Spoken Language

Why we teach spoken language at Wilberforce

At Wilberforce Primary, we believe that effective speaking and listening are core to children’s development - not just in English lessons, but across the curriculum, and in life beyond school. Our spoken language curriculum ensures that children leave with confidence to express ideas, discuss complex topics, and engage with a wide range of audiences.

At our school, the journey of spoken language begins in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), where communication and language are a central priority. We recognise that strong spoken language skills are the foundation for learning, social interaction, and emotional development. Through rich, engaging experiences and a language-rich environment, our EYFS provision nurtures children’s ability to express themselves clearly and confidently. To learn more about how communication and language are embedded in our EYFS curriculum, please visit the EYFS section of our website.

What our spoken language curriculum looks like

• The curriculum is carefully sequenced from Nursery through to Year 6, building on prior knowledge and increasing in complexity year by year.
• Within each year group, lessons are intentionally designed so children develop their talk skills in structured stages: from basic turn-taking and expression, to reasoning, debating, and persuasive talk.
• Children are exposed to a rich variety of talking opportunities: paired talk, small-group discussion, whole-class conversations, role play, performances, presentations, and debate.
  Vocabulary development is woven into every year group: children progress from concrete, everyday words to more abstract and subject-specific vocabulary.
• Feedback and reflection are central: teachers model high-quality talk, scaffold children’s contributions, and provide guidance to help pupils refine clarity, fluency, and audience awareness.

How we teach spoken language

By the time children leave us, they are explicitly taught to:

• think about their purpose and audience when speaking
• listen actively and build on others’ ideas
• structure what they say so that it is coherent and effective
• use vocabulary thoughtfully to make meaning precise
• adapt their register (formal/informal) depending on context
• reflect and improve their spoken contributions over time

How you can support your child at home?

Early years and KS1:

• Encourage conversation: ask open-ended questions, prompt elaboration (“Why do you think that?”).
• Give them opportunities to retell stories, explain processes, or talk about their day.
• Model rich vocabulary and phrases in everyday speech.
• Create small performance opportunities (e.g. “tell us about your favourite toy”)

KS2:

• Engage in family discussions about current issues or books, encouraging them to express and defend opinions.
• Ask them to present or explain something to you (e.g. their homework, or a hobby).
• Notice and discuss how language choices change in different settings (formal vs informal).
• Encourage them to rehearse talking — planning what they will say, considering the listener, then reflecting on how they could improve.