What is inclusive oracy?
Oracy is increasingly being recognised for the power it has in supporting children and young people to succeed and thrive in the classroom and beyond. However, making sure all children and young people can benefit from classroom oracy depends on developing the values, approaches and environment which are inclusive and accessible for all.
In ensuring oracy is inclusive, there are three key areas to focus on:
- Affirming and celebrating differences in communication by broadening our notions of what counts as oracy
- Valuing a range of dialects and home languages and fostering pride in children’s authentic voices
- Supporting those with additional needs in relation to oracy by understanding the skills needed to communicate effectively and how children and young people can be supported to access and develop these.
Importantly, inclusive approaches benefit all learners and ensures that your classroom is a place where oracy thrives – for all.
About this resource
This resource is designed to support teachers and leaders within primary or secondary settings as they reflect upon the inclusivity of their oracy and identify strengths as well as areas for development.
The resource includes the following sections:
- Why inclusivity matters: A selection of data highlighting some of the reasons why children and young people may need additional support or consideration during oracy activities.
- A self-reflection tool intended to provoke open discussions and honest reflections about current classroom or school approaches to oracy, seen through an inclusivity lens.
- Our top ten tips for inclusive oracy which provide a useful starting point for teachers seeking ways to make their oracy practice more inclusive.
- Further reading and resources if you wish to dig deeper into this topic.