Speaking and Listening at Broadoak
'Reading and writing float on a sea of talk'
'To understand, listen'
Our Aims
At Broadoak Primary, we want all of our child to have the ability to speak and listen to the best of their ability as we believe it is fundamental to their language development, learning in school and to their social development. Our school provides new contexts for talk and opportunities for listening that demand new and greater oracy skills.
The Teaching of Speaking and Listening
In our Foundation Stage, we use language to imagine and recreate roles and experiences. We develop active listening and responses and interact with others through play.
In Key Stage One, we aim to develop pupils' ability to use language imaginatively and express their ideas and feelings through drama activities. All children are encouraged to join in discussions, make relevant contributions and work collaboratively.
In Key Stage Two, we encourage children to take part in discussions, justifying their opinions with an increasing sense of audience and purpose. We also work to ensure that all children are able to respond appropriately in varied contexts.
Speaking and Listening Curriculum
Drama
At Broadoak, we know that writing for pleasure increases motivation to write. It is vastly important to allow children to “play” with language and through drama this occurs regularly. Oral rehearsal allows children to feel confident in their thoughts and this improves the quality of their writing. We know that children enjoy playing and working together and the processes involved in drama have the effect to sustain imaginative ideas. Through various strategies such as “Whoosh!” and “Conscience Alley” and getting into role, children have to listen carefully, make decisions and work as a team. These meaningful contexts allow children to have ideas to bring to their work while really enjoying their work and developing it within a fun environment.
Drama and performing is also a significant part of our performing arts curriculum with each class performing a show annually.
S&L in Early Years
In our Foundation Stage, we model and encourage language to imagine and recreate roles and experiences while developing active listening and responses. We promote the importance of interaction through play and a high quality of language is used at all times.
S&L in Key Stage One
By Key Stage One, children are encouraged to use language imaginatively, expressing ideas through drama and role-playing activities. Joining in groups and making relevant contributions is highly important and practised.
S&L in Key Stage Two
Throughout Key Stage Two, the children learn to develop their use of speech in a variety of contexts, carefully thinking about their audience and purpose, where we encourage a more sophisticated interaction within groups.