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- Our Curriculum
- Our Curriculum Concepts
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- Oracy
- Reading, Writing and Spelling at Tidbury
- Maths at Tidbury
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Oracy at Tidbury Green
"Learning floats on a sea of talk."
At Tidbury Green, we believe that every child deserves a voice. Oracy is the ability to communicate effectively through speaking and listening. It helps children to express their ideas clearly, listen with respect and learn from others.
Strong oracy skills are fundamental to success across the whole curriculum and beyond the classroom. They enable children to collaborate, solve problems, ask thoughtful questions and become confident, respectful communicators.
Our Oracy Journey
We are proud to be working with Voice 21, the UK's leading oracy education organisation, as we develop a whole-school approach to speaking and listening.
Through this partnership, we are creating classrooms where talk is purposeful, structured and valued. Children are learning to talk confidently and learning through talk. Our aim is to ensure that every child has the skills and confidence to communicate effectively in a range of situations. As our oracy journey develops, we look forward to sharing the rich discussions and collaborative learning taking place across our school.
Watch the Voice 21 video below to find out more about why oracy is such an important part of learning:
//www.youtube.com/embed/shi1K1SepQI#t=0.5
The Voice 21 Oracy Framework
Our work is guided by the Voice 21 Oracy Framework, which identifies four key areas of spoken communication:
- Physical – using voice, expression and body language effectively.
- Linguistic – choosing appropriate vocabulary and language.
- Cognitive – organising ideas, explaining thinking and reasoning.
- Social & Emotional – listening actively, collaborating and showing respect for different viewpoints.
Together, these skills help children become confident communicators who are ready to succeed in school and beyond.
Oracy at Tidbury Green
Oracy is woven throughout our curriculum and school day. Using our agreed class discussion guidelines and talk tactics (sentence stems that support discussion), children are supported to communicate with confidence, listen actively and build on one another's ideas.
Children regularly take part in activities that help them develop as confident speakers and active listeners, including:
- discussing ideas with partners and groups
- explaining and justifying their thinking
- asking and answering questions
- building on the ideas of others
- listening actively and responding respectfully
- developing confidence when speaking in front of others.
Through purposeful talk across the curriculum, children deepen their understanding, develop rich vocabulary, think critically and grow into confident communicators who are well prepared for life beyond Tidbury Green.
Supporting Oracy at Home
Parents and carers play an important role in developing children's communication skills. Talking together at home, sharing books, asking questions and encouraging children to explain their ideas all help to build confident speakers and listeners.
Whether talking about a book, discussing the school day or simply chatting over dinner, every conversation helps children to become more confident communicators.
Simple everyday conversations make a big difference in helping children to develop their vocabulary, confidence and ability to express themselves clearly.
Useful Links
- Voice 21 website Voice 21 | Oracy | United Kingdom
- Voice 21 Oracy Framework The-Oracy-Framework-2021-1-1.pdf
What is Oracy? – Voice 21 (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shi1K1SepQI
Oracy Progression
At Tidbury Green, we believe that spoken language is a powerful tool for learning, expression, and connection. Our Oracy Progression Document outlines a clear and ambitious pathway for developing students’ speaking and listening skills from early years through to the end of their school journey.
This document reflects our commitment to nurturing confident, articulate, and thoughtful communicators. Whether through classroom discussions, presentations, performances, or collaborative group work, we aim to ensure every child has the opportunity to find their voice and use it effectively.