Helping Every Child Find Their Voice

What is Oracy?

Oracy is the ability to express yourself clearly and confidently through spoken language, and to listen actively and thoughtfully to others. It’s about learning to talk, through talk, and about talk — helping children develop the skills they need to communicate, collaborate, and think critically.

At TEACH Trust, we believe that talk is the foundation of learning. Whether it’s explaining ideas, debating opinions, performing poetry, or simply sharing thoughts with a friend, oracy helps children become confident communicators and deep thinkers.

“How can I know what I think till I see what I say?” – Graham Wallas

Why Does Oracy Matter?

• Supports learning across all subjects – Talk helps children clarify their thinking, deepen understanding, and build vocabulary.
• Builds confidence and self-esteem – Children learn to speak with clarity and listen with empathy.
• Prepares children for life beyond school – Strong communication skills are essential for future education, employment, and relationships.
• Promotes inclusion – Every child’s voice matters, and oracy helps ensure all children are heard and valued.

Research shows that children with strong verbal skills are more likely to succeed academically and socially. Oracy is especially powerful in closing gaps for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

How Can Families Support Oracy at Home?

Here are some simple ways to get talking and build oracy skills together:

Top Tips to Get Talking

• Ask open-ended questions – e.g. “What was the best part of your day?” or “What would you do if you were in charge of the school?”
• Use sentence starters – e.g. “I agree because…”, “Can you explain further?”, “On one hand…, but on the other hand…”
• Encourage storytelling – Share memories, make up stories, or retell favourite books.
• Play talk-based games – Would You Rather, 20 Questions, or Describe and Guess.
• Model good listening – Show interest, ask follow-up questions, and give your full attention.
• Join in with our #Chatterday challenges – Weekly conversation starters posted on social media to spark family discussions.

What Does Oracy Look Like in School?

From Reception to Year 6, children at TEACH Trust schools develop oracy through:

• Pair and group talk
• Debates and discussions
• Drama and role play
• Poetry performance and presentations
• Vocabulary building and sentence stems – to support structured, purposeful talk