Oracy

Oracy

Oracy at King Richard III

At our school, helping children develop their language and speaking skills is very important. We focus on improving how children say and understand words, because this helps them do better in all subjects.

Before children can read and write well, they need to be able to speak clearly and explain their ideas. Speaking and listening (oracy) is a key part of the English curriculum and helps children reach their full potential.

Many of our children start school without the speaking skills expected for their age. Some also speak English as an additional language. We help them by giving lots of chances to speak and learn new words. Our lessons are full of vocabulary and speaking activities to help children practise and grow in confidence.

We want every child to feel they have a voice. We believe this is important for their future success and happiness. We encourage children to share their ideas and opinions in a respectful and supportive way. Speaking and listening is not just a separate lesson—it is part of everything we do in school. By the time children leave King Richard III, we want them to be able to speak clearly, explain their thoughts, and take part in respectful conversations.

How We Teach Speaking and Listening

In every subject, teachers plan important vocabulary for children to learn and make sure children understand and use them. This helps children learn more and gives teachers a way to check their progress. Teachers are also trained to include speaking activities in all lessons and use different methods to help children talk and listen well.

In every classroom, we use “talk tactics” to help children become good listeners and confident speakers. These are simple steps that guide children in how to take part in discussions. We also use a “voice levels” chart to show the appropriate volume to speak at in different situations, such as talking to a friend or speaking to the whole class.

In Key Stage 1, we run a special oracy intervention programme called “Talk Boost” for children who need extra help with speaking. This programme runs three times a week for ten weeks. It focuses on building sentences, learning new words, listening carefully, telling stories, and having conversations. Children take part in short group activities led by a teacher or teaching assistant. This helps them catch up with their classmates.

What This Means for Our Children

Using these speaking and listening strategies has made a big difference for our children. They are more confident, better at sharing their ideas, and more comfortable talking with others. When children leave our school, they are ready to speak clearly, listen well, and take part in conversations. We believe that strong speaking skills help children succeed in school and in life.

As a Leicester City school, we have taken part in Voice 21 training about Oracy (Speaking and Listening) across the curriculum.

Language and Communication, 'Oracy' and Voice 21 approaches are at the heart of everything we do.

How We Teach Speaking and Listening

What This Means for Our Children

KRIII Oracy Documents