Oracy at Ash Grove Academy

At Ash Grove Academy, we teach children to communicate effectively through their speaking and listening skills. We call this 'oracy'. Oracy is not a stand-alone lesson; children at our school learn to improve their communication skills whilst participating in all subjects. 

Our Vision:

For all children to develop strong oracy skills that allow them to express themselves, communicating confidently across a range of contexts.

Through our oracy curriculum, children learn to:

• Express themselves with confidence

• Listen carefully to peers and adults, responding appropriately

• Reason and explain their ideas

• Work collaboratively

• Present their ideas effectively

Across the school, children are encouraged to develop their communication skills through meaningful discussions, structured partner and group work, and a range of oracy-focused strategies. We want every child to grow into a confident speaker, active listener and thoughtful contributor, ready for future learning and life experiences.

 How can I support my child at home?

• Take time to talk together at home, encouraging your child to share their ideas, opinions and reasoning.
• Ask your child about their experiences, learning and interests, and encourage them to explain their thinking.
• Ask open-ended questions such as "What do you think?" or "What makes you say that?" to promote deeper thinking and discussion.
• Play games that involve describing, explaining, questioning or problem-solving.
• Read books together and discuss the characters, events and themes, encouraging your child to share their views and justify their opinions.
• Model good listening by showing genuine interest in what your child says and giving them time to express their thoughts fully.