Spoken Language

Purpose of study

The national curriculum for English reflects the importance of spoken language in pupils’ development across the whole curriculum – cognitively, socially and linguistically. Spoken language underpins the development of reading and writing. The quality and variety of language that pupils hear and speak are vital for developing their vocabulary and grammar and their understanding for reading and writing.

Aims 

Our curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils: 

• Develop confidence and competence in spoken language and listening skills.
• Develop a capacity to explain their understanding of books and other reading, and to prepare their ideas before they write.
• Are assisted in making their thinking clear to themselves as well as to others.

Organisation

Through our spoken language curriculum pupils:

• Will be taught to understand and use the conventions of discussion and debate.
• Will be enabled to participate in and gain knowledge, skills and understanding associated with the artistic practice of drama.
• Will be able to adopt, create and sustain a range of roles, responding appropriately to others in role.
• Will have opportunities to improvise, devise and script drama for one another and a range of audiences, as well as to rehearse, refine, share and respond thoughtfully to drama and theatre performances.

“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” — Ludwig Wittgenstein.