Talk Through Stories is for four to six-year-old children, designed for all children but especially for those who do not come from a language-rich home. This programme helps children love stories, bringing them to life through talk. It specifically and systematically builds their vocabulary and comprehension so they understand – and love – the books that they will go on to read for themselves.

We choose stories that we believe are worth reading and re-reading. We begin with old favourites such as ‘Can’t you sleep Little Bear?’ by Martin Waddell and ‘The Rainbow Fish’ by Marcus Pfister before moving on to more recent literature such as ‘Perfectly Norman’ by Tom Percival and ‘I am Nefertiti’ by Annemarie Anang and Natelle Quek.

We help children love each story and go on to use ‘Tier Two’ words (words they rarely encounter in everyday conversation) from the story in everyday contexts. This extends and deepens vocabulary so that children can understand the books they will soon be able to read for themselves. Talk Through Stories grows children’s vocabulary through partner talk. Children need to talk, if we are to develop their language. 
 

1. In Story week, children get to know – and love – the story through talk: they understand the plot, the characters, and their actions and motives. 
2. In Vocabulary week, the talk focuses on eight words from the story. These are words that children are unlikely to hear in everyday conversation but are likely to come across in stories.
3. Children develop their understanding of each word by using the words in the context of their everyday lives. 

Talk Through Stories is taught in Nursery and EYFS. From September 2025, it will also be taught in Year One and Year Two.