Developing Oracy Across the Curriculum
At St Mary’s, we believe that strong communication skills lay the foundation for success in learning and in life. Developing oracy—children’s ability to express themselves effectively and confidently through spoken language—is a central part of our curriculum from Nursery through Year 6.
Through carefully designed activities, we guide children to articulate ideas, listen actively, engage in thoughtful discussions, and build confidence in sharing their thoughts. Across subjects, from storytelling in literacy to discussions in science, we provide opportunities for pupils to practise and refine their speaking and listening skills.
Our goal is to nurture children who are capable speakers and empathetic listeners, ready to engage in the world around them.
How We Teach Reading at St. Mary’s
The Read Write Inc Phonics programme
Learning to read is the most important thing your child will learn at our school. Everything else depends on it, so we put as much energy as we possibly can into making sure that every single child learns to read as quickly as possible.
We want your child to love reading and to want to read for themselves. This is why we put our efforts into making sure they develop a love of books as well as simply learning to read.
How will I know how well my child is doing?
We will always let you know how well your child is doing.
We use various ways to find out how the children are getting on in reading. We use the information to decide what reading group they should be in. Your child will work with children who are at the same reading level as him or her. Children will move to a different group if they are making faster progress than the others. Your child will have one-to-one support if we think he or she needs some extra help to keep up.
In the summer term, the government requires us to conduct a phonics screening check for all Year 1 children. This provides us with valuable insights into their reading progress. We will keep you informed about how well your child has done, and if we have any concerns, we will discuss them with you to ensure they receive the support they need.
Does it matter if my child misses a lesson or two?
Attendance is crucial for your child’s reading development. Our reading lessons are carefully structured, and missing even one session can mean your child misses out on key skills needed to become a confident reader. Each lesson builds on the last, so consistent attendance is essential for their success.
Recommended Reading for Children
- Recommended Reading List – Key Stage 1
- Reading Books for Year 3 Children
- Reading Books for Year 4 Children
- Reading Books for Year 5 Children
- Reading Books for Year 6 Children
