Please note: this article was written before the 2014 National Curriculum and some content and references may no longer be relevant.

During the Early Years and Foundation Stage children should listen to stories, ask how and why and talk about the past (DfE 2012). Young children are comfortable with stories. Through stories children extend their knowledge. They create new worlds through the powers of imagination. Stories allow children to move from the present into other worlds, to explore emotion, intention, behaviour, conflicts, loves, hatreds, loyalties and complex motives beyond their experience. Stories recount events in sequence, transmit information, and introduce new vocabulary. Stories help children to think critically, to question and discuss ideas which help them begin to understand the past...