Foundations of Literacy identifies the seven strands of practice for the foundation years on which the successful teaching of literacy skills depends. The new edition is fully updated with the latest research and practical advice for helping children build a solid foundation for literacy.This book outlines seven strands of practice for the foundation years upon which successful teaching of literacy skills depends. Written by literacy specialist Sue Palmer and early years consultant Ros Bayley, it draws on the advice and experience of many professionals involved with this age group, including speech and language therapists, literacy and music specialists, early years advisers, developmental psychologists and - above all - practitioners from around the UK and, indeed, from across Europe. Foundations of Literacy provides fun activities for three- to six-year-old children, designed to develop the skills, concepts and knowledge underpinning literacy. Alongside are clear explanations of the research and reasoning on which they are based. It also provides practical advice on helping children transfer this learning into their own, child-initiated activities, to build a genuine and solid foundation for literacy.

Ros Bayley works as an early years consultant, writer and storyteller, following a long career as an early years teacher. She is the co-author of Flying Start With Literacy, a book of activities for parents and children, also published by Network Continuum 200 books and educational television programmes on aspects of literacy. She writes regularly for the Times Education Supplement and Child Education, provides in-service courses in schools, universities and LEAs throughout the UK and acts as a literacy consultant to the DfES, many educational publishers and the BBC. She has contributed to several National Literacy Strategy training packages and advised on the CBeebies Razzledazzle programmes and BBC Schools Listen and Play radio series. Her most recent books, Toxic Childhood: how modern life is damaging our children and what we can do about it and Detoxing Childhood (both Orion Publishing) are aimed at parents as well as teachers.