Strategies to support understanding of spoken language in the classroom (KS2)

Seat the child in the front of the class where they can easily see visual teaching aids.

Use a visual timetable or task schedule and support spoken language with visual materials.

Use signing or gesture.

Break language down into chunks.

Give instructions one step at a time.

Give instructions in chronological order.

Repeat key instructions.

Speak at a slower rate than normal to allow the child to process what has been said.

Encourage all children to say when they have not understood. For example:

• “What do I have to do?”
• “Can you say it again?”
• “Can you say it more slowly?”
• “What does that word mean?”

Praise the child when they ask for help:

• ”That was really good when you said you didn’t understand”
• “That was really good when you asked for help”

Check back with the child that they have understood what they are meant to be doing by asking open ended questions. For example:

• “What do you need to do?”

Use symbols for all children to use. For example:

• green for “I understand”
• orange for “I’m not sure”
• and red for “I don’t understand”