The so-called “word gap” is just as much of a challenge for secondary schools as for primaries, with more than four in 10 year 7 students having limited vocabulary to the extent that it affects their learning.
Research from Oxford University Press (OUP) involving more than 1,300 teachers in UK schools finds that the word gap is becoming an “increasingly disruptive trend” with more and more pupils affected.
The term “word gap” has traditionally been used to refer to children in early years or entering primary school with a vocabulary far below age-related expectations. However, research is increasingly showing that the issue affects a wider range of children, not just those starting school.
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