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At Wentworth we believe that Speaking & Listening is a fundamental life skill.  English develops children’s ability to listen and speak, for a wide range of purposes and audiences.  Children are encouraged to express themselves creatively as they become immersed in the imaginative world of stories, poetry and drama.  They are able to express their opinions on a range of real-life issues which are important to them across the curriculum.

 

Pupils will have opportunities to use both speaking and listening for a range of purposes to include:-

 

• Exploring, developing and explaining ideas

• Composing and rehearsing sentences orally before writing

• Planning, predicting and investigating

• Sharing ideas, insights and opinions

• Reading aloud, telling and enacting stories and poems, role play

• Reporting and describing events and observations

• Presenting to audiences, live or recorded

• Planning and problem solving across the curriculum

• Discussion of poems, stories, plays, T.V. programmes, real events, news items, current affairs etc.

• Increasing the children’s command of Standard English

• Listening with concentration, in order to identify the main points of what they have heard

• Asking questions in order to extend their knowledge and understanding

 

Throughout EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, children are given opportunities to express their ideas in speech, to describe their own ideas, to make plans and to take part in discussions.  Alongside this, they learn to listen to others and to absorb what they hear.  The learn the conventions of conversations, taking turns, allowing others to speak, responding appropriately to what has been said and valuing the opinions of others. 

 

Children are encourage to speak in a range of contexts and, as they grow older, adapt their style of speech appropriately. 

 

Children’s use and understanding of spoken language permeates the whole curriculum. Interactive teaching strategies are used to engage all pupils in order to raise reading and writing standards. Children are encouraged to develop effective communication skills in readiness for later life.

  

Informal Activities to Promote Speaking and Listening

•          role play areas (EYFS and KS1)

•          shared play (work) areas

•          reading and maths games

•          shared reading of information texts, atlases, etc.

•          interactive displays

•          child-initiated play in EYFS

 

Structured Activities to Promote Speaking and Listening

•          focused activities in EYFS

•          drama activities

•          circle time

•          show and share/tell time

•          oral dictations (spellings)

•          shared and guided reading

•          telling or reading a story to/with a class

•          class debates

•          speeches and persuasive arguments/discussions

•          play scripts

•          school productions and assemblies

•          Talk for Writing activities

 

Many of these activities are delivered as part English lessons. However other opportunities are given throughout the day to encourage and facilitate speaking and listening.

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Speaking and Listening information leaflet