ABSTRACT
The quality of a child's communication environment - over and above the socio-economic factors which are associated with levels of language development - was found to predict a child's expressive vocabulary at age two. And children's language development at age two was seen to be very strongly associated with their success on entering primary school. The importance of early communication and language, however, goes far beyond its link to literacy. Ordinary conversation about what the child is interested in is the ideal ground for supportive language exchanges. A day nursery linked to a children's centre established a baby-toddler environment, where the linked spaces provided more room and enabled continuity of a key person, who remained with a child up to the age of three. A reception class had an extended session of child-initiated activity each day, with open access to a richly resourced indoor and outdoor environment.
