Oracy at Wolsey House Primary School underpins our entire curriculum. We are committed to ensuring that all children are able to articulate themselves clearly, express their knowledge and understanding, and engage confidently in meaningful dialogue. High-quality talk is central to learning across the school, supporting language development, deepening thinking and strengthening communication skills. Oracy is a key priority within our community and we ensure that purposeful talk is promoted consistently from Nursery to Year 6.

Oracy underpins the curriculum at Wolsey House Primary School and is central to children’s learning from Nursery to Year 6. In the Early Years Foundation Stage, oracy is taught explicitly through Communication and Language and is woven into all learning experiences, both indoors and outdoors. Stand-alone oracy sessions help children build the foundations of confident speaking and listening, often linking to the EYFS Big and Little Questions to develop language in meaningful contexts. Children learn to listen attentively, take turns in conversation, retell events and express their ideas with growing clarity.

Across the school, teaching develops children’s skills in language development and vocabulary, spoken communication, listening and responding and expressive and performance skills. Pupils access a vocabulary-rich curriculum through the use of ‘Sticky Words’ and the deliberate, progressive introduction of subject-specific terminology. Many children require explicit instruction in vocabulary and language structures, and teachers plan clear opportunities to teach and rehearse new languages. Children also develop fluency, accuracy, and confidence through structured talk, supported by strategies such as modelling, questioning, the use of sentence stems and oral rehearsal. Active listening is modelled and practised, enabling children to respond appropriately, build on others’ ideas, and engage respectfully in discussion. This is done through utilising ‘silent summarisers’ and ‘talk detectives.’   Drama, role-play, storytelling and presentation activities further develop children’s expressive skills, voice projection and confidence when speaking to different audiences.

As pupils progress into Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, oracy skills are deepened and embedded across all subjects. Children are encouraged to use high-quality language to think critically, reason, explain, and justify their ideas. Learning builds progressively, with increasing expectations for sentence structure, reasoning, debate, presentation and the use of Standard English, at the appropriate times – identifying the purpose and audience, which further enhances our children’s ability to articulate themselves in the correct manner. Identified opportunities across the

• Talk for Writing sessions to develop high-level vocabulary and Standard English
• Introduction and application of sticky words across the curriculum, coupled with the Big and Little Questions.
• Use of talk partners in all subjects (mixed ability), which can take many forms: pairs, trios, and traverses.
• Paired and collaborative learning activities
• Structured discussions and debates, through the use of talk detectives, silent summarisers and children-talk tactics.
• Drama and role-play activities
• Weekly Circle Time and Jigsaw sessions, linking their personal development and articulation of their own thoughts
• Listening to and discussing stories during reading review sessions and for pleasure
• Presentations of learning to peers or adults
• Singing to support pronunciation, voice projection, expression and confidence

Interventions are provided for children who need additional support, delivered individually or in groups and the school works closely with speech and language therapists, implementing their guidance and resources.

Oracy is celebrated and developed beyond the classroom through regular opportunities to practise skills in real-life contexts, including assemblies, School Council meetings, pupil voice activities across subjects, school performances and celebrations, participation in community events such as visits to care homes, sporting events and educational visits that provide real-world contexts for meaningful talk.

Through this structured, progressive and inclusive approach, children at Wolsey House develop the confidence, fluency and capability to communicate effectively in a range of situations. Oracy enhances learning across the curriculum, strengthens relationships and equips children with the essential communication skills they need to succeed both now and in the future.