Focus on Talk: A Speaking and Listening Framework

Description

Last July (2024) in its English subject report Ofsted was critical of the fact that whilst some excellent work was happening in schools re oracy, very few schools actually had a distinctive speaking and listening curriculum. The report goes on to explain:

• Schools (often) do not consider spoken language well in their English curriculum, although they understand that spoken language underpins pupils’ reading and writing development.
• Few schools design or follow a curriculum to develop pupils’ spoken language. Schools are not always clear about how to teach the conventions of spoken language that enable pupils to speak competently in a range of contexts. Teachers often attribute pupils’ weaknesses in speaking to a lack of confidence rather than realising that they have not been taught what they need to know about the topic under discussion to be able to form and articulate worthwhile contributions.

In addition, the commission on the future of Oracy Education in England, in its report ‘We need to Talk’ (October 2024) makes a case for establishing Oracy as the fourth ‘R’ and increase its prominence in the National Curriculum.

In this framework for oracy, Clive Davies and Alex Neophitou have created four main strands to consider. 

These are:
•    Being impressive and confident presenters
•    Using Excellent Standard English
•    Increasing and Improving use of Vocabulary, and
•    Listening attentively

They have created a clear progressive pathway from EYFS to Year 6 for each of these strands and given additional consideration to children with SEND and children with English as an additional language.

There are additional teacher classroom resources to accompany the product and the option to purchase support alongside it.  Schools are able to buy the product and get going immediately or they can choose to access support to go alongside this.

Support with Implementation

We are offering support with implementation of this framework in your school.  We have worked with several schools to introduce this and it has been hugely successful and the results can be seen quickly.

There are 2 support packages available and these include the material.  For instance, if you choose Support Package 1, you will receive the full speaking and listening curriculum as eBook and you will be contacted by a member of staff in our consultancy department to arrange a convenient date for your support day and staff meeting.  You will also have the option to book additional training days or staff meetings to go alongside this (but these will be chargeable).

What is included in the eBooks for EYFS, KS1, KS2 and Whole School?

Each product includes:
Important Background Information
Rationale
Body Language and Gestures and Signals
Taking Account of Different Groups

PLUS the actual information for the phase i.e. EYFS / KS1 (inc EYFS) / KS2 / Whole School

KS1 and KS2 include an additional document on:
Ensuring Protocols are Established
and 7 videos of children in a school in the North West who are now using this framework

KS2 includes a further additional document on:
A Coaching Model

See pictures for more details

Useful Information

Product Reference: CCSL-EB
Format: eBook and videos (videos not included with EYFS)
Publisher: Focus Education (UK) Ltd
Published Date: May 2025

eBooks are sent via email link. If you choose to pay by card or PayPal, the link will be sent at once, automatically.

If you choose to pay against invoice, your order will be processed manually, either the same day or the next working day. If our email does not arrive, please contact our customer services team. Please check your email junk/trash/bulk folders first.

 This product cannot be returned or refunded.