Oracy at Westbury Infant School

Oracy is the knowledge and skills children need to listen, understand, speak, interact and communicate effectively. It helps children to develop their ideas, learn new vocabulary, explain their thinking, enjoy stories, solve problems with others and participate confidently in school life.

At Westbury Infant School, oracy is taught and practised throughout the day. Children learn through conversations with adults, partner and group discussions, stories, rhymes, poems, imaginative play, drama and opportunities to explain their learning. Familiar approaches such as Talk Through Stories, Helicopter Stories, Drawing Club, Poetry Basket, RWI talk partners and KS1 Play Projects give children meaningful reasons to listen and communicate.

Adults model new vocabulary and well-formed sentences, give children time to think and help them extend or clarify what they want to say. Each curriculum subject identifies important vocabulary so that children hear, understand and use increasingly precise language. Children progress from sharing attention and joining short conversations to explaining ideas, giving reasons, building on another person’s contribution and speaking clearly for a familiar audience.

We recognise that communication can include speech, gesture, facial expression, signing, symbols and communication devices. Children’s home languages are valued, and families should continue to talk, tell stories, sing and share books in the language they know best.

Helping your child at home

Everyday conversations make a significant difference. Families can support children’s communication by:

• giving your child your attention and allowing time for them to think and respond;
• commenting on what you notice together instead of asking a succession of questions;
• following your child’s interests and joining their play;
• adding a word or idea to what they say—for example, changing “big dog” into “Yes, the enormous dog is running quickly”;
• sharing books and talking about the pictures, characters and events;
• encouraging your child to predict, retell and explain what they think;
• telling family stories and talking about events in the order they happened;
• singing songs, learning rhymes and performing favourite poems together;
• playing imaginative games that involve choosing roles, planning and solving problems;
• introducing useful new words during cooking, shopping, journeys and visits;
• modelling how to listen, take turns, disagree kindly and change an opinion after hearing another idea;
• asking your child to explain how they completed something or why they made a particular choice.

Keep conversations enjoyable and encouraging. When your child makes an error, acknowledge their idea and then model the accurate word or sentence naturally in your response. For example, if your child says, “He goed to the park,” you might reply, “Yes, he went to the park.” This allows children to hear accurate language while maintaining their confidence and the flow of the conversation.

If you have concerns about your child’s speech, language, listening or communication, please speak to their class teacher. The school can discuss your child’s strengths, suggest ways to help and consider whether further advice is needed.

Useful websites for families

• Speech and Language UK – Help for Families
  Information about children’s speech, language and communication development, practical activities and advice about seeking support.
• BookTrust – Reading Together at Home
  Friendly guidance and videos showing how stories and picture books can encourage conversation, imagination and connection.
• Words for Life – Listen Up
  A simple family activity for practising clear explanations and careful listening.
• Words for Life – Activities for Children Aged 5 to 8
  Games and activities that support talking, listening, reading and storytelling.
• BBC Tiny Happy People
  Videos, activities and explanations to help families support early communication and language development.

Our Oracy Curriculum and Progression

Our full Oracy Curriculum and Progression explains how children’s knowledge and skills develop from Reception to Year 2. It includes listening and responding, conversation, vocabulary, explanation and reasoning, storytelling, collaboration, presentation and performance. It also explains our teaching approaches, inclusive practice and how children’s development is supported and assessed.