Teaching Vocabulary in the Primary Classroom

This recorded training session (1 hour 30 minutes) is designed for KS1 and KS2 teachers and Teaching Assistants who want to strengthen pupils’ vocabulary knowledge and, in turn, improve reading comprehension, writing quality and outcomes across the curriculum. Research consistently shows that vocabulary size is one of the strongest predictors of academic success. Children with limited vocabulary at age five are significantly more likely to struggle with reading and learning later in life. This makes explicit, high-quality vocabulary teaching a powerful lever for improving attainment and life chances for all pupils — particularly those who are disadvantaged. This practical, evidence-informed course supports schools to move beyond incidental word learning and towards a systematic, purposeful approach to vocabulary development. You’ll explore how to broaden pupils’ word knowledge, deepen understanding and support children to use new vocabulary confidently across subjects. In this training, you will: ✔ Understand why vocabulary development is central to reading comprehension and learning ✔ Learn how to explicitly teach vocabulary to raise attainment for all pupils ✔ Explore practical strategies for broadening and deepening vocabulary understanding ✔ Discover ways to help pupils retain and apply new words in speaking, reading and writing ✔ Build consistency and confidence in vocabulary teaching across KS1 and KS2 Classroom impact ✔ Improve reading and writing outcomes and access to the curriculum. ✔ Reduce vocabulary-related barriers to learning. ✔ Support disadvantaged pupils more effectively. ✔ Raise attainment across subjects through stronger language foundations. This training empowers staff with the knowledge and strategies needed to make vocabulary teaching explicit, engaging and impactful, ensuring every child has the language they need to succeed — in school and beyond.