
Young children 'learn better from books with fewer illustrations'
Nursery school pupils generally perform better in terms of language learning when reading from books with fewer illustrations, according to new research.
The University of Sussex study, which aimed to assess how children learn and acquire language, offered evidence that too much visual information can become distracting and make it harder for young pupils to acquire new words from the stories they are reading.
In this study, storybooks were read to three-year-olds, with some books containing only one illustration per double-page spread, while others featured an illustration on each page. These pictures were designed to introduce the child to new objects that were named on the page.
Children who were read stories with only one illustration at a time were shown to have learned twice as many words as those reading books with multiple images, with the researchers suggesting that presenting too many pictures makes it harder for young readers to know where to look, meaning they are not following the text.
In a follow-up experiment, researchers used a simple hand gesture to guide the children to look at the correct illustration before the page was read to them, finding that this simple intervention was effective in helping children to learn words when they saw two illustrations across the page.
These findings support previous studies that indicate that adding too many visual elements to children's books - such as interactive flaps to lift, or anthropomorphic animal characters - can decrease their learning value.
Doctoral researcher and co-author Zoe Flack said: "Our findings fit well with cognitive load theory, which suggests that learning rates are affected by how complicated a task is. In this case, by giving children less information at once, or guiding them to the correct information, we can help children learn more words."
Sign up to posts
Related jobs
Salary
£95 - 105 per day
Location free text
Leeds
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Early Years
Location
West Yorkshire
Description
Nursery Manager Location: Yorkshire and the Humber, West Yorkshire, LeedsJob Type: Permanent, Full-TimeSalary: £95 - £105 per dayPrimary Industry: Education and TrainingJob Duties: Oversee the
Reference
eyfs mgr leeds 25/03
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
West Yorkshire PrimaryAuthor
West Yorkshire PrimarySalary
£85 - 100 per day
Location free text
Louth
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
Less than £100 per day
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Early Years
Location
Louth
Description
Early Years Educator – Louth & Lincoln Areas Join Teaching Personnel and Grow Your Career in Education!Salary: £21,228 - £21,908 per annum Contract: Full-Time, Permanent Closing Date: 9am, 04 April 20
Reference
EYFSLouth1
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£130 - 170 per day
Location free text
Lincoln
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Early Years
Location
Lincoln
Description
1. Early Years Practitioner – Lincoln Teaching Personnel is seeking a Level 3 qualified Early Years Practitioner to join a welcoming nursery in Lincoln. This is a full-time, permanent role offering a
Reference
LincolnEYFS
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£86 - 100 per day
Location free text
Lincoln
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
Less than £100 per day
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Early Years
Location
Lincoln
Description
Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) – Lincoln AreaTeaching Personnel is seeking enthusiastic and experienced Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs) to join a supportive and dynamic school in the
Reference
LincNursery
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£110 - 140 per day
Location free text
Gainsborough
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Early Years
Location
Gainsborough
Description
EYFS Teacher – Gainsborough AreaAre you passionate about early education and ready to make a lasting impact on young learners? We’re seeking a dedicated Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Teacher to
Reference
EYFS9125
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£13 - 14 per hour
Location free text
Fordingbridge
Job Type
Part Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Fordingbridge
Description
Job Title: Special Needs Teaching Assistant (SEN TA)Location: SP6, FordingbridgeJob Type: Monday, Tuesday & WednesdayJob Summary:We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Special Needs Teaching Ass
Reference
210325Ab
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Dorset PrimaryAuthor
Dorset PrimarySalary
£85 - 110 per day
Location free text
Maidstone
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Maidstone
Description
Nursery Teaching Assistant – Independent School Near MaidstoneAre you a caring and enthusiastic Nursery Teaching Assistant looking for a new opportunity? Teaching Personnel is recruiting for a Level 3
Reference
PA Nursery TA
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Branch SecondaryAuthor
Branch SecondarySalary
£13 - 14 per hour
Location free text
Glastonbury
Job Type
Part Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Somerset
Description
Job Title: Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant (SEN TA)Location: BA6, Glastonbury.Contract Type: Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday (6.5hrs per day)Start Date: ASAP About Us:The school is a vibrant
Reference
2003255AB
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Dorset PrimaryAuthor
Dorset PrimarySalary
£13.75 - 14.50 per hour
Location free text
Cleveleys
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Lancashire
Description
Wanted: Early Years and Childhood Studies GraduatesLocation: CleveleysStart Date: When your course finishesHours: Full-Time (Monday – Friday)Pay: Competitive, based on experienceAbout the Role
Reference
SWEYFSCL2057
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lancashire North PrimaryAuthor
Lancashire North PrimarySalary
£13.75 - 15.00 per hour
Location free text
Chorley
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Lancashire
Description
EYFS Practitioner Required - Immediate Start Location: Chorley Position: EYFS Practitioner Start Date: As soon as possible Contract Type: Full-time, Temporary (until the end of the academic year)Are y
Reference
***RM9505950
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lancashire Central PrimaryAuthor
Lancashire Central PrimaryRelated posts

Teaser
Tips and AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD03YY
Summary
The True Worth of Professional Exam Invigilation When schools and colleges across England and Wales prepare for examination periods, the pressure to maintain JCQ compliance while ensuring fair ass
by
Zuzana Vrtalova

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD03YY
Summary
With the Easter break and end of term coming up, it’s time to get your payroll sorted! Our Payroll team has outlined the key dates you need to ensure you receive your pay on time. Check out the ta
by
Zuzana Vrtalova

Teaser
Special Educational NeedsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD03YY
Summary
The landscape of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is transforming. The number of pupils in the UK with special educational needs (SEN) has increased over the last five years. Toda
by
Adam Davies

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD02YY
Summary
As Spring approaches, it's a critical date for many teachers in the UK who may be contemplating their professional future ahead of the February 28th resignation deadline. While teaching remains on
by
Adam Davies

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD02YY
Summary
Teaching assistants support teachers and students in the classroom. The role is invaluable and continues to grow in importance as school environments become larger and more diverse. In fact, teach
by
West Yorkshire Primary

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD01YY
Summary
When you worked as a teacher, you may have looked forward to retirement, as it meant having more time for leisurely activities or spending more time with loved ones. However, the novelty of retire

by
Scott Owen
.jpg)
Teaser
Tips and AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD01YY
Summary
In the last three years, the likelihood of young people having mental health problems has increased by 50%. According to a report by The Health Foundation, one in six children aged six to 16 in Englan

by
Scott Owen

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD12YY
Summary
Recent reports state that special schools are seeing a decrease in enrollment. Many local authorities aim to integrate more children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) into mainst
by
Adam Davies
.jpg)
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD12YY
Summary
The festive season and the end of term are quickly approaching! To help you prepare, our Payroll team has shared all the essential dates you need to ensure you get paid before Christmas. Check out t
by
Zuzana Vrtalova
.jpg)
Teaser
NurseryContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
The government has announced new nursery funding and the introduction of free before-school breakfast clubs. These initiatives will bring change to early education. Yet staffing them will be a c
by
Zuzana Vrtalova
Register with us
for a choice of classroom roles
Register today
Recent job