How to identify and support pupils struggling with oracy

Understand how to spot which pupils may face difficulties with oracy. Use our template to put together a support plan for the pupil, and find a guide to help you speak with parents/carers about their child's difficulties.

Last reviewed on 4 December 2025
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 52648
Contents
  1. 1. Understand which groups of pupils usually struggle more with oracy
  2. 2. Identify pupils with oracy difficulties
  3. 3. Work with parents/carers to understand their child’s needs
  4. 4. Differentiate your interventions for pupils’ needs
  5. Download our support plan template

1. Understand which groups of pupils usually struggle more with oracy

Strong oracy is important for helping pupils to properly articulate their learning, and for building their self-confidence.

Oracy falls into different strands, and pupils will tend to struggle in specific areas. Voice21 (the oracy charity) has an oracy framework which sets these areas out. 

Read our article on what oracy is, to learn more about how it benefits pupil outcomes.

Disadvantaged pupils, who may be exposed to a smaller range of vocabulary at home and who don't have oracy modelled to them as much as pupils who aren't disadvantaged Pupils born just before, during or just after the COVID-19 pandemic, who may have had fewer opportunities to socialise and use their language Pupils who use English as an additional language (EAL) – their oracy skills might be strong in their first language,