Oracy
"Oracy is speaking and listening well"
What is oracy and why is it important?
Watch this video, or read on to find out about oracy.
Oracy is the ability to communicate effectively through speaking and listening. It includes developing a rich vocabulary, speaking clearly, expressing ideas confidently, and listening carefully to others. Oracy is important because it underpins all learning: children who can talk about their ideas and understand others are better able to make sense of new knowledge, ask questions, and engage in classroom discussions.
Strong oracy skills also build confidence, support reading and writing, and help children develop the communication and teamwork skills they will need throughout their education and later in life. If you would like to know how children develop these over time, please download and read our Progression of Oracy Skills Map from the bottom of this page. There, you will also find an example Class Oracy Charter – which helps to remind children of our expectations for speaking and listening well.
Our Vision for Oracy
We believe that confident speaking, active listening, and rich discussion are fundamental to every child’s success in school and beyond. Oracy is not an add-on to learning; it is the foundation through which pupils develop understanding, think critically, and express themselves with clarity and confidence.
Recent feedback has highlighted the importance of ensuring that support for pupils with weaker language skills is applied consistently across all areas of the curriculum. We have taken this seriously and are committed to strengthening and embedding a shared approach to oracy across our school so that every pupil benefits, in every subject, every day.
Our vision is for a school where:
- All pupils are explicitly taught the language they need to learn effectively
- Speaking and listening are planned into lessons with the same care as reading and writing
- Teachers consistently use agreed strategies to support vocabulary development and sentence structure
- Pupils are given regular, structured opportunities to explain, question, debate, and reflect
We are developing a whole-school approach to oracy that ensures high expectations for spoken language are clear, shared, and consistently applied. This includes strengthening staff training, refining classroom routines, and embedding subject-specific language development across the curriculum.
We want every child—regardless of starting point—to leave our school able to speak with confidence, listen with understanding, and use language as a powerful tool for learning and life.
How we will do this
How we will do this: Intent, Implementation, Impact
Intent
Our intent is to develop every pupil’s ability to speak clearly, listen actively, and engage confidently in a wide range of discussions. We aim to ensure that all pupils, particularly those with weaker language skills, are explicitly taught the vocabulary and sentence structures they need to access learning across the curriculum. Oracy is prioritised as a key driver of progress and inclusion in every subject.
Implementation
We implement a consistent, whole-school approach to oracy through planned opportunities for talk in lessons, explicit teaching of subject-specific vocabulary, and the use of agreed strategies to scaffold pupil responses. Staff receive ongoing training to ensure that language support strategies are applied consistently and effectively across all classrooms and subjects.
Impact
As a result, pupils become more confident and articulate speakers who are able to express their ideas with increasing clarity and precision. We expect to see improved engagement in lessons, stronger understanding of key concepts, and accelerated progress for pupils with weaker language skills as oracy becomes embedded across the curriculum.
Inclusion and Support
Supporting children with additional needs
At our school, we are committed to supporting children with additional needs to develop their oracy skills. In addition to the support children receive in class, we have a dedicated nurture hub, known as The Hive, where children with additional communication and interaction needs receive individualised and targeted support. Within The Hive, pupils take part in a range of interventions, including Language Links programmes, Elklan and ELSA interventions and small group sessions where they practise speaking and listening in a supportive environment. We use Boxall Profiles, Language Links assessments and the expertise of external professionals to accurately identify each child’s needs, allowing us to tailor interventions and support to suit their individual strengths and areas for development. Through this personalised approach, we aim to build confidence, improve communication skills, and help every child find their voice.
If parents or carers feel that their child may benefit from additional support with oracy skills, they are encouraged to discuss this with their child’s class teacher.
How can you help?
Parents and carers can play a key role in developing their child’s oracy skills by making time for regular, meaningful conversation at home. Encourage your child to talk about their day, explain their ideas, and share their opinions, and respond with interest to help build confidence. Asking open-ended questions, reading together and discussing stories, and modelling attentive listening all support strong speaking and listening habits. Everyday activities such as mealtimes, journeys, or play can provide valuable opportunities for children to practise expressing themselves clearly and thoughtfully.
If you would like further advice or have any questions, you are always welcome to speak to your child’s class teacher, who will be happy to provide additional support and suggestions tailored to your child’s needs.