As directionality plays a central role in early academic learning, this will be the first early learning essential to be investigated.

Directional abilities include the awareness and knowledge of words and concepts and information processing skills including reception, retention, integration and reproduction. Directionality, a key feature of visual information (orientation and sequencing) and an important feature of auditory information (sequencing), plays a central role in learning, particularly early academic learning.

This is the second Section devoted to the abilities and competencies considered essential in the acquisition and development of early learning skills.

It is assumed that language plays a central role in the development of concepts important in learning and hence the development of language abilities will be a key focus in this Section.

This Section will explore the development of language, focusing on aural and oral vocabulary skills. As the focus is on early learning essentials, the period of investigation will commence with the very young, pre-school child and continue through to the early primary school years.