How do children learn English at Avenor Nursery?

Learning English from an early age is an engaging and dynamic process based on immersion, play, and multisensory methods. 

At our nursery, which follows the British curriculum, children are encouraged to discover English in a natural way through songs, stories, and interactive activities tailored to each stage of development. Throughout their nursery years, they progressively develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, building their confidence in communicating in English.

But how does this process unfold at different ages? And how can parents support learning at home? We explore these topics with Monica Nistor, Teacher of Literacy at Avenor Nursery.

How can children aged 2-3 learn English in a British environment?

Learning English at an early age is based on language immersion, meaning that little ones are constantly exposed to the language in a natural way through age-appropriate activities. At Avenor Nursery, educators speak to the children in English, using familiar expressions, gestures, and tones that aid in understanding.

One of the most effective ways to introduce children to the world of English is through music. Songs and rhythmic rhymes are integrated into the daily routine, helping children learn new words and expressions in an enjoyable and interactive way. The rhythm and repetition of these songs facilitate the memorisation process and create a relaxed learning environment.

Our nursery implements the Jolly Phonics programme, a method for learning the sounds of the English language through a multisensory approach. This helps children learn English sounds through a combination of movement, stories, and visual materials. This playful approach makes learning a natural process, where children discover the sounds of the language without pressure.

How does the process of learning English evolve at different ages?

At Avenor Nursery, the process of learning English is structured by age groups, with each stage having specific methods and objectives:

• 2-3 years (Nursery Group): At this stage, children are exposed to English daily through play-based activities. Puppets, flashcards, songs, and sensory activities are used to familiarise them with the sounds of English. Learning takes place through imitation, with educators focusing on developing basic vocabulary.
• 3-4 years (Nursery Group): Children begin to recognise their own names and the names of familiar objects. Activities are introduced that develop fine motor skills, such as drawing, modelling, and tracing letters on paper, kinetic sand, flour, or foam. This tactile approach makes learning more enjoyable, while also creating strong neural connections essential for memorising letter shapes. Each letter becomes a sensory memory, an imprint in the child’s mind. Exposure to songs and stories continues, and educators encourage the use of simple English sentences.
• 4-5 years (Reception Group): This is the stage where children take their first steps in reading and writing through the Jolly Phonics method, which plays a central role in this stage. It provides a systematic and multisensory approach to learning the 42 sounds of English. 

Each child has their own Jolly Phonics Pupil Book, and alongside workbook practice, worksheets with dotted letters or arrows indicating the writing direction can be used. From the first set of sounds (s, a, t, i, p, n), children are given the tools to read CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words like “sat”, “sit”, “pin”, and “nap”, building confidence in their reading abilities.

Work with tricky words – words that are not phonetically readable and must be memorised – is also introduced. Furthermore, group activities and role-playing games help children develop their communication skills in English.

• 5-6 years (Year 1 Group): In this stage, children take an important step in developing their decoding skills, moving from simple sound recognition to understanding the complexity of English spelling. Having learned the 42 basic sounds in Reception through Jolly Phonics, they now discover that a single sound can be represented in writing by several letter combinations.

At this stage, children are encouraged to apply this knowledge in reading and writing simple sentences, and Guided Reading sessions help them build confidence in reading. They also begin to understand the narrative structure of stories and create their own short narratives.

How can parents support English language learning?

Learning a foreign language is not limited to time spent at nursery. Parents play a crucial role in this process, and their involvement can make a significant difference. Here are some recommendations for supporting English language learning at home:

Introduce songs and stories in English: Listening to English songs daily or reading stories helps children associate sounds and words with images and familiar contexts.

Use simple phrases at home: Try to incorporate common expressions into daily conversations, such as “Good morning!”, “Let’s wash our hands!”, or “Time to eat!”, so that the child becomes accustomed to them.

Provide illustrated books and interactive materials: Books with images and sounds, puzzles, and educational apps can stimulate a child’s interest in English.

Encourage learning through play: Role-playing games, puppet theatre, or creative activities like drawing and modelling can include English elements without the pressure of formal learning.

What are the benefits of learning an additional language from an early age?

Studies show that learning a foreign language from an early age brings numerous cognitive and social benefits. Bilingual children develop more flexible thinking and have a better ability to solve problems. Additionally, their working memory is more efficient, and their concentration skills are enhanced.

Beyond cognitive advantages, learning a foreign language contributes to the development of empathy and social skills. Children who speak multiple languages are more receptive to different cultures and have a greater openness to diversity.

At Avenor Nursery, we create an ideal environment for young learners to develop their English skills naturally through play, exploration, and modern teaching methods. Our goal is to equip children not only with linguistic competence but also with the confidence to communicate in English, ensuring they build a solid foundation for their educational journey.