This book will show adults working with children the huge impact that quality talk experiences can have on children's lifelong attainment. It will show how the greater the range of language and experience that a child is exposed to, early in their development, the significantly higher the potential for success in both academic and social attainment. A practical book full of real examples, ideas and activities.

From bestselling author Alistair Bryce-Clegg comes a book that shows adults working with children the huge impact that quality talk experiences can have on children's lifelong attainment. Young children are fascinated by the world around them. They have high levels of natural curiosity and a compelling desire to explore and experience EVERYTHING! As children develop the skills of language and communication it is talk that helps children to make sense of those experiences by asking questions and talking about their thoughts. Talk not only plays a pivotal role in helping children to understand the world around them, it also enables them to learn how to make sense of the role that they play within in it. After all, talk is just the thoughts that you have in your head coming out of your mouth. If you haven't got many thoughts in your head then you won't have much to talk about. Alternatively, if you don't have very much experience of language and talk, you will not be able to express your thoughts. Our role as practitioners is to create a wealth of learning opportunities and experiences that will fill children's heads with thoughts and questions and then support them in acquiring the language to be able to communicate those thoughts to make sense of their world and be understood.