Words that Wow: Helping Children Expand Their Vocabulary

At Devonshire House, a leading prep school in Hampstead, we are proud of our rich and diverse community. The variety of languages spoken at morning drop-off is a daily reminder of the international backgrounds our families bring. This diversity enriches our school life – and it also highlights the importance of building a strong English vocabulary for every child.

Mrs El-Arifi, our Deputy Head of Curriculum and English, explains why vocabulary development remains one of the most important and challenging areas of education, and how families can support children at home.

Why Vocabulary Matters

A broad vocabulary enhances communication, supports academic success, and fosters confidence in social interactions. Teachers often refer to three “tiers” of vocabulary:

• Tier 1 – Basic words like book, run, sad that children pick up naturally.
• Tier 2 – High-frequency but more sophisticated words, like conclusion, which appear across subjects.
• Tier 3 – Specialist words tied to specific subjects, such as denominator in Maths.

The real challenge lies in helping children move beyond Tier 1 and become comfortable using Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary in their everyday learning.

How Parents Can Help at Home

• Read Aloud Together – Reading aloud is one of the fastest ways to accelerate vocabulary growth. It models discussion, supports pronunciation, and deepens comprehension. Remember, children are never too old to read with an adult.
• Encourage Conversation – Go beyond routine questions like “How was your day?” and invite open-ended discussion. Asking thoughtful questions helps children practise expressing themselves and builds language confidence.
• Repetition is Key – Words need to be encountered multiple times before becoming part of a child’s long-term knowledge. Revisit new words in conversations, reading, and writing to help them “stick.”

A Long-Term Journey

Vocabulary growth is a gradual process. Research suggests that a child needs to hear or read a word around ten times in context for it to be embedded. At Devonshire House, we use every opportunity – in reading, writing, and discussion – to make words come alive.

As an independent school in North London, we believe that strong vocabulary skills lay the foundation for lifelong learning. It is one of the many reasons families seeking the best schools in Hampstead choose Devonshire House: because we combine academic excellence with a nurturing, supportive approach that helps every child find their voice.