A small-scale study into how COVID-19 has affected language development in KS1 and contributed to the ongoing growth of the word gap.

O'Sullivan, M. (2022) A small-scale study into how COVID-19 has affected language development in KS1 and contributed to the ongoing growth of the word gap. Undergraduate theses, University of Chichester.

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Abstract

This research study aimed to investigate how COVID-19 impacted children’s language development and contributed to the ongoing growth of the word gap in a year one class. The literature review discussed the importance of language development and how children, including disadvantaged children were being affected by COVID-19, in relation to their language and the context of the word gap and what could be done to fix this. Methods included, teacher questionnaires, an English Lead interview and a child-based focus group. The study showed that children’s vocabulary development had been impacted by the COVID-19 lockdowns. Additionally, children’s social development had been severely affected due to a loss of interaction. Finally, the study highlighted how a wide-ranging programme of interventions can be implemented to support language development. The project ends with discussing the importance of closing language gaps and the importance of allowing time to develop children’s social development as an equal focus, before recommending how teachers could choose to support their children through further training activities focused on closing learning gaps as well as giving children the opportunity to experience language through talk.

Publication Type: Theses (Undergraduate)
Additional Information: BA (Hons) Primary Teaching
Uncontrolled Keywords: vocabulary, Covid, pandemic
Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1501 Primary Education
Divisions: Academic Areas > Institute of Education, Social and Life Sciences > Education and Teaching
Student Research > Undergraduate
Depositing User: Ruth Clark
Date Deposited: 13 Jul 2022 10:51
Last Modified: 13 Jul 2022 10:51
URI: https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/6381

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