"Oracy is fundamental to the way that children think about the world as well as speak about the world and the way in which they can interact with other people. "
- Tim Oates (Oracy Commission Conversation)
Oracy is the ability to articulate ideas, develop understanding and engage with others through spoken language.
In school, oracy is a powerful tool for learning; by teaching students to become more effective speakers and listeners we empower them to better understand themselves, each other and the world around them. It is also a route to social mobility, empowering all students, not just some, to find their voice to succeed in school and life.
The Oracy Framework, provides a structure through which we can understand what constitutes good speaking and listening in different contexts. It breaks down the skills within oracy into four distinct but interlinked strands: physical, linguistic, cognitive and social & emotional.
In EYFS we introduce the four strands – physical, linguistic, cognitive and social & emotional and look at one to focus on with each child based on their individual needs. At this stage we put the emphasis on students’ fundamental oracy skills such as speaking loud enough to be heard, beginning to join ideas together, asking questions and taking turns.
For our Key Stage 1 we build on the ideas introduced in EYFS and have two or three interlinked objectives that we begin to focus on. At this stage we put the emphasis on beginning to have more self and audience awareness, considering which language is appropriate and thinking about speech being structured and purposeful.
For our Key Stage 2 we build on the ideas introduced in Key Stage 1 and have three or four interlinked objectives. Each objective is more complex than the previous key stage and introduces more sophisticated vocabulary as well as demanding a little more thought to its application. At this stage we put the emphasis on adapting to different situations and audiences, tailoring speech to a particular audience and being more aware of group dynamics and how to influence.