Speaking & Listening

Intent:

We want to inspire children to be confident in the art of speaking and listening and to be able to use discussion to communicate and further their learning.

Aims:

To express opinions, articulate feelings and listen to and respond appropriately in a range of situations;

To participate with different groups of children to present ideas with confidence, valuing the views of others;

To speak audibly and confidently before an audience (for example when sharing in class, working with the Year Group or during whole-school assembly; when performing in school plays).

To use discussion in order to learn; the children should be able to elaborate and clearly explain their understanding and ideas.

To become competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.

Implementation:

Approaches to teaching and learning encourage pupils to voice their ideas in small group and class discussions, as we recognise that sharing and explaining concepts with peers enhances learning. Staff model the use of higher level vocabulary within their speech and expanding children’s vocabulary is a key focus throughout school. Subject specific vocabulary is embedded across the curriculum, through teacher modelling, in context. Contextual learning helps children to understand new words and supports them in including them in their work.

Guided Reading sessions encourage pupils to explore unfamiliar vocabulary and expand their knowledge of words.

Staff model correct grammar in speech and encourage children to reflect this in their use of spoken and written language.

Children are given the chance to orally rehearse ideas for writing regularly.

 Drama is used across the curriculum to explore and engage children in their learning. This gives children the chance to embed vocabulary in shared activities.

Each class leads a poetry assembly once a year for parents. Children in Year 3 lead Harvest Assembly;

Year 4 rehearse and perform for Young Voices; Year 6 perform in the Summer.  All of the children across all the year groups perform multiple times in the Christmas Concert.

Impact:

In a safe and encouraging environment, children develop into confident communicators who illuminate the goodness in each other by listening, speaking with kindness and empathy and explaining with clarity and confidence.  Children recognise that speaking and listening can lie at the heart of conveying character, and that through speaking and listening effectively, misunderstandings can be addressed and relationships enhanced.