Strong speaking and listening skills are at the heart of children’s learning. They help pupils express their ideas clearly, build friendships, solve problems, and develop confidence in the classroom. The great news is that these skills grow best through everyday conversations at home—no special equipment or expertise needed!

Talking with your child, even for a short time each day, helps them learn new vocabulary, understand how conversations work, and develop curiosity about the world. The more children practise speaking and listening in a relaxed, familiar environment, the more prepared they are for learning in school.

Here are a few simple ways to support speaking and listening at home:

• Make time to talk: Chat during car journeys, meal times, or bath time. These little moments add up.
• Ask open‑ended questions: Try “What was the best part of your day?” or “Why do you think that happened?” to encourage longer answers.
• Build vocabulary naturally: Introduce new words in everyday situations—cooking, shopping, playing outside—and discuss what they mean.
• Tell stories: Share family memories or make up stories together. This supports imagination, sequencing and confidence.
• Limit interruptions: Give children time to find their words and express their thoughts fully.
• Thank you for everything you do at home to support their development.