Developing Language Through Stories And Rhymes

By Emma Lambert, teacher of Early Years in charge of Teaching and Learning for Speaking and Listening

At Caxton College, our Reception and Year 1 team uses Helicopter Stories, a storytelling approach developed by Trisha Lee, to support language development and creativity in young children.

In these sessions, children dictate their own stories to a teacher, who writes them down word-for-word. Then, with great excitement, the class acts out the stories together on a simple stage marked on the floor. This method, based on the work of Vivian Gussin Paley, encourages every child to be an author, actor, and audience member.

Helicopter Stories offer a fun and inclusive way to build vital communication skills. Children develop vocabulary in English, learn how stories are structured, and practise listening and speaking in a meaningful context. Most importantly, they gain confidence by seeing their words come to life.

This approach is especially effective for supporting children with different levels of English and for those still finding their voice. Every story is valued, no matter how short, playful or imaginative they may be.

At Caxton College, we know that building strong language skills from an early age is key to lifelong learning. Another effective and enjoyable tool we use in our Early Years classrooms is nursery rhymes.

Nursery rhymes may seem simple, but they are rich in learning opportunities. The rhythm, rhyme, and repetition naturally support children’s understanding of how language works, helping them to hear sounds, recognise patterns, and remember new vocabulary. This makes nursery rhymes especially powerful for children learning English as an additional language.

Through familiar tunes and repeated phrases, non-native English speakers gain confidence in using English in a fun and creative way. Rhymes provide context, which helps children understand meaning even before they know every word. Over time, they begin to sing along, copy sounds, and eventually use these new words in conversation.

Each week Early Years children learn a new nursery rhyme through singing, performing, and engaging in related classroom activities. These experiences are carefully planned to deepen their understanding, spark curiosity, and make the rhymes meaningful. From role-play and art to storytelling and small-world play, every activity is designed to reinforce language skills and bring the rhyme to life in fun, interactive ways.

Once a term, the children also have the opportunity to perform their nursery rhymes to other classes and year groups, helping to build their confidence and pride in speaking and performing.

At Caxton College we believe Helicopter Stories and nursery rhymes are joyful, powerful tools that help children grow in confidence and flourish in their English language development.