Cats, hats and hippos - Ruth Thomson

There is currently much discussion about a child's ability to talk when they start school and it is a well-known fact that children are better able to read and write if they have first grasped the fundamentals of spoken language. There are many forms of speaking and listening; such as giving directions; recounting and telling a story; comparing and grouping objects; describing something; voicing the imagination and learning when to talk and listen in a conversation. Often taken for granted, these skills form the basis of a child's learning and confidence in life.