In Reception, vocabulary development is at the heart of our Communication and Language curriculum. Children are immersed in rich, purposeful language through high-quality stories, poems, rhymes, Drawing Club, Monster Phonics, continuous provision, play and adult interactions.

We explicitly teach and model new vocabulary, revisit previously taught words and provide children with repeated opportunities to hear, understand and use words in context. Vocabulary is selected carefully from stories, topics and children's experiences, with a particular focus on developing Tier 2 vocabulary alongside essential subject-specific Tier 3 vocabulary.

Children are encouraged to:

• listen carefully to and understand new words;
• develop an increasingly wide vocabulary;
• use new vocabulary in conversation and play;
• explain and describe using increasingly precise language;
• make links between words and concepts;
• use vocabulary from stories in their own talk, play and Drawing Club work;
• develop confidence in speaking in full sentences;
• revisit and retain vocabulary over time.