Oracy

“When children find their voice, they find their power.” — Amanda Gorman

At WHPS we use the Tongue-Fu Talking Program to support the development of Oracy,

Oracy is the skilled use of spoken language for thinking, learning and communicating.

It includes:
- Exploratory talk to build understanding through dialogue
- Presentational talk to inform, persuade or inspire an audience
- The physical, linguistic, cognitive and social elements of communication

Oracy should be taught with the same rigour and progression as reading and writing.

Modes of Talk
- Explorer Mode: Supports collaborative thinking, reasoning and problem-solving
- Presenter Mode: Focuses on clarity, confidence and purposeful delivery

The Four Disciplines
- The Stance (physical presence and delivery)
- The Flow (structure and language)
- The Mind (thinking, reasoning and metacognition)
- The Bond (listening, empathy and social connection)

Each discipline contains specific practices that are taught explicitly and rehearsed regularly.

Progression: The Belt System
- White Belt: Foundation (EYFS to KS1)
- Green Belt: Developing (KS1 to Lower KS2)
- Brown Belt: Competent (Lower KS2 to Upper KS2)
- Black Belt: Mastery (Upper KS2 to KS3)

Progression is flexible and inclusive. Pupils are supported to develop confidence and competence in their own way.