Intent

At St Mary’s Primary School, we believe that spoken language underpins the development of reading, writing, and wider learning. While we do not follow a standalone oracy programme, oracy is woven deliberately and consistently throughout our curriculum.

We aim for every child to leave St Mary’s as a confident, articulate communicator who:

• Speaks with clarity and confidence in a range of contexts

• Listens actively and respectfully to others

• Can explain and build on ideas using appropriate vocabulary

• Can express opinions, justify reasoning and respond thoughtfully

• Adapts their talk for purpose, audience, and formal/informal situations

• Participates positively in partner, group and whole-class discussion

• Shows respect, empathy and turn-taking through their spoken interactions

We want pupils to recognise that their voice has value and that effective communication enables them to learn collaboratively, advocate for themselves and others, and make a difference in their community.

Our oracy practice is intentional and inclusive so that all pupils, regardless of starting point, have opportunities to develop as confident speakers and listeners.

Implementation

Oracy development is embedded across all subjects and phases. We create regular and meaningful opportunities for children to speak, listen, respond, question, and present.

Teachers model high-quality talk daily, and pupils are supported to rehearse orally before recording ideas in writing. Techniques such as sentence stems, sentence rehearsal, talk partners, and structured group discussion help pupils articulate ideas with clarity and confidence.

Across the curriculum, we explicitly teach vocabulary appropriate to the subject matter. This includes both Tier 2 vocabulary (high-utility language used across subjects) and Tier 3 vocabulary (subject-specific terminology). New vocabulary is explored orally, practised in context, and revisited frequently to deepen understanding and support confident usage.

To support emotional literacy, we use the FEELIT! programme, which teaches emotional vocabulary and supports children to label and understand their feelings, empowering them to express themselves clearly, manage difficult emotions and communicate needs effectively.

Children are encouraged to listen attentively, build on others’ ideas and communicate respectfully. Our school values underpin expectations for respectful dialogue and empathetic listening. Teachers provide scaffolded opportunities for debate, explanation, storytelling, performance, questioning, and presentation. Classroom environments are rich in discussion and collaborative learning, helping pupils develop confidence when speaking to different audiences.

Our Christian ethos supports the development of thoughtful, compassionate communicators who show kindness, empathy, and courage in sharing their voice.

Impact

Our approach to oracy ensures that all children develop the confidence, fluency, and emotional intelligence to communicate effectively both within and beyond the classroom.

Through daily opportunities to speak, listen, and reflect, children become articulate, thoughtful communicators who can express themselves with clarity, empathy, and purpose. They understand that words have power — to connect, to influence, and to make a positive difference.

As a result of our consistent and embedded practice, children at St Mary’s:

• Speak confidently and clearly in a variety of situations, adapting their language for different audiences and purposes.

• Demonstrate active listening skills, showing respect for the views of others.

• Use a growing repertoire of Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary accurately and appropriately across the curriculum.

• Employ sentence stems, discussion frameworks, and exploratory talk to reason, explain and justify ideas.

• Show emotional awareness and empathy through the language they use, drawing on vocabulary taught through the FEELIT! programme to express and manage their feelings constructively.

• Participate successfully in group discussions, performances, presentations and debates, demonstrating teamwork and mutual respect.

The impact of oracy can be seen in the way children interact - in lessons, around school, and in the wider community. Pupils are able to listen, respond, and articulate ideas with confidence, demonstrating our school vision of aspiring, nurturing, flourishing – together shining our light.

Our pupils leave St Mary’s equipped not only with strong communication skills, but also with the self-belief and compassion to use their voices for good.