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Language and vocabulary strategies in the EYFS

Find strategies to help you enhance your focus on communication and language in the EYFS. Use our checklist to help you audit your current provision.

Last reviewed on 8 June 2026
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 42709
Contents
  1. Understand Ofsted's expectations around developing pupils' language
  2. Focus on the early learning goals for communication and language
  3. Spoken language is just as important as reading and writing
  4. Evaluate your teaching with our checklist 
  5. Take a close look at your strategic approach
  6. Consider these classroom strategies
  7. Explore other sources of support

Understand Ofsted's expectations around developing pupils' language

On top of meeting the requirements set out in the EYFS statutory framework, Ofsted expects schools to:

  • Use daily routines and interactions to make sure children develop their language and vocabulary across all areas of learning and development, and can communicate and manage their thoughts and feelings 
  • Make sure that staff engage pupils in high-quality interactions
  • Help pupils develop an emotional connection to language and gain awareness of their voices through the use of songs, rhymes and poems
  • Prioritise daily story time where teachers read aloud and re-read high-quality stories
  • Identify pupils whose language is less well developed and provide targeted support

See Ofsted's State-funded Schools Inspection Toolkit (pages 53 to 60) and our article on how Ofsted inspects early years in schools for more details.

Early learning goals (ELGs) define the level of development teachers should expect children to