in:
- Talking and Listening
- Reading
- Writing.
These modes of communication extend across all Areas of Learning. Children should have opportunities to develop their language and literacy skills through all learning experiences.
Children come to school with their own experiences of using language in the home and local community. Teachers should use these experiences as a starting point for further development.
For further details, see the Statutory Requirements for Language and Literacy at Foundation Stage.
It is not statutory for schools to teach a language other than English or Irish (in Irish-medium schools). However, learning another language can improve children’s communication and literacy skills, encouraging them to become confident speakers as well as attentive listeners. It can also help children to develop cultural understanding, which is one of the key elements that underpin the Northern Ireland Curriculum objectives.
Whole Curriculum Skills and Capabilities
Children should have opportunities to develop their Cross-Curricular Skills of Communication, Using Mathematics and Using ICT, and their Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities through Language and Literacy.
Count, Read: Succeed
This strategy brings a renewed focus to the importance of literacy and numeracy and to the centrality of teachers.
You can find further details on strategy at www.education-ni.gov.uk
Resources
Contact
For more information on Language and Literacy, contact: