Here at Great Missenden, we are passionate about helping children find their voice. We believe that being able to speak confidently, listen carefully, and communicate clearly are essential life skills that open doors both inside and outside the classroom. Our aim is to give every child the tools to express themselves with confidence, compassion, and curiosity.

Why Oracy Matters

At Great Missenden, we view oracy as equally important as reading, writing and maths. Strong speaking and listening skills help children to:

• Understand themselves and others more deeply.
• Build strong foundations for reading, writing, and learning across the curriculum.
• Develop confidence in expressing opinions, reasoning, and ideas.
• Strengthen mental wellbeing through effective communication and positive relationships.
• Communicate appropriately with a range of audiences in different contexts.

We know that children who can talk effectively about their ideas become better thinkers, writers, and learners. Oracy helps our pupils to grow into articulate, thoughtful young people ready to thrive in an ever-changing world.

What Oracy Looks Like at Great Missenden

At Great Missenden, talk is valued in every classroom. From Pre-School through to Year 6, we encourage children to express their thoughts, share their ideas, and listen respectfully to others.

We take inspiration from Voice 21’s Oracy Framework, which highlights four key strands—physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social & emotional. These strands help us structure our approach so that all children learn how to communicate with clarity, confidence, and care.

Teachers at Great Missenden plan purposeful opportunities for talk across all subjects—whether through partner discussions, group debates, drama, storytelling, or formal presentations. Oracy is modelled and scaffolded, allowing children to practise critical thinking, reflect on ideas, and build on one another’s contributions.

Our goal is for every child to leave Great Missenden with the confidence to:

• Use talk to explore and deepen their understanding.
• Engage actively and respectfully in discussions.
• Recognise and respond to social cues in conversation.
• Adapt their talk for different audiences and purposes.
• Show attentive listening and empathy when others speak.
• Use a growing, rich vocabulary to express complex ideas.

We are committed to creating a culture of talk across our school—where every child’s voice is heard and valued. Through our focus on oracy, we are not only supporting academic success but also nurturing confident, kind communicators who can make a positive contribution to the world around them.