Oracy

Oracy is the ability to articulate ideas, develop understanding and engage with others through spoken language. At Parklee Community Primary School, oracy is a vital tool for learning; by teaching children to become more effective speakers and listeners we empower them to better understand themselves, each other and the world around them.

Parklee Community Primary School follows the National Curriculum guidelines for the teaching of speaking and listening. We believe spoken language to be essential in the development and achievement of our children across the curriculum. We strive to develop spoken language skills through the taught curriculum, the hidden curriculum, playtimes and lunchtimes, extra-curricular activities and the whole ethos of the school.

Respectful and productive relationships between all who form part of the school community are crucial aspects of our oracy ethos. We place a high priority on supporting the development of good speaking and listening skills amongst our children. Correct spoken language and development of vocabulary is fundamental to learning. Speaking and listening play a large part in a child’s progress in all curriculum areas and teachers plan to develop these skills in a wide variety of ways. We aim to develop and encourage fluent speakers, with rich vocabulary, who are confident to operate in a wide range of situations.

Children are taught how to be effective communicators, ask and answer questions and present to an audience during the school day. Oracy projects within school provide opportunities for storytelling, debating and presenting during our curriculum. Good oracy skills support wider literacy skills; improvement in oracy is also linked to improvements in reading, writing, and overall attainment.

We provided many opportunities to support the development of children’s oracy skills including through the use of targeted interventions using WELLCOMM in EYFS and KS1. Oracy is explicitly planned in English through timetabled ‘Book Club’ sessions, where children and staff have the opportunity to discuss books and recommend authors to each other. There are also planned class assemblies for each year group throughout the academic year, a Ks1 Christmas production as well as an end of year performance in Year 6.

We also have weekly singing assemblies and there are class reps for various clubs including Eco Warriors and Class Council who routinely speak to their class and during assemblies, sharing news, educating their peers and canvasing opinions.