Oracy Vision Statement

At Sarisbury Infant School, we believe that spoken language is the foundation of learning, relationships, and self‑expression. Our vision is to develop confident, articulate, and thoughtful speakers who can communicate effectively in a wide range of contexts. We aim to equip every child with the language skills they need to participate fully in school, in their community, and in the wider world.

High-Quality Talk at the Heart of Learning

We place purposeful talk at the centre of our curriculum. Throughout the school day, children are encouraged to think aloud, reason together, and express ideas clearly. Teachers model strong spoken language and create opportunities for children to practise structured talk through strategies such as sentence stems, oral rehearsal of sentences, and explicit teaching of new vocabulary.

Structures That Support Effective Communication

We use a range of oracy tools and routines that help children speak with confidence and listen with respect:

• Sentence stems scaffold ambitious language and support full, well‑structured responses
• Talk tokens ensure equitable participation and help children manage turn-taking
• Talk partner routines, with partners changed every two weeks, allow children to practise speaking and listening with a range of peers
• Clear talk partner rules guide respectful, active listening and purposeful dialogue

These structures create inclusive spaces where every voice is heard and valued.

Developing Vocabulary and Language-Rich Classrooms

Our classrooms are language-rich environments, where ambitious vocabulary is introduced, explained, and revisited regularly. Children encounter high‑quality language through books, discussion, displays, drama, role-play, and subject-specific teaching. Teachers explicitly model vocabulary, reinforce meaning, and provide repeated opportunities for children to use new words confidently in speaking and writing.

Drama, Storytelling, and Performance

Drama and performance play an important role in developing children’s oracy skills. Pupils engage with:

• Traditional tales
• Role‑play and drama activities
• Helicopter Stories to tell, act out, and celebrate children’s own narratives
• Songs and rhyme to support language rhythm, fluency, and memory
• Christmas performances and other events that allow children to speak and perform to an audience

These joyful experiences build self‑esteem, expression, and fluency through creative oral language.

Oral Rehearsal and the Writing Process

Before writing, children rehearse their ideas aloud to organise their thinking, practise full sentences, and internalise grammatical structures. This oral rehearsal supports clarity, coherence, and confidence in both speech and writing.

A Whole-School Culture of Talk

Across the school, we celebrate spoken language as a vital tool for learning and connection. Children engage in:

• Collaborative discussions
• Partner and group talk
• Storytelling
• Presentations
• Questioning and reasoning
• Performances and assemblies
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Through these experiences, children learn to express themselves clearly, listen actively, challenge ideas respectfully, and build understanding with others.