Speaking and Listening

Intent

At Kielder Primary School and Nursery, we believe that the development of speaking and listening is fundamental to pupils’ learning, wellbeing and future success. From the moment children start at our school, oracy is explicitly taught, carefully planned for and embedded across the curriculum.

Our vision is to empower every child to become a confident, articulate and reflective communicator who can express ideas clearly, listen thoughtfully and engage respectfully with others. Within our intimate, mixed-age classrooms, we harness the principles of the Voice 21 framework to develop high-quality oracy through structured, inclusive and purposeful talk. We believe that strong spoken language underpins reading comprehension, writing development, reasoning and wider curriculum success.

Oracy is also a key driver of the Thrive and Excel @ Kielder Framework. Speaking and listening underpin pupils’ development across all six domains — Academic, Metacognition, Communication, Innovation, Service and Wellbeing  — ensuring that pupils are equipped not only with academic knowledge, but also with the personal, social and learning skills they need to thrive.

Implementation

Our curriculum and classroom practice aim to:

Cultivate a Communicative Culture

We establish a classroom culture in which talk is valued as a key tool for learning and personal development. Pupils are encouraged to share ideas, ask questions and explain their thinking in a safe, supportive environment where every voice matters. This supports pupils’ confidence, sense of belonging and emotional wellbeing, directly contributing to the Wellbeing and Communication domains of the Thrive and Excel Framework.

Develop Active and Respectful Listening

We explicitly teach pupils how to listen attentively, respond appropriately and build on the contributions of others. Pupils learn to engage empathetically with different viewpoints and to contribute thoughtfully to discussions. This strengthens pupils’ interpersonal skills and respect for others, supporting the Communication and Service domains.

Support Collaborative Learning Across Mixed-Age Classes

Our mixed-age structure is used purposefully to promote collaboration, peer modelling and shared problem-solving. Pupils learn to work with and learn from peers of different ages, developing leadership, responsibility and mutual respect. These experiences support the Service, Wellbeing and Innovation domains, enabling pupils to contribute positively to their school community.

Integrate Oracy Across the Whole Curriculum

Speaking and listening opportunities are woven systematically through all subjects, guided by the Voice 21 framework. Pupils engage in a wide range of purposeful talk, including partner talk, group discussions, debates, drama, performances and formal presentations. Oracy is used as a tool to deepen understanding, support reasoning and enhance engagement across the curriculum, directly strengthening the Academic domain.

Build Vocabulary and Language for Learning

We carefully plan for the explicit teaching and modelling of subject-specific vocabulary. This is supported through talk partners, modelled language and working word walls across subjects. Pupils are taught to use ambitious and precise language to articulate ideas clearly, enabling full access to the curriculum and supporting both academic achievement and confident communication.

Develop Metacognition Through Talk

Pupils are encouraged to talk about their learning, explain strategies, reflect on successes and identify next steps. Structured talk supports pupils to plan, monitor and evaluate their learning, helping them to become more reflective and independent learners. This explicitly supports the Metacognition domain of the Thrive and Excel Framework.

Build Confidence, Fluency and Resilience

We develop pupils’ confidence to speak in a range of contexts and to different audiences. Pupils are supported to adapt their language, intonation, tone and volume appropriately and to respond positively to feedback. This fosters resilience, self-belief and a willingness to take risks in learning, contributing to both Wellbeing and Innovation.

Speaking and listening are carefully planned into lessons across all subjects. Teachers deliberately create opportunities for pupils to rehearse ideas orally, clarify thinking through talk and refine responses before recording in writing. Oracy is therefore used both as a learning tool and as a taught skill in its own right, ensuring consistent, progressive development across the school.

Impact

As a result of our strong and coherent focus on oracy, aligned with the Thrive and Excel @ Kielder Framework:

• Pupils communicate with increasing confidence, clarity and purpose across a range of contexts and audiences.

• Pupils listen attentively and respond thoughtfully, demonstrating respect for others’ views and contributions.

• Pupils use a growing and increasingly ambitious vocabulary accurately across the curriculum.

• Pupils articulate their thinking clearly, explain reasoning and reflect on their learning with increasing independence.

• Pupils demonstrate improved reading comprehension, writing outcomes and reasoning skills as a result of strong spoken language foundations.

• Pupils show confidence, resilience and a strong sense of belonging, supported by a culture where their voices are heard and valued.

Through our commitment to the Voice 21 framework and the Thrive and Excel @ Kielder Framework, we ensure that oracy is central to both academic success and personal development. Our pupils leave Kielder Primary School and Nursery as confident, reflective and socially responsible communicators, well prepared for the next stage of their education and for meaningful participation in their communities.