Pre-primary English: how to do it well

Report

When should children start learning English? And, more importantly, how should English be introduced? This paper explores the rationale behind introducing English in pre‑primary education and looks at how it can be done effectively. It highlights the importance of doing so in ways that are developmentally appropriate and aligned with how young children learn, embracing play-based experiences and child-centred approaches. The paper concludes that rather than focusing solely on language outcomes, we should be making a commitment to support children’s holistic development, well-being, and positive connection with language learning from an early age.

Authors: Hillyard, S; Cortina-Pérez, B; Faitaki, F; Mourão, S

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Place of publication: Oxford, UK
• Publication date: 2025-11-03
• Language: English