Schools hold 'Vocabulary Day' to aid literacy

Children and staff have been dressing up to match their chosen word

"Vocabulary Days" are being held at a number of schools in Somerset in a bid to teach pupils new words.

Four primary schools in Taunton have come up with creative ways to help children expand their vocabulary involving colourful costumes and a parade.

Children and their teachers at the schools are asked to pick a word, which cannot be a noun, and go to school dressed as their word.

Nic Loasby-Seal, a Year Six teacher at Lyngford Park School in Taunton, said: "We are all learning. The effort that the staff and everybody here puts in is amazing."

Key Stage One lead at Lyngford Park, Lauren Noon,e said she went dressed as the word "luminescent".

She added: "Over time we can see whether these words are being used in their writing or communication."

Lauren Noone said she wanted to make the day 'fun and exciting' for pupils

Ms Noon said the aim was to make the day "exciting and memorable" so that new words could be added to "a little dictionary" in the children's heads.

West Buckland School, in Wellington, was the first to hold a Vocabulary Day and the Huish Trust took on the idea, spreading it to four other primary schools.

Nerrols Primary School, North Town Academy and North Curry Primary School, as well as Lyngford Park, all took part.

Dylan, a pupil at Lyngford Park, dressed as his word "prehistoric".

He said: "Learning words is key because it helps us to learn literacy, reading and writing and it boosts our vocabulary."