At Wootton, we recognise the importance of spoken language and how it crucially underpins the development of reading and writing. Indeed, across all year groups, our pupils are taught to speak clearly, competently and confidently with opportunities available across the entire curriculum.

With modelled examples, they will increasingly learn to convey their ideas effectively using standard English. To prepare them for the wider world, they will learn to: justify ideas with reasons; ask questions to check understanding; and develop a rich vocabulary and build knowledge. This is an expectation across the curriculum whereby children are prompted to give detailed answers in full sentences. At Wootton, children are taught to give well-structured descriptions and explanations and develop their understanding through speculating, hypothesising and exploring ideas. This also helps enable them to clarify their thinking as well as organise their ideas for writing.

Furthermore, our children are also given many opportunities to perform: this may be to their class, to the rest of the school, to parents and the wider community. Whether it is a poem they are reciting off by heart, speaking in an assembly or a large scale production like Shakespeare for Schools or a nativity performance, our children are encouraged to be the best speakers they can be.