What we teach
Communication is at the heart of the curriculum design at Uplands Infants. The school recognises that talk plays a fundamental role in learning and as a result, Oracy is threaded throughout all areas of the curriculum. A commitment to teach children the communication skills that they will need to thrive and succeed in the wider world is of utmost importance. All children have a right to be listened to and heard. The pupils at Uplands are taught that their voice is powerful and can be used as a catalyst
for change.
Many of our pupils start school with below average communication skills which is the rationale for developing these language skills from an early age. Our vision is for all children, regardless of their starting points, to be confident communicators who are comfortable to discuss, explain, reason and debate. We aim for children to leave Uplands with an expansive vocabulary that is embedded and enables them to succeed academically and socially.
We aim to give children their own voice as we believe this is vital for their future success. We strive for all children to be confident to express their own opinion and ideas in a respectful and supportive environment. We see Oracy as part of the schools pedagogy, not a standalone lesson or subject and we expect it to be threaded through the daily school life. By the time children leave Uplands, our hope is that they can speak clearly to a variety of audience, to articulate and express their thoughts and ideas and conduct and participate in respectful discussions.
How we teach it
Oracy progression maps have been designed from Nursery to Year two using the Oracy Framework. They focus on children developing skills in the four strands of Oracy – Physical, Linguistic, Cognitive and Social and Emotional. These skills ladders have been carefully sequenced to enable children to leave the school with the Oracy skills they need to succeed whilst providing them with opportunities to speak for a range of purposes and to different audiences. Teachers use the skills ladders to outline
the Oracy skills that need to be taught in a particular year group and as an assessment tool to identify which strands of the Oracy framework are to be a priority for their children. This data is then used to monitor progress as well as take steps that address these gaps.
The Uplands Infant School Vocabulary Spine specifically focuses on teaching Tier Two Words from Nursery to Year 2. Tier 2 words are high-frequency, impactful words encountered more often when reading than used when speaking. These words are useful in multiple contexts and help children express themselves clearly and with precision. Tier Two words are specifically taught during English lessons and explicitly modelled by staff, so that children are exposed to this vocabulary.
What pupils have learnt
Conversations with the children at Uplands, demonstrate that they are confident communicators who can articulate their views with their peers as well as to a wider audience.
Monitoring shows that classrooms are rich in talk and provide children with opportunities to take part in both exploratory and presentational talk. Sentence stems are used in every lesson to scaffold talk and encourage children to articulate their ideas clearly. Each class has their own set of Talk Guidelines that have been established with the children to ensure discussions are productive and in turn drive deeper thinking.
Monitoring shows that these are referred to often and children are aware of why
these guidelines are important.
Monitoring of the skills ladders indicate that throughout their time at school, children have developed their skills in the four strands of Oracy throughout their time at Uplands.
In Class learning
Pre – Nursery:
In Pre‑Nursery, oracy begins with the very earliest listening and talking experiences. Our environment is rich in language, and children learn through warm, responsive interactions with adults and through play with other children. Staff model simple language, repeat key words, and encourage children to use sounds, gestures and early words to communicate their needs, ideas and feelings.
Oracy is developed throughout the day — not just in group times, but also in provision. Whether children are exploring sensory play, building, role‑playing or sharing books, adults support them to listen, take turns, notice sounds, and join in with early conversations. These everyday interactions help children build the foundations for communication, language development and personal, social and emotional development.
Through consistent routines, rich vocabulary and positive relationships, our Pre‑Nursery setting helps children grow into curious, confident communicators who are ready for the next steps in their learning.
Nursery and Reception:
In nursery and reception classes, our oracy displays help children learn to talk, listen and communicate with confidence. They include simple sentence stems, a child‑friendly listening ladder and clear talking expectations that children can use during group times and throughout the day.
Oracy in EYFS is developed not only through planned lessons, stories and carpet sessions, but also through rich interactions in provision. Children practise these skills when they talk with adults during play, share ideas with friends, solve problems together and use language to explore their interests. Whether they are building, role‑playing, creating or investigating, children are encouraged to use full sentences, listen to others and express their thoughts clearly.
These early oracy skills support communication and language development, as well as personal, social and emotional growth. By learning how to take turns, share ideas and talk kindly, children build strong foundations for learning and positive relationships across the whole curriculum.
Nursery Oracy Display Reception Oracy Display
Our Year 1 and 2 classrooms use special oracy displays to help children develop strong speaking and listening skills. These include sentence stems, a child‑friendly listening ladder, clear expectations and talking guidelines. Children learn how to take turns, share ideas, listen carefully and build on each other’s thinking.
These oracy skills are used every day across all lessons, helping children explain their ideas, solve problems together and grow in confidence. They also support communication, language development and personal, social and emotional skills, as children learn how to talk kindly, listen respectfully and work well with others.
Our displays make these skills visible and easy for young learners to use, helping them become confident speakers and thoughtful listeners in all areas of school life.
