The literacy skills of reading and writing are supported by, and in turn reinforce, the development of oracy. They are likely to take on greater prominence as children become familiar with the relationship between sounds and letters/characters in the new language and apply this knowledge in their reading and spelling.

Introducing reading and writing skills from the start is essential. For many children, the written word is an integral part of the language learning process, helping them to retain and make sense of the language they are learning. As they become more independent users of language in upper Key Stage 2, children are able to read and produce longer and more complex structures. Children will begin to access texts independently for their own enjoyment.

- What do you understand by reading and writing in the context of KS2?

- When do you consider it a good time to introduce the written word?

- What sort of activities might you do to develop children’s understanding of sound-spelling links?

Write down some examples of challenging and motivating literacy activities suitable for children learning a new language.

In your experience, what are the reasons why some teachers may be reluctant to include reading and writing activities in their language lessons?