Talk For Writing

Ferrars Infant and Nursery School

Analysis of ResultsSpeaking and Listening

2004/2005• 40% of children achieved level 3• 24% of children were level 1 compared with 12%

national average• Some EAL as well as English speaking

underprivileged children limited by vocabulary• This having a direct impact on writing• Needed to provide greater opportunities to

develop vocabulary and children’s confidence with the English language

Action and Targets

• SLT and literacy co met to discuss next steps• Staff INSET to share and generate more ideas

• Decided on a whole school approach• To increase opportunities for and standards in

Speaking and listening• To improve children’s communication skills• To increase standards in writing

Speaking and Listening

• Looked at KS1 objectives• Year groups plan activities each term to meet

objectives• Objectives to be met throughout the curriculum• Looked at national curriculum levels for speaking

and listening to ensure high expectations

Communication Skills

Lack of communication skills can cause Barriers to learning Poor self esteem Feelings of isolation Create additional problems

Next Steps

Role Play

• Role play corners

• Exploration of everyday language

• Activities planned

• Opportunities to write

• Note pads, lists, menus, memo pads

Boarding Pass

• Name_____________________

• Seat number________________

• Going to __________________

Café Order

• Name ________________________

• Address_______________________

• Table number__________

• Food _________________________

• Drink _________________________

Your next appointment is

on: ___________________

at: ____________________

Sunshine Holidays

Name ____________________________Address __________________________Where to? ________________________How long for? _____________________Mode of transport___________________

Drama

• Acting in character• Hot seating• Cross curricular opportunities• Increased motivation in boys writing• Children have been more able to write in

role• Growing understanding of the importance

of characterisation when writing stories

Talking Partners

• Used in literacy and across the curriculum

• Mixed ability pairs

• Writing partners

• Structured activities to:

Share experiences

Generate ideas

Communication Activities

• Feeling charades

• Action charades

• Using puppets

• Picture box

• Conversation ball

Circle Time and Time Fillers

• Oral retellings of stories

• Magic pen

• Describing pictures

• Changing the leader (non-verbal communication)

• Finish the story

The Role of Support Staff

• Working with small groups

• Story sacks

• Object bags

• Word building

• Cookery

• Increasing confidence and vocabulary

• Improving communication skills

Purpose and Audience

Children having1st hand experiences and being given the opportunity to talk about them

Writing about experiences

• School trips• School visitors• Organised entertainers• Producing work for

assemblies• Letters

Using ICT

• Photographs• Tape recorders• Video• DVD’s• Sound effects• Internet searches

Impact on Writing

We now have greater opportunities for• Children to collect, rehearse and refine

ideas before they write• A real purpose and audience for their

writing• Drama and role play• Sharing ideas and experiences• Developing communication skills