We believe that oracy – the ability to speak, listen and communicate effectively – is fundamental to children's learning and development. Strong communication skills help children to express their ideas clearly, listen carefully to others, develop confidence and deepen their thinking across the curriculum.

Oracy is taught explicitly and woven throughout everyday learning. Children are given regular opportunities to talk with partners, discuss ideas in groups, explain their thinking, ask questions, debate, present and perform. Teachers model high-quality spoken language and introduce pupils to new vocabulary so that they become increasingly confident in using language accurately and effectively.

We teach children how to be good speakers and listeners, including taking turns, building on the ideas of others, giving reasons for their opinions and adapting the way they speak for different audiences and situations. Sentence stems, structured discussion and purposeful questioning support all pupils to participate successfully.

Oracy is particularly important within our small-school context. We use talk to strengthen children's vocabulary, confidence and communication skills, while also preparing them for the transition to larger schools where they will need to confidently express themselves, contribute to discussions and advocate for their own learning.

Opportunities for oracy extend beyond lessons through collective worship, pupil leadership, performances, school council, visits, visitors and involvement within our local community. In this way, children learn that their voice matters and develop the confidence and communication skills they need both in school and in their future lives.