Funky Foundations was developed through ongoing discussions with teachers, nursery leaders and Early Years professionals who were increasingly concerned about the number of children starting school without the language skills expected within the Early Learning Goals. Many reported seeing growing gaps in speech, language and social communication, leaving some children less able to access learning and participate confidently in the classroom.

In response, Funky Foundations was created to embed oracy prominently into early education. We recognise that spoken language is the foundation for literacy, learning and social development. By supporting children to become confident speakers and attentive listeners, we help build the communication skills that underpin success across the curriculum.

Funky Foundations begins by strengthening phonological awareness and early sound discrimination before supporting children to develop sentence structure, vocabulary and expressive language. These skills are then embedded through purposeful talk, collaborative learning and structured opportunities for discussion, enabling children to practise articulating their ideas, feelings and opinions.

Our work reflects the growing national recognition of the importance of spoken language and oracy in education, highlighted by organisations such as Voice 21 and the work of the Oracy Education Commission, as well as the emphasis on communication and language within the Early Years Framework from the Department for Education.

We have built our programmes based on the evidence that developing strong oracy skills from the earliest years enables children to become confident, independent communicators who are able to engage with learning, build positive relationships and contribute thoughtfully to their communities.

The Funky Foundations phonics and oracy program aligns with the Early Years Foundation Stage and supports current recommendations for speaking and listening development, helping children develop confident speaking alongside strong phonics skills.