Oracy at Woore Primary and Nursery School
At Woore Primary and Nursery School, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to find their voice and use it confidently, purposefully and effectively. Through our work with Voice 21, oracy is embedded across all aspects of school life, helping children develop the communication skills they need to succeed both in school and beyond.
Oracy is the ability to express ideas, communicate clearly, listen actively and engage thoughtfully with others. We recognise that spoken language is fundamental to learning and plays a vital role in developing children's confidence, wellbeing and academic achievement.
Our approach is built around the Voice 21 Oracy Framework, which develops children's skills across four key strands:
Physical
Children learn how to use their voice effectively through clear pronunciation, appropriate volume, pace, eye contact, facial expressions and body language. They develop the confidence to speak clearly and present their ideas to a range of audiences.
Linguistic
We support children to expand their vocabulary, use subject-specific language accurately and communicate using increasingly sophisticated sentence structures. Children learn how to adapt their language for different purposes, audiences and situations.
Cognitive
Through discussion, questioning and reasoning, children learn to develop, justify and refine their ideas. They are encouraged to think critically, build on the contributions of others and support their opinions with evidence.
Social and Emotional
Children develop the skills needed to work collaboratively, listen respectfully and contribute positively to discussions. They learn how to manage conversations, take turns, show empathy and communicate with confidence.
Oracy Across Our Curriculum
Oracy is not taught as a standalone subject; it is woven throughout our curriculum and daily school life. Every lesson provides opportunities for purposeful talk, discussion and collaborative learning. Children regularly engage in partner talk, group discussions, debates, presentations and problem-solving activities across all subjects.
From Nursery through to Year 6, we provide a progressive programme of oracy development, ensuring that children continually build upon their speaking and listening skills as they move through the school.
Tools for Talk
To support high-quality classroom discussion, we use a range of consistent strategies across the school, including:
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Talk Tactics to help children contribute meaningfully to discussions.
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Stem Sentences that provide scaffolds for reasoning, agreeing, disagreeing, questioning and explaining.
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Rules of Speech that encourage respectful and productive conversations.
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Functional Language resources that help children organise and articulate their thinking using increasingly sophisticated vocabulary.
These tools ensure that all children, regardless of background or ability, have equitable opportunities to participate and succeed in discussions.
Starting Early in EYFS
Oracy development begins in our Nursery and Reception classes, where children are encouraged to develop language through play, storytelling, exploration and high-quality interactions with adults. Staff use carefully designed prompts and talk strategies to develop children's vocabulary, communication and confidence from the very start of their educational journey.
Creating an Oracy-Rich Culture
At Woore, oracy extends beyond the classroom. Children are encouraged to use their voices through assemblies, performances, School Council, pupil leadership opportunities and wider school events. Staff model effective communication and actively promote respectful listening and discussion throughout the school day.
By placing oracy at the heart of our curriculum, we aim to develop articulate, confident and thoughtful young people who can express themselves clearly, listen with understanding and make a positive contribution to the world around them.
