English

Oracy

At St. Joseph's, we believe that every child deserves to have their voice heard. Oracy – the ability to speak and listen effectively – is a vital part of our curriculum and school culture. It helps children become confident communicators, thoughtful listeners, and active participants in their learning and communities.

What is Oracy?

Oracy is the skill of speaking and listening well. It includes:

• Expressing ideas clearly and confidently
• Listening respectfully and responding thoughtfully
• Using appropriate language for different audiences and purposes

Just like reading and writing, oracy is a skill that can be taught, practiced, and celebrated.

Why Oracy Matters

Strong oracy skills help children to:

• Develop self-confidence and self-esteem
• Think critically and reason clearly
• Work collaboratively and solve problems
• Succeed academically across all subjects
• Prepare for life beyond school – in relationships, further education, and the workplace

How We Teach Oracy

Oracy is woven throughout our curriculum and daily school life. Children learn to:

• Take part in structured talk activities such as debates, discussions, and storytelling
• Present their ideas in assemblies, performances, and classroom presentations
• Use talk to explore and deepen their understanding in subjects like maths, science, RE, history and geography
• Listen actively and respectfully to others  

We use Chris Quigley's Oracy Framework 'Tongue Fu Talking' to support high-quality oracy teaching throughout the school. This is a progression-based oracy framework which helps pupils develop confidence in speaking and listening through structured oracy practices, curriculum-based classroom talk strategies, and ready-to-use oracy resources.

The skills of oracy are taught through four disciplines:

• The Stance (physical presence)

• The Flow (linguistic skill)

• The Mind (cognitive strategies)

• The Bond (social and emotional connection)

The children's progress is then assessed against the Tongue Fu Belt System:

Oracy and Our School Values

Oracy supports our commitment to nurturing respectful, compassionate, and articulate learners. It reflects our belief in:

• The dignity of every child’s voice
• The importance of participation and community
• Speaking with kindness, clarity, and purpose  

Celebrating Oracy

We love to celebrate our pupils’ speaking and listening achievements through:

• Class assemblies and performances
• Poetry recitals and storytelling events
• School council speeches and pupil leadership roles
• Special themed weeks and oracy challenges  

Supporting Oracy at Home

Parents and carers play a key role in developing oracy. You can support your child by:

• Encouraging them to explain their thinking and ideas
• Asking open-ended questions during conversations
• Sharing stories and discussing books together
• Modelling good listening and respectful dialogue

Together, we can help every child find their voice and use it with confidence and care.