Why Oracy Lab?

Communication Has Never Been More Important

"Spoken language underpins the development of reading and writing."— National Curriculum for England

In an increasingly connected world, the ability to communicate clearly, listen actively and express ideas with confidence has never been more valuable. Whether presenting to an audience, contributing to discussion, collaborating with others or explaining their thinking, today's children need strong communication skills to succeed both in school and beyond. Yet many schools continue to face the challenge of finding practical, engaging and curriculum-linked ways to develop speaking and listening across everyday learning. That is where Oracy Lab® comes in.

Oracy Is Already Part of the Curriculum

Communication is not an optional extra. The National Curriculum for England highlights the importance of spoken language across the whole curriculum and recognises its vital role in children's cognitive, social and linguistic development. It states:

"Use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas."— National Curriculum for England

Strong communication skills help children to:

• Explain their thinking

• Develop confidence

• Expand vocabulary

• Improve understanding

• Participate in meaningful discussion

• Present ideas effectively

• Become active and engaged learners

Communication Drives Learning

Communication is not simply a life skill — it is a learning skill. Research from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) shows that structured opportunities for speaking and listening can have a significant impact on attainment.

"On average, oral language approaches have a high impact on pupil outcomes (+6 months' additional progress)."— Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)

The EEF identifies oral language approaches as a high-impact, low-cost strategy that can improve learning, vocabulary development, reading comprehension and classroom engagement. At Oracy Lab®, we believe communication should sit at the heart of learning rather than on the edges of it.

The Challenge Facing Schools

Despite the recognised importance of communication, national evidence suggests that spoken language is not always planned and taught as systematically as reading and writing.

"Schools (often) do not consider spoken language well in their English curriculum, although they understand that spoken language underpins pupils' reading and writing development."— Ofsted, Telling the Story: The English Education Subject Report (2024)

Many schools want to strengthen oracy provision but face increasing demands on curriculum time, planning and staff workload. Oracy Lab® was created to help address this challenge through practical, engaging and curriculum-linked opportunities for purposeful talk.

A Growing National Movement

Across the UK, educators, researchers and policymakers are increasingly calling for greater emphasis on speaking and listening within education. The Commission on the Future of Oracy Education in England concluded:

"Oracy should become the fourth 'R' of education – of equal status to reading, writing and arithmetic."— Commission on the Future of Oracy Education in England We Need to Talk (2024)

Voice 21, the UK's national oracy education charity, also highlights the importance of communication in education:

"Oracy skills set children up for success in school and life."— Voice 21

Together, these developments reflect a growing recognition that communication is not an optional extra but a fundamental skill for learning, participation and future success. 

Why Communication Matters Now

The need has never been greater.Speech and Language UK estimates that:

"Teachers now estimate that a shocking 1.7 million children in the UK are behind in talking and understanding words."— Speech and Language UK

Strong communication skills help children access learning, build relationships, develop literacy and thrive both within and beyond the classroom.For schools, this presents a clear opportunity to place communication at the centre of learning and ensure every child has the confidence to participate, contribute and succeed.

Our Mission

Every child deserves the confidence to express their ideas, share their opinions and make their voice count. At Oracy Lab®, we create practical, engaging and curriculum-linked resources that help children, young people and adults think boldly, speak clearly and communicate with confidence. Because communication is more than a school skill. It is a life skill.

Think Boldly. Speak Clearly. Make Your Voice Count.

Evidence Base

The ideas and evidence referenced on this page are drawn from:

• Department for Education – National Curriculum for England: English Programmes of Study

• Education Endowment Foundation – Teaching and Learning Toolkit: Oral Language Approaches

• Ofsted – Telling the Story: The English Education Subject Report (2024)

• Speech and Language UK – 1.7 Million Young Futures

• Commission on the Future of Oracy Education in England – We Need to Talk (2024)

• Voice 21 – About Oracy

  Oracy Lab® is committed to supporting schools through practical resources informed by evidence, curriculum guidance and effective classroom practice.