Oracy

Oracy is the ability to express oneself fluently and correctly in speech. It is a range of behaviours, language and speaking and listening skills necessary for communication and collaboration and can be summarised as learning through talk and to talk.  It is based on the belief that being able to speak with clarity, confidence and purpose is essential for success in both academic and life situations.

Intent

At Guilden Sutton Church of England Primary School, we are committed to developing oracy as a key part of our curriculum, in line with the Voice 21 Oracy Framework.

We believe that spoken language underpins the development of reading, writing and learning. Our intent is to put oracy at the heart of our curriculum, enabling our children to become articulate and confident communicators who can express themselves effectively and listen respectfully to other children and adults.

We aim to:

·        Develop children’s speaking and listening skills across all subjects.

·        Equip pupils with the language tools to express ideas clearly, debate respectfully and ask thoughtful, relevant questions.

·        Build vocabulary, fluency and confidence in public speaking, storytelling and collaborative discussion.

·        Foster active listening, empathy and critical thinking through purposeful talk.

We believe that by putting oracy at the heart of our curriculum that we are preparing our children to thrive socially and emotionally in school and beyond.

Implementation

Our classrooms are rich in talk and we take a structured and inclusive approach to teaching speaking and listening skills, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to find and use their voice.

·       Teaching of Oracy Skills

Oracy is taught across the whole curriculum. Teachers plan opportunities to develop oracy using the four strands of the Voice 21 framework – physical, linguistic, cognitive and social & emotional.

·       Talk-Rich Classroom

Talk is valued in our classrooms. Children engage in a range of talk types and build confidence and skills from Reception to Year 6.

·       Progression of Oracy

Oracy progression is mapped from Reception to Year 6, ensuring that all children build on their speaking and listening skills year by year.

·       Use of Oracy Frameworks and Tools

To support the progression of high-quality talk, we use a range of tools including: sentence stems, discussion guidelines and visual scaffolds. We ensure that all of our children can access oracy activities.

·       Cross – Curricular Oracy

Oracy is taught and practised across the whole curriculum, allowing our children to deepen their understanding, reason, explain and reflect.

·       Enrichment Opportunities

All of our children are given regular opportunities to develop their public speaking skills through collective worship, class prayers, presentations, poetry and school events.

·       Professional Development for All Staff

Teachers receive ongoing training and support by the English subject leader to ensure a consistent, high-quality approach to oracy across the school.

Through this implementation, Guilden Sutton Church of England Primary School has a culture of respect, thoughtful and articulate communication that not only supports the academic growth of our children but their personal growth too.

Impact

Through the consistent and progressive approach to oracy, children at Guilden Sutton Church of England Primary School are equipped with the speaking and listening skills they need to succeed both in and beyond their time at school.

We see impact in the following ways:

Confident Communicators

Children speak clearly and confidently in a range of contexts, from small group discussions to whole-school collective worship. They can articulate their thinking, express opinions and adapt their speech for different audiences and purposes.

Academic Outcomes

Children use talk to develop ideas, explain reasoning and deepen understanding, which enhances their attainment across the whole curriculum.

Inclusive Participation

All of our children are given a voice. Our inclusive approach to oracy ensures children can develop this voice, promoting a sense of belonging and self-worth.

Respectful and Effective Talk

Our children listen to each other and adults actively and respectfully. They build on eachothers’ ideas, engaging in constructive dialogue, disagree appropriately and reflect on different viewpoints.

Prepared for Life Beyond School

Children leave Guilden Sutton Church of England Primary School as articulate, thoughtful individuals who are considerate and respectful and are ready to thrive in secondary education and the wider world. They are equipped with the communication skills essential for future success.

Oracy is assessed using teacher assessment, performance opportunities and observation of talk in all lessons.

At Guilden Sutton Church of England Primary School, oracy is the key driver in our mission to empower all of our children to be heard, valued and successful.