Australia’s national education evidence body
Promote children's early language and communication skills

Overview

Literacy is ‘the capacity, confidence and disposition to use language in all its forms’ (Early Years Learning Framework). It can include talking, listening, viewing, reading, writing, music, movement, dance, storytelling, visual arts, media and drama. Children develop a wide range of literacy skills in the early years, from infancy through to the start of school, which form the foundation for reading, writing and communicating. Early literacy approaches aim to promote the development of these foundational skills.

Early Years Learning Framework

This topic relates to all outcomes in the Early Years Learning Framework - a guide to supporting and nurturing young children's learning from birth to 5 years of age, and their transition to school.

Research

The research supports a number of evidence-based practices for promoting early literacy in early childhood education and care settings.

Tried and Tested practice guide

This guide outlines key practices that have been found to support early literacy in early childhood education and care.

Annotated reference list

An overview of the research evidence cited throughout our early literacy resources.

Using the practice

Evidence-based practices play an important part in extending children’s learning and development in early literacy. See below some strategies to embed early literacy in your early childhood and care setting.

Using the practice: early literacy

This resource looks at strategies for engaging in sustained shared conversations with children aged 3-5 years, and outlines examples of how educators and teachers can use moments in the day to build on children’s developing early literacy skills.

Snapshots of practice

Early literacy practices may look different in different contexts. See below examples of early literacy with a focus primarily on children 3-5 years.

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