Oracy
Courage to Flourish through talk
At St Michael’s C of E Primary School and Nursery, we believe that spoken language is at the heart of learning. Before children can write confidently, they must first be able to think, discuss, explain and express their ideas clearly.
We provide regular opportunities for children to develop their vocabulary, listening skills, confidence and communication through purposeful talk across the curriculum. Through discussion, debate, questioning, presentation and collaborative learning, pupils learn how to articulate their ideas, build on the views of others and communicate effectively in a range of situations.
Oracy is woven throughout our curriculum and plays a vital role in developing reading, writing and learning across all subjects. Children are explicitly taught how to listen attentively, speak clearly, justify their opinions and adapt their language for different audiences and purposes.
Through our work with Talking Classrooms, we are developing a consistent whole-school approach to oracy that promotes high-quality classroom talk and supports children to become confident, articulate communicators. This helps pupils develop the vocabulary, reasoning and language skills they need to succeed both in school and beyond.
How we develop oracy
Children regularly take part in:
- Vocabulary-rich discussions
- Partner and group talk
- Book talk and reading discussions
- Debate and reasoning activities
- Presentations and performances
- Questioning and enquiry-based learning
- Collaborative problem-solving
- Opportunities to explain, justify and evaluate their thinking
By developing confident speakers and active listeners, we help every child to flourish as a learner, communicator and member of society. Our aim is for all pupils to leave St Michael’s with the confidence and skills to communicate effectively, respectfully and thoughtfully in any situation.
At St Michael’s, we believe that reading, writing, spelling, handwriting and oracy work together to unlock learning. By developing confident communicators, we equip every child with the courage to flourish in the love of God.