Communication, speaking and listening in different situations and for different purposes, reading a variety of texts and writing for different purposes are the essential elements of our curriculum.

At Clifton High, we recognise that the development and use of communication is at the heart of young children's learning. Children have the opportunity to communicate their thoughts, ideas and feelings in a variety of contexts and to share and enjoy a wide range of rhymes, music, songs, poetry, stories and non-fiction books from their own and other cultures.

Stimulating indoor and outdoor environments reflect the importance of language through signs, notices and books. Children have access to a wide variety of equipment to try out writing for themselves in meaningful contexts.

There are opportunities for children to become aware of languages and writing systems other than English and communication systems such as Makaton.

Children are helped to read and write through an early systematic phonics programme. They are taught the 42 sounds of English and with this knowledge they are taken through the stages of blending sounds to form words and then to reading. At the same time they are taught to write by identifying the sounds in words and relating these to the letter sounds.