Speaking and listening skills are crucial in the Early Years. Children are encouraged to talk to each other and adults all the time. They are encouraged to extend sentences orally, rather than always recording sentences in writing.
Children are taught how to form letters and to write their name correctly. They are introduced to key vocabulary; the National Literacy Strategy has identified key words for each year group that children are taught to first read then spell. In addition to these words days of the week, months and colours are taught. Many of you with children in Year R, 1 and 2 will have been involved in helping your child to learn these words, and children in Years 3 and 4 also have weekly spellings that they need to learn.
A list of the words for each year group is on the website.