Speaking and Listening
“A good listener is totally focused on the speaker with an open mind.”
― Ludwig Hess
Intent
Developing effective speaking and listening skills is an essential element of the English curriculum. It is our intent that these skills will be further developed, applied and fostered across the whole curriculum, as they are key for making social and educational progress. We strive for our pupils to learn the qualities of good speaking and listening. It is these skills that will underpin their learning in reading and writing and allow them to express opinions and ideas successfully. Being able to recognise and use accurate Standard English in speech is what we aim to develop in all pupils.
At Park End Primary, we aim for our pupils to:
- Be able to actively listen to their peers and the adults in school and formulate appropriate responses.
- Understand the rules of turn taking within exchanges.
- Have the confidence to speak audibly and fluently in front of their peers.
- Maintain appropriate speed, intonation and structure when presenting information orally.
- When speaking, use the correct register and form of Standard English appropriate to the situation.
- Build a rich vocabulary that they can both understand and utilise effectively.
Implementation
The English Programme of Study sets out the statutory requirements for the speaking and listening curriculum.
Statutory requirements
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.
Children are given the chance to learn and develop these skills through:
- Group work (partners, small groups and larger groups)
- Discussions
- Presentations
- Drama work (role play, freeze frames, reading playscripts, thought tracking)
- Answering questions
- Responding to things they have read or watched
- Explanations of their learning
- Participation in whole school/key stage performances: acting and narration
Speaking and listening learning will be implemented within all subjects of the curriculum.
Impact
The children of Park End Primary will be able to articulate their thoughts and ideas in a clear and concise manner, using the appropriate grammar and vocabulary. They will be attentive listeners who can respond to what they have heard in a constructive manner. Throughout their years in school, the pupils will learn how to use intonation, fluency and the appropriate register for the interaction or presentation. Pupils will apply their skills in all lessons and elements of school life and beyond.
