At Toner Avenue Primary School, we are very pleased to be working as part of the Voice 21 programme to develop oracy for our pupils.
Oracy is the ability to articulate ideas, develop understanding and engage with others through spoken language and listening.
Why do we teach Oracy?
Oracy is a ‘neologism’ – a newly coined word or expression – which was first devised by Andrew Wilkinson in the 1960s in direct response to the growing importance placed on literacy and numeracy. It captures the essential need for talk (just as one needs to be literate and numerate) and also emphasises that it is a skill which can be acquired through teaching.
Oracy at Toner Avenue Primary School
Oracy is hugely important at Toner Avenue Primary School. As a school, we work closely in line with the Voice 21 programme. Students will be taught both to and through talk to enable them to discuss, perform, debate and express themselves in a range of contexts, for a range of purposes.
Students will learn to listen carefully to others, building on their views or showing empathy as appropriate. Opportunities to learn active listening skills will become increasingly advanced as students move through the school. This will be supported by a culture which celebrates a range of accents and dialects, including those who use non-standard varieties of English.
We recognise that oracy in the classroom should be seen, by both teachers and students, as a valuable activity. Oracy plays an important role in collaborative learning activities, starting from when the students enter Early Years. Our aim is to enable students to improve their levels of oracy, so that they can all communicate effectively and confidently in front of any type of audience throughout their time at Toner Avenue Primary School, as well as in future years. These skills are encouraged in every area of our curriculum, as good communication skills can enhance learning across a range of subjects.
Many of our students start early school life without the oracy skills relevant for their age. We strive to develop spoken language skills through the taught curriculum, playtimes and lunchtimes, extra-curricular activities and the whole ethos of the school.
In line with the Voice 21 approach, classes follow discussion guidelines, which are tailored to the needs of individual pupils:
A key aspect of these discussion guidelines is ‘proof of listening’:
Please see below our Oracy policy:
