Understanding of Language

What do we mean by Understanding of Language?

Understanding of language, also referred to as receptive language, is what a child is able to understand when others are talking to them. Children can have difficulties understanding a range of areas of language, including concepts and vocabulary, question words and instructions. When a child experiences difficulties understanding language, it may mean that they struggle to take part appropriately in conversation, they may find it difficult to keep listening and they can struggle to complete tasks and activities without additional support. There are many ways that we can help a child who is struggling to understand. This section includes a range of relevant resources and advice.

• General strategies to support understanding of language in younger children
• General strategies to support understanding of language in older children and young people
• Activities to support understanding in older children and young people
• Student strategies – strategies for students to use to support their understanding and memory
• Video - How to support understanding of instructions in preschool children
• Video - How to support understanding of instructions in school-aged children

Activity sheets for working on different areas of language – question words, concepts, grammar, key word instructions

• Question words – Activities for developing understanding of question words
• Concepts:
  • Size – Activities for developing understanding of size concepts
  • Colour – Activities for developing understanding of colour concepts
  • Space – Activities for developing understanding of space concepts
• Grammar:
  • Pronouns – Activities for developing understanding of pronouns
  • Plurals – Activities for developing understanding of plurals
  • Negatives – Activities for developing understanding of negatives
• Key word instructions:
  • Activities for developing understanding of 2ICW
  • Activities for developing understanding of 3 ICW
  • Activities for developing understanding of 4 ICW
  • Activities for developing understanding of 5 ICW
  • Activities for developing understanding of 6 ICW

Online resources available to support with understanding of language

• Twinkl – sign up for a free account and search in the SEND section for lots of useful resources and activities, for example:
  • Resources for working on listening and understanding
  • Resources for working on question words
  • Resources for working on Blank Language Levels
  • Lots of concepts covered such as same/different, basic concepts, negatives
• Black Sheep Press – https://www.blacksheeppress.co.uk/product-category/parents/comprehension-parents/ These resources are available to purchase and include worksheets supporting understanding of concepts, categories and barrier games.
• Splingo - language based apps available to download from the app store or Google Play. Developed by Speech and Language Therapists, these interactive apps cover the following language areas – Actions, Categories, Describing Words, Early Words, Past Tenses and Pronouns. All apps are appropriate for 4+ and can be purchased individually for £2.99/£3.99. Three apps are available in a bundle for £7.99.