Oracy

At Cusgarne Primary School, we place communication, interaction and oracy at the heart of learning. We believe that high-quality spoken language is fundamental to pupils’ cognitive, social and linguistic development, and underpins success in reading, writing and across the wider curriculum.

We are committed to developing confident, articulate speakers and thoughtful listeners. Through consistent practice and carefully structured opportunities, pupils learn to express their ideas clearly, listen attentively and respond respectfully to others. We teach vocabulary explictly and given children the chance to use it. Our oracy routines for partner talk and whole-class discussion, such as “agree, build, challenge”—support pupils in engaging in purposeful dialogue, helping them to develop reasoning, extend ideas and deepen understanding.

Across the school, pupils are encouraged to rehearse and explore their thinking through talk. They explain their understanding of texts, prepare and refine ideas before writing, and use discussion to clarify misconceptions. Teachers explicitly model and teach the language of discussion, enabling pupils to participate increasingly effectively in collaborative learning, debate and presentation.

In EYFS, the ShREC approach is used to support interactions. Daily discussion sessions using Explorify give children opportunities to share their ideas and listen to others.

Through this approach, we ensure that all pupils develop the communication and interaction skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.