Intent

At Rockmount Primary School, we believe that oracy—the ability to use the skills of speaking, listening and non-verbal communication for a wide range of purposes—is fundamental to children’s learning, wellbeing and future success. We aim to create confident, articulate speakers and attentive listeners who can express their thoughts clearly, respectfully challenge ideas and adapt their language for different purposes and audiences.

Oracy is an important part of learning. When we help children become confident speakers and careful listeners, we support them in understanding themselves, other people, and the world. Strong oracy skills also open doors for every child, giving all pupils—not just a few—the chance to develop their voice and achieve both in school and beyond.

Implementation

Oracy is taught explicitly and embedded consistently across all areas of the curriculum. Teachers plan purposeful speaking and listening opportunities that are progressive and inclusive, ensuring that all pupils are supported to develop their oracy skills.

We implement oracy through:

• Establishing a shared language of talk: Ensuring consistent use of specific vocabulary and communication strategies by all staff and pupils.

• Structured talk activities: Engaging pupils in purposeful speaking and listening opportunities such as:

• Talk Partners: Encouraging peer-to-peer dialogue and explanation.
• Group Discussions: Fostering collaborative thinking and idea sharing.
• Debates: Developing critical thinking and persuasive speaking skills.
• Role Play: Enhancing empathy and understanding f different perspectives.
• Presentations: Building confidence in public speaking and clear articulation.

• High-quality modelling of spoken language: Teachers provide clear examples, supported by sentence stems, key vocabulary, and discussion prompts.
• A rich and engaging curriculum: Designed to spark curiosity, encourage reasoning, and promote deep thinking across all subjects.
• Supportive classroom environments: Creating spaces that promote respectful listening, equitable turn-taking, and build pupil confidence.
• Targeted support: Providing tailored assistance for pupils who require additional help with communication, including EAL learners and those with speech and language needs.
• Continuous professional development: Ongoing training for staff on oracy, led by our Oracy Leads and external subject experts.

Oracy is regularly revisited and developed in performances, school councils and enrichment activities, ensuring pupils can transfer their skills to real-life contexts.

Impact

As a result of our strong focus on oracy, our pupils will:

• Communicate confidently and effectively, adapting their language for diverse audiences and purposes.
• Listen attentively, respond thoughtfully, and engage respectfully with the views of others, fostering a culture of mutual understanding.
• Develop deeper thinking, reasoning, and conceptual understanding across all subjects through purposeful talk.
• Demonstrate enhanced confidence, collaboration, and active participation across the curriculum.
• Find their voice and achieve greater success, with particular support for disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs.
• Contribute to a school-wide culture of high-quality talk, embedded in everyday pedagogical practice, which is recognised as a strength of the school.

For parents and carers, this means seeing your child grow in confidence, articulate their needs and ideas more effectively, and engage more deeply in their learning.

Little Wandle Foundations Project in Nursery

In our Nursery, we implement the Little Wandle Foundations programme, providing our youngest learners with the strongest possible foundation for reading, writing, and communication. This programme prioritises spoken language, recognising that confident talk and active listening are the bedrock of all future learning. Our dedicated Early Years staff model high-quality language and create rich, meaningful opportunities for discussion, storytelling, and reciprocal interactions. Through engaging activities, including targeted ‘rhyme time’ sessions, we nurture strong communication skills in a supportive and inclusive environment, effectively preparing children for formal phonics teaching in Reception.

Please check the bottom of this page for useful guides about supporting your nursery child at home. 

Oracy Cambridge Project

We are proud to be part of a pilot project with Oracy Cambridge, collaborating with other Croydon schools. Over the next 18 months, this partnership will enable us to further develop and embed a whole-school approach to oracy, guided by leading experts in the field. This is an exciting opportunity that promises a significant positive impact on our pupils' communication and learning journeys.

Our Commitment to Oracy in Action

At Rockmount Primary School, we are dedicated to fostering exceptional oracy skills in all our pupils. This commitment is woven into the fabric of our curriculum and daily school life.