According to academics from Royal Holloway, University of London, who carried out research into children’s language ability when they started reception, a 'radical shake-up' of the EYFS is needed so more focus is placed on developing children's spoken language.
The research, based upon teachers’ ratings of speaking, listening and behaviour for 7,267 children attending 170 primary schools in Surrey, found that the youngest children, including those born in the summer, were almost twice as likely to have language difficulties and behaviour problems than older children in the same class.
The authors of the study argue this is because many four-year-olds do not have sufficient language skills to meet current curriculum targets, which are increasingly focused on reading, writing and verbal problem-solving.
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