Our Belief About Oracy
At Slimbridge Primary School, we believe that strong communication skills are at the heart of successful learning and positive relationships. We are committed to nurturing confident, articulate and respectful communicators who can express their ideas clearly and listen thoughtfully to others. Through a language-rich curriculum and supportive learning environment, we encourage every child to develop a love of speaking, listening, reading and writing. We recognise that spoken language plays a vital role in learning and personal development, and we strive to provide opportunities for meaningful discussion and purposeful talk across the school day.
Helping Children to Develop Oracy Skills
We believe that oracy is a fundamental skill that supports children’s learning across all areas of the curriculum. Effective speaking and listening help children develop confidence, deepen their understanding and engage positively with others. At Slimbridge Primary School, we promote high standards of communication and active listening throughout our school community. Children are encouraged to share ideas, ask questions, explain their thinking and participate in collaborative discussions. Through carefully planned opportunities for talk, debate, presentation and reflection, we help pupils become confident communicators who are well prepared for the next stage of their education and beyond.
Teaching of Oracy
At Slimbridge Primary School, the teaching of oracy focuses on four key areas:
Physical aspects – using voice, expression, gesture and body language effectively to communicate.
Linguistic aspects – developing vocabulary, sentence structure and language appropriate for different audiences and purposes.
Cognitive aspects – organising ideas, reasoning, questioning, explaining and building understanding through talk.
Social and emotional aspects – listening respectfully, collaborating with others, responding thoughtfully and building confidence as speakers.
By embedding oracy across the curriculum, we empower children to become effective communicators, successful learners and active members of their community.
Click below to have a closer look at our planning for progression in oracy: