Speech and language skills: Ideas for teaching oracy in the primary classroom

This webinar will offer practical ideas and tips for how primary schools can teach oracy skills as part of wider support for speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

The discussion is inspired by the publication earlier this year of GL Assessment’s Lost for Words research, which revealed teachers’ concerns about pupils’ deteriorating speech and language issues since Covid-19 lockdowns. The research finds that:

• Almost half of the surveyed primary teachers estimate that 20% of their pupils have speech and language issues; more than a third believe this figure to be as high as 40%.
• Nearly half of the surveyed primary teachers warn that it is easy to mistake speech and language issues for maths and literacy problems.
• Almost 9 in 10 primary school teachers think speech and language skills have worsened since 2020.

At the same time, it is estimated that 10% of children will be affected by long-term and persistent SLCN (Public Health England, 2020) and that around 4 in 10 of those will go through school unidentified (Communication Trust, 2014).

And the Listening to unheard children report (Speech and Language UK, 2023) estimated that 1.9 million children (1 in 5) are behind with their talking and/or understanding of words. It found that children who struggle to talk and understand words are six times more likely to be behind in English and 11 times more likely to be behind in maths at age 11.

This makes early identification and intervention crucial, and this work begins in the early years and primary school.

In this webinar we will focus on how primary schools can boost oracy skills for all pupils, including those with SLCN, offering discussion around whole-school approaches as well as practical ideas and tips for in the classroom and for pupils of all ages – from reception to year 6.

The webinar will feature case studies from at least two primary schools doing excellent work in this area as well as expert input including from GL Assessment and Speech and Language UK. The webinar will also include an audience Q&A and the session will also be available to watch on catch-up.

ABOUT OUR WEBINAR PARTNER
GL Assessment, part of Renaissance, is a leading provider of formative assessments to schools and school groups in the UK and in more than 100 countries worldwide. It provides assessments that help to reveal students’ potential, track their progress and identify any barriers to learning.

WellComm allows users to assess for speech, language and communication issues and provide interventions that can be immediately used with children. It is used by early years settings, primary schools, speech and language therapists, and health visitors, and it is also widely used as an early identification tool to identify and support children with SLCN across local authorities.

Digital versions of WellComm Early Years (from six months to six years) and WellComm Primary (six to 11-year-olds) are now available alongside the existing paper editions. Practitioners work through a guided observation with a child on a tablet or laptop. Targeted activities, 150 in total, are presented automatically to help address the specific issues uncovered. These activities can be shared digitally with parents and carers.

Visit www.gl-assessment.co.uk/go/wellcomm-digital