Oracy: Helping Every Pupil Feel Heard

Every child has something to say, but not every child finds it easy to speak up. Whether they're bursting with ideas or quietly observing from the sidelines, helping pupils develop their speaking and listening skills is an important part of their learning journey.

Oracy is about much more than speaking confidently in front of the class. It's about giving children the tools to express themselves, listen to others, share ideas and feel that their voice matters.

So, how can we create a classroom where every pupil feels confident, included and heard?

What Is Oracy and Why Does It Matter?

Oracy is the ability to communicate effectively through speaking and listening. It involves expressing thoughts clearly, asking questions, explaining ideas, listening carefully and responding thoughtfully to others.

These skills are essential for learning, building relationships and navigating everyday situations.

Research from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) highlights the importance of oral language development, with evidence suggesting that effective oral language approaches can support an average of six additional months' progress in learning outcomes.

But beyond academic achievement, oracy can help children develop confidence, empathy and a sense of belonging. When pupils know their contributions are valued, they're more likely to participate, take risks with their learning and engage with those around them.

1. Create a Classroom Where Every Voice Matters

For some children, speaking in front of their classmates comes naturally. For others, even answering a simple question can feel daunting.

Creating a supportive environment where pupils feel comfortable sharing their thoughts is the first step towards developing confident communicators.

Encourage a classroom culture where mistakes are part of learning, different opinions are respected and everyone has an opportunity to contribute.

Try this: Introduce a daily question that pupils can answer in pairs or small groups. It could be something fun, such as "If you could invent a new school subject, what would it be?" or something linked to your current topic.
Starting with light-hearted discussions can help children build confidence before tackling more challenging conversations.

2. Think, Pair, Share!

Not every pupil is ready to put their hand up and speak in front of the whole class. Giving children time to think and rehearse their ideas with a partner can make participation feel much less intimidating.

The Think, Pair, Share technique is a simple way to encourage more pupils to take part:

• Think: Give pupils time to consider a question independently
• Pair: Ask them to discuss their ideas with a partner
• Share: Invite pairs to contribute their thoughts to a wider discussion

This approach gives children time to organise their thinking, practise using new vocabulary and learn from one another.

Top tip: Encourage pupils to share something interesting their partner said, rather than always sharing their own ideas. It's a great way to develop listening skills too!

3. Make Listening Just as Important as Speaking

Good communication isn't just about finding the right words. It's also about understanding what others have to say.

Teaching children to listen actively can help them develop stronger relationships, respect different viewpoints and participate in meaningful discussions.

Model good listening habits by giving pupils your attention, allowing them time to finish speaking and asking thoughtful follow-up questions.

Try this: Play a listening challenge! Ask one pupil to describe a picture or object without showing it to their partner. Their partner must draw what they hear, asking questions to clarify details.

It's a fun way to demonstrate how important clear communication and careful listening really are.

4. Give Pupils the Words They Need

Sometimes, children have brilliant ideas but struggle to find the words to express them.

Introducing useful vocabulary and sentence starters can help pupils explain their thinking and contribute more confidently to classroom discussions.

Display simple phrases around the classroom, such as:

I think… because…
I agree with… because…
I'd like to add…
Can you explain why…?
Another possibility is…
I have a different idea…

These prompts can be particularly helpful for pupils who need additional language support, including children learning English as an additional language (EAL).

Over time, encourage children to move beyond these starters and develop their own ways of expressing their thoughts.

5. Bring Oracy Into Everyday Lessons

Developing speaking and listening skills doesn't need to mean squeezing another activity into an already busy timetable. Oracy can be woven naturally into lessons across the curriculum.

In English, encourage pupils to discuss characters' feelings, predict what might happen next or explain their favourite part of a story.

In maths, ask children to explain how they reached an answer or compare different problem-solving methods.
In science, invite pupils to make predictions, describe observations and discuss their findings.

Even a few minutes of purposeful talk can give children valuable opportunities to practise explaining and exploring their ideas.

6. Celebrate Progress, Not Just Confidence

When encouraging classroom discussions, it's often the most confident voices that receive the most attention. But developing oracy isn't about being the loudest person in the room.

For a quieter pupil, asking a question, contributing to a small-group conversation or sharing an idea with a partner can represent a huge achievement.

Make time to recognise these moments, however small they might seem.

A little encouragement can go a long way. Verbal praise, positive feedback or a small classroom reward can help pupils recognise their progress and feel proud of their achievements.

Focus your praise on specific skills, such as listening carefully, asking a thoughtful question or building on somebody else's idea.

7. Make Space for Different Communication Needs

Every pupil communicates differently, and a classroom that values oracy should make room for those differences.

Some children may need additional thinking time, visual prompts or smaller group discussions before they feel ready to contribute. Others may find it easier to communicate using gestures, pictures or communication aids.

Remember that speaking confidently doesn't have to mean making eye contact, speaking loudly or addressing the whole class.

Offer different ways for pupils to participate, avoid putting children on the spot unnecessarily and recognise that communication skills develop at different rates.

The goal is to help every child communicate effectively in ways that work for them.

Small Conversations, Big Confidence

Oracy isn't something that develops overnight. It grows through everyday conversations, shared stories, thoughtful questions and opportunities to listen and be listened to.

By creating a classroom where children feel safe to express their ideas, we can help them develop skills that extend far beyond the school gates.

Perhaps the most important message we can give our pupils is a simple one: your voice matters and what you have to say is worth hearing.