ORACY
Oracy and Communication at Romiley Primary School
Romiley Primary School is proud to have been selected as one of the thirteen first‑phase schools across Stockport to participate in the Stockport Speaks programme, in partnership with Alexandra Park Primary School. Through this initiative, our Oracy Lead has accessed a wide range of high‑quality training and resources from both the Education Endowment Foundation and Voice 21, while also learning from the excellent practice demonstrated at Alexandra Park Primary School. This collaboration has played a significant role in shaping the strong language and communication offer we now provide for all children at Romiley Primary School.
Early Years Foundation Stage
In the Early Years, high‑quality interactions are central to everything we do. Our practitioners prioritise meaningful play and sustained shared thinking, carving out dedicated time each day to engage with children and extend their language development.
We implement Tales Toolkit sessions to support storytelling and narrative skills and use WellComm both as an assessment tool and as an intervention programme for any child who may require additional support. This ensures that every child has a strong foundation in speech, language and communication.
Whole‑School Oracy Development
Our commitment to Oracy extends beyond the Early Years. Across school, we are embedding key elements of effective Oracy practice into daily teaching. All year groups now take part in a weekly fluency lesson, which not only supports reading fluency but also provides valuable opportunities for pupils to develop their spoken language, confidence, and communication skills through structured discussion.
We have also introduced Voice 21’s Talk Tactics into a range of lessons. These strategies have had a noticeable positive impact on how pupils articulate their ideas, express their opinions, and engage respectfully in dialogue with their peers.
Celebrating Progress in Speech and Language
Each year group has opportunities throughout the year to showcase their developing speech, language, and performance skills:
Nursery – Christmas Sing‑a‑long
Reception – Nativity Performance
Year 1 – Christmas Sing‑a‑long
Year 2 – Christmas Play
Year 3 – Class Assembly
Year 4 – Class Assembly and Music Performance
Year 5 – Class Assembly
Year 6 – End‑of‑Year Performance, typically held at the local theatre, giving pupils the experience of performing on a professional stage with full technical equipment.
Looking Ahead
We continue to engage actively with the Stockport Speaks programme and remain committed to developing our Oracy provision even further. As a school, we are excited to build on the strong foundations already in place and to ensure that every child at Romiley Primary School has the confidence, skills, and opportunities to communicate effectively.