Wealden Times | WT163 | September 2015 | Education supplement inside

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Pictured: Children at Mr. Noah’s
Nursery School gardening
Listening – How do you encourage
a child to pay attention and absorb
information they are given verbally?
The Nursery team at Kent
College Pembury explain...
Developing
Speech &
Language
How do our local nurseries strive to develop
communication skills? We find out...
Technology – Is too much
technology a hindrance to learning
basic speech and language skills?
Reverend Peter Michell
from Mr. Noah’s Nursery School
“At Mr Noah’s Nursery School we
make some, limited use of digital
technology. That tells you my decided
answer to the question. Technology has
huge potential and sometimes it can
be useful in the early years classroom,
but it is not always age appropriate for
toddlers and very young children.
Speech and language are learnt in the
context of real experience and actual
human interactions. It is clearly illustrated
in a baby’s learning which depends on
touch, gesticulation and facial expression,
mimicking and shared experience. You
only have to see a mother with her baby:
the little one is captivated by the mother’s
face as she makes ‘baby sounds’ and they
respond to each other in antiphonal
babble. Continuing into the early years,
personal relationship, hearing and
practising are all-important for the effective
development of speech and language.
Children’s relationship with their peers
and attuned adults is needed for speech and
language development. The occasion can
be anything that engages children: building
with blocks, exploring the outdoor world
of bugs, and, of course, books, stories and
songs. Music is very important indeed.
Technology can either replace
meaningful verbal communication or
interrupt it. Both at home and at school
the digital screen can be a substitute for
talking together. Even when the bedtime
story is being read, the insistent phone
ringing, or simply the background sound
of television, incoming emails or other
digital bleeps can be a major distraction.
The computer and the television have
their place if they are used as stimulants to
talking together or as sources of information
that is then discussed. But a child will not
learn the skills of speech and language
by only having access to technology. A
child will thrive in these skills, however,
if exposed to nursery rhymes and songs,
and stories being read and recounted.
Let’s not entirely demonise and
abandon digital gear, but ‘too much
technology’ has to be avoided, and we
have to babble, and chatter, and talk.”
Mr Noah’s Nursery School is held in
Iden Green Congregational Church. For
more info. call 01580 240642 or see
www.mrnoahsnurseryschool.co.uk.
“Paying attention is an essential skill
for a young child to learn. This ability
develops over time and can be nurtured
and enhanced by adults. It is important
for the teacher to model being a listener.
If a child is able to pay attention then
they will naturally absorb the information
that they have received verbally.
Paying attention involves several
mental processes (motivation, interest,
knowledge etc) and is affected by
environmental factors (atmosphere of
setting, behaviour of other children).
A calm and organised setting is a starting
point and cues such as hand clapping
or call and response chants are useful
to inform a child to pay attention.
Sharing short interactive stories with
lots of pictures and repetitive refrains
are popular in Nursery classes. They are
particularly successful when props are
added (e.g. story sticks, puppets).
Some children find carpet time a
challenge and there should always be a
balance of movement and listening within
the activity. ‘Fidget toys’ can be provided
for very restless children so that they get
some tactile feedback while listening.
Above all, activities should
be short, creative and fun!”
Kent College is an independent school for
girls aged three to eighteen. 01892 820204
www.kent-college.co.uk.
Speaking – In a typical day
how are children encouraged to
expand their vocabulary at nursery
and are there any techniques
to aid with their learning?
Ms Vanessa Coatz, Head
of Nursery and Pre-Prep at
Marlborough House School
“My sister was nearing two years of age
when my mother took her to the doctor,
worried and anxious that she wasn’t talking,
“My other child was speaking by now, what
is wrong with her?” The doctor looked
her over and simply said “I would
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