Talk at Townsend

At Townsend, we use a variety of opportunities in lessons and in enrichment activities to develop oracy skills for our students.

Oracy is the ability to articulate ideas, develop understanding, and engage with others through spoken language – essentially the skill of listening, speaking and communicating effectively. We want students to be able to learn through structured talk, to be heard and to have a voice in a busy world.

How can you harness and practise these oracy skills at home?

Parents can develop oracy skills at home by encouraging children to answer in full sentences, asking open-ended “why” and “how” questions, and actively listening without interrupting. Daily routines like family meals and car rides provide natural, low-pressure environments to practice expressing thoughts, expanding vocabulary, and debating ideas

Some practical ways to use oracy at home:

• Storytelling & Role-Play: Take turns making up a story by adding one sentence each or ask your child to retell their favourite book in their own words.
• Family Debates: Hold friendly debates during dinner (e.g., “Should we have pizza or pasta tonight?”). Encourage your child to persuade you by providing strong reasons for their choice.
• “Teach Me” Sessions: Let your child become the expert and teach you about a topic they love, such as dinosaurs, a video game, or a hobby.
• Play Oracy Games: Board games like Articulate, Guess Who, or simple, quick games like Would You Rather naturally build descriptive vocabulary and listening skills.
• Audiobooks & Discussion: Listen to Audiobooks together and discuss the plot, character choices, or new vocabulary words afterwards.
  

Mrs M Buckland
Assistant Headteacher