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The early years: Preparatory-Year 4

The primary purpose of the study of English in the early years is to establish firm foundation skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing - the literacy skills essential for success in all areas of learning.

The focus of the English curriculum in the early years is on introducing students to formal schooling, extending their experiences with spoken and written texts, and the ways in which language is used in making and responding to texts. Particular emphasis is placed on teaching students to use spoken language appropriately in many new formal and informal situations; expanding students' vocabularies in both spoken and written language; teaching reading and writing skills and strategies; fostering critical perspectives on texts; and introducing students to literature and teaching them how to relate it to their own experience.

This early stage of schooling is marked by the child's gradual movement from dependence on the teacher and other competent language users to increasing independence as a learner.

Further information on literacy development in the early years can be found in The Early Years Literacy Program, Department of Education Victoria, Addison Wesley Longman, Melbourne, 1997.