Oracy

Developing Oracy & Communication

At our school, we firmly believe that the ability to articulate thoughts, listen actively, and express oneself with confidence is a fundamental key to future success. Spoken language underpins all learning, emotional wellbeing, and social development. By embedding a culture of oracy across every key stage, we empower our pupils to find their voice, share their ideas with pride, and engage meaningfully with the world around them.

Laying Strong Foundations in the Early Years

Confident communication begins from a child's very first day in our Early Years settings. Our staff use the SHREC approach to carefully model and promote speech—sharing attention with the child, hearing what they say, reciprocating their ideas, expanding their vocabulary, and checking for understanding. Alongside this interaction model, we utilise the WELLCOMM screening and intervention framework. This enables us to track, support, and accelerate age-related speech and language development, providing targeted support so that every child builds the strong communication foundations necessary for early learning.

Whole-School Oracy & WalkThrus Strategies

As children progress through the school, our commitment to high-level communication remains central to every lesson. Staff systematically model ambitious vocabulary, articulate reasoning, and set high standards for how pupils speak in full, thoughtful sentences. To ensure a consistent, high-impact approach across all classrooms, we utilise WalkThrus instructional strategies as a shared framework for engaging learners in deep discussion. Techniques such as structured talk partners, deliberate wait time, and refining responses ensure that classroom talk is purposeful, inclusive, and challenging for every child.

By prioritising oracy throughout our school culture, we help our pupils transform from passive listeners into active, articulate communicators who possess the confidence and clarity to succeed wherever their aspirations take them.