VITAL YEARS English Reading & Writing Programme recognises that the children are, in fact, readers already, and are continuously learning to read. These children have learnt to distinguish voices and faces; they have learnt to make distinctions between objects in their environment and are continuously learning to read their world in order to come to terms with it or make sense of it. 

It is the recognition of this fact that gives the Programme its unique place among other reading programmes currently available In recognising this, the Programme is affirming the following :

that deciphering black marks on paper (print) is no more difficult for children than other kinds of reading that they do.

that we need not teach children who are natural readers to read; rather we have to help them to read.

that children can read print with ease if obstacles are not placed in their way.

that children will make sense of print in the same way as they make sense of their world by distinguishing, categorising and generalising.