Speaking and Listening at Sudley Primary School

At Sudley Primary School, we know that strong speaking and listening skills are the foundation for learning and life. When children can express themselves clearly, listen carefully, and respond thoughtfully, they become confident learners who can share ideas, ask questions, and work well with others.

How do we teach speaking and listening?
We build these skills into every part of the school day—not just English lessons. Children take part in discussions, debates, presentations, and collaborative tasks across all subjects. They learn to:

• Explain their thinking using accurate vocabulary.
• Ask questions to deepen understanding.
• Listen actively and respect different viewpoints.
• Work together, building on each other’s ideas.

Teaching approaches that make this happen
We use strategies that give children time to think and rehearse their ideas before responding. For example, Think-Pair-Share allows pupils to consider a question individually, discuss their ideas with a partner, and refine their response before sharing with the class. This process helps children compose thoughtful answers, edit and improve their language choices, and build confidence in speaking to a wider audience.

Why does this matter for writing?
We believe that if you cannot say it, you cannot write it. Oral rehearsal is a vital step in the writing process. By talking through ideas first—testing them with peers, refining vocabulary, and organising thoughts—children develop the clarity and structure needed for effective writing. Speaking and listening give them the tools to plan, compose, and edit their written work with confidence.

Speaking and listening across the curriculum
These skills are everywhere in our teaching. For example, in maths we use ‘Maths Talk’—structured conversations where children explain how they solved a problem, justify their reasoning, and explore alternative strategies. This helps them understand concepts more deeply and builds confidence in communicating clearly.

Why is this important?
Our approach follows the National Curriculum’s focus on spoken language and draws on research like Scarborough’s Reading Rope, which shows that language skills are essential for becoming an effective reader. Speaking and listening are not just about talking—they help children think, understand, and learn. By developing these skills, we prepare children to be confident communicators who can succeed in school and beyond.