IMPORTANCE OF VOCABULARY, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE ACROSS THE CURRICULUM 

Aims

The overarching aim for English in the national curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written language, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment. The national curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • read easily, fluently and with good understanding
  • develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
  • acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
  • appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
  • write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
  • use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
  • are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate

Developing written and spoken language development across all areas of the curriculum is at the heart of all learning. Classroom displays, resources and teaching gives the children a wide range of opportunity to learn, develop and use a range of vocabulary. Our curriculum maps are designed to provide children with opportunities to develop confidence in spoken language and to use their voices to question, explain, debate and to speak with fluency, articulation and intonation.

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. At the forefront of our minds is the continual development of pupils’ confidence and competence in spoken language and listening skills.

Children from Year 1 are taught a capacity to explain their understanding of books and other reading, and to prepare their ideas before they write. They are assisted in making their thinking clear to themselves as well as to others. Small cohorts and quality first teaching approaches support the swift identification of misconceptions and we support all to be the best they can be.

Adaptive teaching supports all learners and we have the same high expectations for all learners.

Spoken language – years 1 to 6

Spoken language

Pupils should be taught to:

  • listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers
  • ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge
  • use relevant strategies to build their vocabulary
  • articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinions
  • give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings
  • maintain attention and participate actively in collaborative conversations, staying on topic and initiating and responding to comments
  • use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising, imagining and exploring ideas
  • speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English
  • participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play/improvisations and debates
  • gain, maintain and monitor the interest of the listener(s)
  • consider and evaluate different viewpoints, attending to and building on the contributions of others
  • select and use appropriate registers for effective communication

Presenting, speaking and drama activities with other schools-public speaking…hot-seating, freeze framing and acting out a variety of scenarios with others.