Reading

Engages in extended conversations about stories, learning new vocabulary

Understands that print has meaning

Understands that print can have different purposes

Understands that we read English text from left to right and from top to bottom

Understands the names of the different parts of a book

Understands page sequencing

Is developing his/her phonological awareness, so that he/she can spot and suggest rhymes

Is developing his/her phonological awareness, so that he/she can count or clap syllables in a word

Is developing his/her phonological awareness, so that he/she can recognise words with the same initial sound, such as money and mother

Uses some of his/her print and letter knowledge in his/her early writing, e.g. writing a pretend shopping list that starts at the top of the page; writes 'm' for mummy

Speaking and Listening

Enjoys listening to longer stories and can remember much of what happens

Can pay attention to more than one thing at a time, even when it is difficult

Understands a question or instruction that has two parts, such as, "Get your coat and wait at the door"

Understands 'why' questions, like: "Why do you think the caterpillar got so fat?"

Observation checkpoint: Around the age of 3, can the child shift from one task to another if you fully obtain their attention, for example, by using their name?

Observation checkpoint: Is able to answer simple 'why' questions?

Uses a wider range of vocabulary

Sings a large repertoire of songs

Knows many rhymes, is able to talk about familiar books, and can tell a long story

Is developing his/her communication, but may still make mistakes with irregular tenses and plurals, such as 'runned' for 'ran', 'swimmed' for 'swam'. He/She may have problems saying: -some sounds; r, j, th, ch, and sh - multisyllabic words such as 'pterodactyl', 'planetarium' or 'hippopotamus'

Uses longer sentences of four to six words

Is able to express a point of view and to debate when he/she disagrees with an adult or a friend, using words as well as actions

Can start a conversation with an adult or a friend and continue it for many turns

Uses talk to organise himself/herself and his/her play; "Let's go on a bus... you sit there... I'll be the driver."

Observation checkpoint: Around the age of 4, is the child using sentences of four to six words - "I want to play with cars" or "What's that thing called?"?

Observation checkpoint: Can use sentences joined up with words like 'because', 'or', 'and', e.g. "I like ice cream because it makes my tongue shiver"

Observation checkpoint: Is able to use the future and past tense; "I am going to the park" and "I went to the shop"

Writing

Uses some of his/her print and letter knowledge in his/her early writing, e.g. writing a pretend shopping list that starts at the top of the page; writes 'm' for mummy

Writes some or all of his/her name

Writes some letters accurately