Oracy

Oracy

Oracy is our ability to communicate effectively using spoken language. Oracy is the ability to articulate ideas, develop understanding and engage with others through spoken language. (Voice 21)

Oracy Framework

Oracy Progression Map

At Seaton Academy, we believe spoken language to be fundamental to the development and achievements of our children. Research has highlighted ‘the strong link between children’s early language and their future academic achievement’ (Snowling & Hulme, 2011). We strive as a school to elevate spoken language to provide solid foundations for reading and writing.

As well as having a positive impact on academic outcomes, focusing on language also helps children: express their needs and wants; build strong and secure relationships; and develop their imagination.

We are committed to building and embedding a culture of oracy. Purposeful talk is used to drive learning, which has been planned, designed, modelled, scaffolded and structured to enable all learners to develop skills needed to communicate effectively. We strive to develop oracy in the curriculum, playtimes, lunchtimes and extra-curricular activities; encompassing the ethos of our school.

Examples of activities we use at Seaton Academy to develop spoken lanugage include:

-talk partners

-group discussion

-debate

-role play

-drama

-presentation

-collaborative work and problem solving 

Little Wandle Foundations for Language

Foundations for Language

At Seaton Academy, we are trained in Little Wandle Foundations for Language. This has been designed to run alongside Little Wandle Foundations for Phonics, as part of the wider Communication and Language and Literacy provision. This ensures staff are skilled at using high-quality interactions to develop children’s language in the EYFS.

Neuroscience has shown us that the ‘growth of children’s language is linked to the quality of back-and-forth interactions’ they have with their caregivers (Romeo et al.,2018). These interactions form the foundations for language and cognitive development. Within these crutial interactions, children learn best when they are explicitly taught vocabulary and are provided with a good model of grammar.

Through using this approach, our EYFS children will learn:

• new vocabulary
• appropriate grammatical structures
• turn-taking in conversations
• to become confident communicators

These skills are aligned with the communication and language focus outlined in Development Matters.

Whole School Oracy Strategies 

To support our teaching of oracy, we have developed some school wide strategies: 

High-qualitly modelling of language, demonstrated by all adults in school using a bank of 'Teacher Talk Tactics'.

All classes will agree their 'Discussion Guidelines' which set out how everyone in the class (including the adults) will work together to ensure that everyone has a voice and their their contributions are valued. 

Children are encouraged to use 'Talk Tactics' to support them in developing their oracy skills across the curriculum. We believe that it is very important for children to understand their role in discussion and how to use vocabulary to communicate effectively. 

Talk Tactics