Talk is used to underpin all learning and scaffold children’s success. This is developed through a variety of collaborative activities and experiences such as hot-seating, interview in role, talk partners and group discussion and/or debate.  Through discussion and debate pupils listen carefully, making contributions and asking questions that are responsive to other pupils’ ideas and views. Children participate in performance through class assemblies, drama, sharing achievements with the class or whole school and presentations to their peers or other members of the school community. Children are constantly made aware of the features of standard English vocabulary and grammar.

Speaking and listening enables children to problem-solve, exchange ideas, participate in decision-making and reflect on issues which matter to them. Through these interactions, a child's creativity and understanding are engaged and developed. Speaking and listening activities encourage children to become better readers and writers. Talking about books and language, deepens a child's understanding of a text; encourages children to widen their vocabulary as well as organise their thoughts. This in turn further develops their writing.

 'I found the use of role play, when we were studying Curiosity's Trip to Mars, really helped me imagine what it would actually be like.' Year 5 pupil.