Speaking, Listening and Oracy at The Willows

At The Willows, we believe that the ability to speak and listen effectively is fundamental to every child’s language, learning and social development. It is an essential skill for life and a key part of learning across the whole curriculum.

Oracy, the ability to communicate confidently and effectively, is a priority at our school. We know that talk underpins thinking and learning: it helps children to develop vocabulary, explain their ideas, ask questions, solve problems and build positive relationships with others.

Pupils take part in daily speaking and listening sessions, where they are explicitly taught the skills needed to become confident communicators. They are given regular opportunities to listen carefully, take turns, ask thoughtful questions, share ideas and respond respectfully to others.

Speaking and listening are developed throughout the school day. In lessons across all subjects, children are encouraged to discuss, explain, reason, present and reflect on their learning. They also have opportunities to speak in assemblies and share their work with a wider audience.

We recognise that some pupils join our school at different stages and may need additional support to develop their communication skills. Through carefully planned teaching, modelling and encouragement, we support every child to develop the confidence and language they need to express themselves successfully.

Through the teaching of Speaking, Listening and Oracy, we aim to help pupils to:

• listen attentively and respond appropriately to adults and peers;
• speak clearly and confidently in a range of situations;
• use an increasingly rich and precise vocabulary;
• ask and answer questions to deepen their understanding;
• explain, justify and develop their ideas;
• take part constructively in discussions and collaborative learning;
• present information and ideas clearly to different audiences;
• respect different viewpoints and build on the contributions of others;
• develop the confidence to share their thoughts, opinions and experiences.