National Commitment to Early Years

Early Oral Language

Our Recommendation for Change

The Early Years Communication Project (EYCP) recommends a National Commitment to strengthen the early oral language development of Australia’s children. We invite the early years system stakeholders to connect, understand and act, by urgently recognising that oral language is key to optimal childhood development and by taking action to develop, monitor and support children’s oral language development during 0 to 5 years of age.

Connect – What is the Issue?

The crucial importance of early oral language development as foundational to a child’s early years development is not fully understood by families, carers, the community, services, educators, health professionals and government. Oral language is a skill and an enabler of future learning and development. Giving greater priority to early oral language can create higher literacy levels and better life outcomes for children and their families and assist in reducing disadvantage.

Early years system

Understand –What, How, Why and Who plays a role?

We need to understand and accept that early years’ oral language development is foundational to children’s social interaction, literacy and learning, participation, wellbeing, and positive employment and economic outcomes. Through co-ordinated, consistent, and enduring efforts across all aspects and systems related to a child’s life, we all play a crucial role in monitoring, developing, and supporting oral language to make a positive lifelong impact on children’s lives. We can all play a significant role in optimising effective oral language development.

Act – What needs to change?

We can act by making a Commitment that all children will be supported by a system that enables them to develop oral language skills to their fullest potential to lay the foundations for their lifelong wellbeing.

1. POLICY: Recognise the importance of oral language development and embed and fund its development in relevant early years federal, state and local government policies.

2. CAPABILITY & RESOURCES: Build knowledge, capacity and confidence of parents, families, carers, services, educators, and health professionals to recognise, develop and support children’s oral language development.

3. MONITORING: Regular universal measurement of a child’s oral language development from 2-5 years to provide parents and carers and early years educators with knowledge and tools to support children’s growth pathways during this important period.

Download the full National Commitment to Early Years Oral Language to find out more.