Oracy And Beyond

Oracy And The First 1000 Days: How Nurture and Environment Can Affect the Language Gap Before School Begins

Fri, 01 May 2026 00:36:00 +0100

"Oracy isn't just about learning to talk, it's about learning through talk. It's about building those cognitive foundations for everything else." - Tracie Butterfill, National Lead Early Years and Families @ Twinkl

This conversation had me wishing I could rewind with my children and start again.

Tracie talks about how we should instruct instead of ask. Say "Thank You" instead of "Please".

That alone would have saved hours of getting shoes on time over the years!

🏗️ The Foundations of Oracy

Tracie highlights that oracy isn't just about learning to talk; it’s about learning through talk. It serves as the cognitive foundation for everything else, leveling the playing field before formal education even begins.

The Developmental Journey

Receptive Language: Babies start by taking in all the information around them.
Non-Verbal Cues: Communication begins through facial expressions and eye contact.
The Pointing Phase: Children use gestures and simple utterances to label their world (e.g., "daddy," "car," "bottle").
Vocabulary Bursts: Interest-based learning—like memorising every dinosaur name—fuels an explosion in vocabulary.

🛤️ Oracy as a Tool for Equity

The conversation emphasises that oracy is a primary area of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), alongside physical and personal-social development.

Social Mobility: Strong communication skills allow children from all backgrounds to advocate for themselves and engage with their peers.
The "Buzz" of Learning: A healthy early years setting is never silent; it’s filled with the "buzz" of child-led discussion and interaction.
Impact of COVID-19: Lockdown limited social networks, depriving many "only children" or eldest siblings of peer role models to mimic and learn from.

🧩 Inclusive Oracy: SEND and "Literal Parenting"

For children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), specifically autistic children, oracy requires a literal approach to reduce anxiety.

⏳ The "Time" Debate

As with every episode, we have a guest from the previous show.

Eric Chamberlin asked: If we add oracy to the curriculum, must we take away from literacy or numeracy?

Tracie argues that they should stand equally. Because the brain develops most rapidly in the first 1,000 days, getting "the talk" right early on makes later literacy and numeracy much easier to grasp.

"Oracy isn't an add-on; it's the foundation of the three primary areas of learning... communication is intrinsic in every area of our lives."

How do you think we can better support parents in busy households to prioritize "learning through talk" during everyday routines?

You can connect with Tracie Butterfill on LinkedIn here

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Hello — I’m Al Booth, host of Oracy And Beyond, broadcaster, live host and panel moderator, and podcast producer

I created this podcast to explore how young people can develop confidence, self-worth and communication skills through oracy.

I’m not an oracy expert. I’m just a former shy child who found his voice.

I've been there and I am fascinated how we can help other young people find their voice.

For me, that's through podcasting and workshops.

If this episode sparked ideas for your setting, I’d love to continue the conversation and explore how we might work together.

If you are looking for a host for your next conference, want to look into podcasting, or would like to discuss my oracy-led podcast workshop for schools, let's have a chat.

Email Me al@albooth.co.uk

Connect on LinkedIn

Learn more: OracyAndBeyond.com

Thank you for listening. I look forward to chatting with you.

Oracy And A.I. Assessments: How Artificial Intelligence could help young people find their voice for exams.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:30:00 +0100

"In today's world, far too much communication is happening digitally. We've lost that ability to speak and to listen and to understand each other. Getting us back to being able to speak to each other is one of the beautiful parts of Oracy." - Eric Chamberlin

Eric Chamberlin is a teacher-turned-tech genius. He has created not one but TWO apps that promote speaking, listening, and confidence-building across classrooms.

Yes. Eric is responsible for the above quote AND has developed digital apps too.

In this episode you'll hear:

About the development of apps that revolutionise assessment practices, from language learning to oral exams.
How technology can reduce teacher workload and improve student feedback.
Ethical considerations of AI technology in learning environments

It's a fascinating look at how technology can take young people away from the pressure of the classroom whilst allowing them to thrive in it.

Find out more about Eric's apps here:

Say Veritas: Students learn through speaking—daily snapshot, weekly formative checks, and secure oral assessments. Track National Curriculum coverage automatically. Generate evidence for Ofsted in minutes.

PhonemeLab: The app created by Eric as a way for him to ease the pressure on his wife's teacher workload.

Eric Chamberlin on LinkedIn

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Hello, I'm Al Booth, host of Oracy and Beyond.

I'm a broadcaster, conference host, and podcast producer with more than 25 years across BBC and commercial radio and television.

Today I work with schools, education organisations, and companies who want to create confident conversations — hosting conferences and panel discussions, producing podcasts, and helping leaders speak with authenticity and confidence.

Organisations typically work with me to:

host conferences and panel discussions
launch and produce podcasts
coach speakers and leaders to communicate clearly and with confidence

Planning an event, launching a podcast, or exploring how to develop oracy across your organisation?

Learn more or get in touch: albooth.co.uk Or find me on LinkedIn

I started Oracy and Beyond to explore how speaking, listening, and storytelling help young people build confidence, self-worth, and opportunity.

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If you've enjoyed this episode and want to continue the conversation, head over to the Oracy And Beyond page on LinkedIn.

Oracy And Movement: How combining physical movement with vocabulary can help develop speech in early years and beyond.

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:30:00 +0100

"Speech and language is coordination, but also your whole body movement is coordination. So, if children are learning vocabulary through something they're experiencing - they're learning the word hop, but they're actually hopping at the same time - there's much more for them to hook that word onto." - Helen Guntrip

My guest is Helen Guntrip, speech and language therapist, founder of Talk and Move, and someone who has spent 23 years watching children find (and lose, and find again) their voices.

She's recently been recognised with the Montessori Global Award. Which makes total sense after having spoken with her.

The more episodes of Oracy And Beyond I host, the more I learn... and become even more curious about in terms of where Oracy lives.

Helen explains why performance anxiety is a physical thing, not a mindset problem and shares why movement isn't just good for children's bodies, but can also help develop spoke communication.

In this episode Helen talks about:

How the brain responds to the pressure of speaking out loud
What "embodied learning" actually means — and why it changes vocabulary retention
Celebrating non-verbal and sign communication on equal terms with speech
What adults get wrong about children's communication — and how to shift that

Timestamps:

00:00 — How microphones can encourage shy children to speak
01:12 — Using audio recording with children who have mutism
02:53 — The brain's response to speaking under pressure
03:10 — Deadlines, dopamine, and where confidence comes from
07:54 — Why oral language development in early years matters so much
11:15 — Helen's route from speech therapy to movement-based programmes
12:16 — What embodied learning looks like in practice
14:00 — Supporting emotional regulation and expressive freedom
18:32 — Why movement helps vocabulary stick
20:10 — Movement as a tool for reducing anxiety
23:34 — Calm, active, and balancing movements in the classroom
25:24 — Helping children with anxiety at the start of school
30:19 — Practical emotional regulation during school routines
34:38 — Communication beyond spoken words
39:40 — Celebrating non-verbal and sign communication
42:39 — Behaviour as communication — and what's behind it
45:08 — How adult expectations shape children's communication
48:04 — Confidence, connection, and regulation as the foundations of oracy
49:28 — Helen's Montessori Global Award

Find out more about Helen's work:

Talk and Move here.

Helen on LinkedIn here.

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I'm Al Booth, host of Oracy and Beyond — a broadcaster, conference host, and podcast producer with more than 25 years across BBC and commercial radio and television.

Organisations typically work with me to:

host conferences and panel discussions
launch and produce podcasts
coach speakers and leaders to communicate clearly and with confidence

Planning an event, launching a podcast, or exploring how to develop oracy across your organisation?

Learn more or get in touch: albooth.co.uk Or find me on LinkedIn

I started Oracy and Beyond to explore how speaking, listening, and storytelling help young people build confidence, self-worth, and opportunity.

Before you go — a question from my next guest:

Do you think confidence is the foundation of oracy?

Leave a comment, drop me a message, or come back next episode to find out what they think.

Oracy And Podcasting: How practicing oracy builds confidence to communicate.

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:30:00 +0100

“Sometimes the quietest student in the classroom has the most to say — they just need the right space to say it.” - Veronique Trang

Being a child with a head full of ideas and suggestions but lacking the confidence or ability to share it with peers is a terrible feeling. This episode's guest knows that all too well.

Veronique Trang went from being a shy child to the CEO of a tech company that has created a podcast app to help young people grow their own communication skills.

And, ultimately, their own self-worth.

Telmi came about from Veronique's own experiences and her belief that practice makes progress.

In this epsiode she talks about:

• How Veronique’s childhood experience inspired the creation of TelMi

• Why practicing speaking is essential for building confidence and voice

• How podcasting can become a powerful tool for developing oracy in schools

And she shares some wonderful stories of how children have found their voice through podcasting.

You can find out more about Telmi at the official website. Just click here.

If you're an Oracy lead, Veronique is looking forward to talking to you to see how Telmi can benefit your classroom.

You can contact Veronique on her LinkedIn page.

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I'm Al Booth, the host of Oracy and Beyond. I'm a broadcaster, conference host, and podcast producer with more than 25 years’ experience across BBC and commercial radio and television.

I host and moderate discussions at education and on-stage events and love helping conferences create thoughtful, energetic conversations that audiences remember long after the session ends.

I started Oracy and Beyond to explore how speaking, listening, and storytelling can help young people build confidence, self-worth, and opportunity.

Organisations typically work with me to:

• host conferences and panel discussions

• launch and produce podcasts

• coach speakers and leaders to communicate clearly and confidently

Planning an event, launching a podcast, or exploring how to develop oracy across your organisation?

Learn more or get in touch: albooth.co.uk

Or contact me on LinkedIn

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Oracy And Social Mobility: How encouraging communication can bridge the social divide from an early age - Michael Gardner

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:30:00 +0100

"Oracy has a power for social mobility and opportunities for those that maybe don't have the language in their upbringing. That's not to say that oracy is gonna solve all of the problems in society, but as educators, it's a real tool that I think we can equip our children with." - Michael Gardner

Michael Gardner is the founder of "The Oracy Shift" and author of the recently published book "Voices of Opportunity", as well as being a teacher and learning lead at The Maritime Academy Trust.

In this episode Michael shares his beliefs that social mobility can be achieved through oracy through purposeful, deliberate practice in listening, questioning, challenging ideas, and building on others' contributions.

Michael talks about:

How Oracy Reconnects Teachers with the Core Purpose of Teaching: Meaningful Human Interaction.
In the Age of AI, Oracy is the Uniquely Human Element of Education that Technology Cannot Replace.
How Oracy allows introverted people to be able to communicate and share ideas with others with confidence.

Michael Gardner's book "Voices of Opportunity" is published by Routledge and is available to buy using this link.

You can find out more about The Oracy Shift at TheOracyShift.co.uk

Connect with him on LinkedIn on his profile which is... here.

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Hello — I’m Al Booth, host of Oracy And Beyond, broadcaster, conference host and panel moderator.

I created this podcast to explore how young people can develop confidence, self-worth and communication skills through oracy.

I’m not an oracy expert — I’m a former shy child who found his voice, and I’m curious about how conversation can create equity for young people.

And I am curious to find out how I can use my experience and skills to help young people express themselves and create equity through oracy.

If this episode sparked ideas for your setting, I’d love to continue the conversation and explore how we might work together.

You’re very welcome to reach out — even if you’re simply exploring ideas.

Email Me

Connect on LinkedIn

Learn more: OracyAndBeyond.com

Thank you for listening. I look forward to chatting with you.

Oracy and Human Connection: How can children hold on to their sense of self in an age of AI and social media - Shilpa Jamieson

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0100

"To me, oracy is life. We are animals from time beyond. If we've been evolved to communicate, we need to communicate to survive. So, it's life, isn't it?" - Shilpa Jamieson

Shilpa Jamieson is family coach, a speaker, and an author. Her work centres around human connection, particularly in families and with young people at the heart of it all.

In this episode Shilpa chats about:

How children can hold on to a sense of self when their world is increasingly filled with outside pressures from A.I. and social media.
Why teaching her 4 pillars - self-knowledge, self-trust, self-worth, and connection - can help children express themselves amongst their peers and within their families.
How a recipe for cake can help young people bake themselves a metaphor for happiness.
How she teaches "communicate your emotion, don't be your emotion" to take ownership of their feelings rather than blaming others.

This episode was recorded before, and is being released at the end of Children's Mental Health Week. In light of that, Shilpa has recorded a masterclass which you can find at her website.

To find out more about Shilpa and her wonderful work, please follow the final links:

Free masterclass on 2 minute moments to build kids’ mental health - for Children’s mental health week - sign up link here.

https://www.mindsetmimiandme.com/2-minute-moments

Shilpa's Books and membership - www.mindsetmimiandme.com/what-we-offer

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mindset_mimi_and_me/

Linked in - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shilpaj-mindset-mimi-and-me/

Pebble finds his pace https://mindsetmimiandme.thrivecart.com/pebble-finds-his-pace/

Shilpa's community membership (Mindset & US)

https://mindsetmimiandme.thrivecart.com/raise-emotionally-strong-kids/

You can also find Shilpa on LInkedIn right about... here!

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Hello. I'm Al Booth. I am the host and creator of Oracy And Beyond.

With more than 25 years in commercial and BBC radio and TV, I am available as a conference host, panel moderator and oracy workshop facilitator for schools and trusts.

You can find me at AlBooth.co.uk

Or connect with me on LinkedIn.

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If you'd like to be a guest on the show, drop me an email at: al@oracyandbeyond.com

Oracy is All Around: How to recognise the oracy in everyday... and make it fun. With Hanna Beech

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0100

"Oracy is like air because it's all around us. It's for everybody." - Hanna Beech

In this episode Hanna Beech discusses how oracy is like air: essential and omnipresent.

She talks about its role in fostering communication skills, personal development, and community connection.

We look at the importance of implementing oracy in schools, the importance of capability, opportunity, and motivation.

Hanna talks about:

Listening to the oracy that takes place all around us from Year 1s talking about Australia to school committees wanting bouncy castles.
She talks about how oracy brought her younger self to a place of confidence and calm.
The fun you can have implementing oracy both for adults and students.

As well as being a Regional Lead Practitioner and SCITT Programme Lead, Hanna is the author of 60-Second CPD: 239 ideas for busy teachers. (You can get her book here. )

Find Hanna on LinkedIn here.

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Hello, I'm Al. I'm the host of Oracy And Beyond, as well as a presenter, panel moderator and live event host.

Connect with me on LinkedIn here.

Or see me at my website: AlBooth.co.uk

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If you'd like to be a guest on the show, please drop me a line at: al@oracyandbeyond.com

Oracy for Teachers: Why understanding how to use your voice will grow children's confidence - Georgie Ross

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 07:30:00 +0100

"Teachers spend their whole life using their voice, so supporting teachers, not just in terms of how they teach oracy, but also in their own Orocy skills is very important." - Georgie Ross

As Oracy Coach at the English-Speaking Union Georgie Ross travels the world teaching and coaching in international settings to help people master the art of public speaking.

And in this episode of Oracy And Beyond, she offers solutions to the fact that teachers are tasked with teaching using oracy learning methods, often without having training in how to communicate.

Georgie talks about:

Helping classroom leaders understand the importance of the pause. (As a broadcaster of 25+ years I would gift everyone who has to speak publicly the gift of owning the pause. Bathe in it; it's frightening at first... but it gives power to your words.)
How Oracy learning and effective communication is crucial in an AI-driven world.
The moment entering a speaking competition when she was a shy child gave her a new level of confidence, and led her to helping others.

Georgie also talks about how Oracy is used effectively in working with others in countries outside of the UK, particularly in the Middle East.

You can find Georgie on LinkedIn by clicking this very link.

You can find out more about The English-Speaking Union by clicking right here.

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Hello, I'm Al Booth. I am a broadcaster, event host, panel moderator, and podcast producer. (The freelance hat is wide and many-brimmed.)

Formerly a shy, unconfident child, I learned about Oracy after hosting a podcast workshop at my son's school... and fell down a rabbit hole.

Oracy is my passion, and speaking to like-minded experts on this podcast helps spread the word. (Is that a pun? It feels like it's teetering on a pun. Excuse it, if it is.)

If you would like to be on the show, please email me: al@oracyandbeyond.com

You can also follow the podcast on LinkedIn. I have called the page... Oracy And Beyond.

Or you can visit the website to see past episodes and to anticipate the blog that I fully intend to start writing... Again, it goes by the name Oracy And Beyond (with a .com at the end.)

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If you would like to talk to me about hosting an event or moderating a panel for you, or if you'd like to just say "Hello" because it's good to talk, please find at on LinkedIn/AlBooth

Thanks for being here. I hope you enjoy the show.

Oracy And Psychology: Does Oracy play a part in our development even before we are born? - Dr Maddi Popoola

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 08:30:00 +0100

"We're not born with language. We're born with communication, skills and desire, but we're not born with the words to get needs met." - Dr. Maddi Popoola

In this episode I am joined by Educational Psychologist and author of "Reimagining Education", Dr Maddi Popoola.

We go right back to the early stages of development i.e. in the womb, with Dr. Maddi asking when we should start to consider Oracy learning.

She looks at how confidence comes from inclusive learning, which stems from Oracy.

And Dr Maddi also shares not one but TWO stories of when Oracy has played a part in a child finding their voice in front of their peers.

You can get Dr Maddi Popoola's book "Reimagining Education" here.

Connect with Dr Maddi Popoola on her LinkedIn too.

She also hosts the NottAlone podcast along with Dr Orlaith Green which focuses on young people's mental health.

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Thank you for listening to Oracy And Beyond.

If you have a passion for Oracy, for giving young people a voice through creating confidence, and you'd like to be on the show, please email me - Al@OracyAndBeyond.com

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I'm Al. I am the host of Oracy And Beyond, and an event host and panel moderator. If you have an education conference where you need a former BBC and commercial broadcaster to host a stage, come and find me on LinkedIN.

Thank you for listening.

Oracy In Dialogue: How recognising the dynamics of classroom dialogue is key - Alice Pepper

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 16:07:00 +0100

"Oracy has got this opportunity to give people a voice and for them to recognise what it is to be heard." - Alice Pepper

In this first episode since the Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report, I chat with Alice Pepper (Oracy Award Lead at One Education) about how wider oracy learning has to involved classroom dialogue to create equity in young people.

Alice is an education consultant who understands the importance of helping educators implement oracy in schools.

In this episode we discuss how:

Oracy gives people a voice and helps them recognise what it is to be heard.
The new curriculum aims to integrate oracy across all subjects, not just English.
Oracy is not just a buzzword; it's a fundamental way of learning.

You can contact Alice at her LinkedIn page here - Alice Pepper

Find out more about the work One Education does here.

(I should probably say Oracy And Beyond is not affiliated with One Education - I am sharing the link as an appreciate for Alice's time.)

Click here to read the government's statement about the Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report.

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Hello, I am Al Booth - creator and host of Oracy And Beyond.

To see past episodes, go to OracyAndBeyond.com

If you'd like to be a guest on the show, please email me (Al@OracyAndBeyond.com) or go to oracyandbeyond.com/be-on-the-show.

For all podcast production and event hosting enquiries, find me on LinkedIn.

Oracy And Children's Stories: Looking back at my guests' stories of how Oracy has changed children's lives.

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 08:30:00 +0100

"Listen to the song here in my heart. A melody I start, but can't complete. Listen to the sound from deep within, it's only beginning to find release." - Beyonce

Hello, I'm the host or Oracy And Beyond, Al Booth. I always like to start these notes with a quote from the guest featured in the episode. In this episode, however, my first six guests are all here to share their stories of the time a child shone through Oracy.

In every episode of the podcast I ask my guest to share a story of the moment a child found their voice through Oracy.

And in each episode, each guest shares an incredible story of how a child who lacked confidence, who couldn't share their thoughts or feelings verbally... then did so.

And they did it because my guests had a passion for helping them do just that through Oracy.

My guests in this episode are:

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If you'd like to be on the show to discuss how Oracy has made an impact on a young person in your life, and how it could have done when you were a young person, you can get in touch with me - Al@OracyAndBeyond.com

You can listen to all the full episodes featuring the guests on this show wherever you are reading this very note. And also at OracyAndBeyond.com

SOCIALS

I am still mourning the loss of AOL Chat but, seeing as it's no longer 1998, you can find Oracy And Beyond on:

LinkedIn - Oracy And Beyond

Instagram - Oracy And Beyond

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And a tiny bit about me...

I'm Al. I am a broadcaster, podcast producer for education brands, and a live event host.

I'm also a panel host which, through the years, has mainly been for celebrity panels and TV shows. But now I am keen to be involved with more education panels.

If you think I can help you, please email me: Al@AlBooth.co.uk

Or you can find me on LinkedIn/AlBooth

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Until next time when my guest will be Dr Maddi Popoola, enjoy your tricks and your treats.

Oracy In Phonics: How children can thrive when they are given the oracy skills to express themselves authentically. - Laura Brogan

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0100

"Oracy is truly inclusive. It's not about speaking perfectly but about giving students the confidence and skills to express themselves authentically." - Laura Brogan

Laura Brogan is the National Education Lead for Phonics and Early Reading at Twinkle Educational Publishing.

She is passionate about helping children find their voice by starting where they are, which oracy is an absolute aid for.

In this episode Laura:

Talks about having her Oracy Epiphany when she taught in a school based in a deprived area of the North West of England.
Shares how being taught oracy in her school would have helped her realise that communication doesn't have to be rehearsed perfection; authenticity is key to communication.
Recalls how playing snakes and ladders (and other board games) encouraged a child who wouldn't speak in class to gradually share his passion with his peers through one-to-one oracy learning.

We also look at the link-up between Twinkl and the Cambridge Teacher Research Exchange (Camtree) and find out what the oracy-led inquiry and professional development programme means for educators and young people.

Laura also answers the question set for her by Bob Coenraats in the last epsiodes.

You can find out more about Laura Brogan in these very sociable online places.

LinkedIN - Laura Brogan

Instagram - @LauraTalksPhonics

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If you would like to be a guest on Oracy And Beyond , please email me here: Al@OracyAndBeyond.com

We have an Instagram too. How very modern - @OracyAndBeyond

You can also find me just up the road from Laura's LinkedIn house at my very own profile page. The address is: Al Booth

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Oracy And Beyond is the podcast from Your Podclass - the oracy-led podcast workshop for education settings.

It is still in its own early years stages, but my absolute passion is to share some of the experience I have had going from an unconfident child to a broadcaster, so I am looking to bring Your Podclass to as many settings as possible.

If you'd like to discuss the possibility of me bringing it to yours, email AlBooth@YourPodclass.com

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Thank you for listening.

Oracy In Philosophy: How the oldest form of debate can give a voice to young people - Bob Coenraats

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 08:30:00 +0100

"We need to find what's inside children's minds if we want to teach them. We need to find what they find important before we take the hassle of teaching them about history or geometry or something." - Bob Coenraats

In this episode of Oracy And Beyond we are in The Netherlands to talk to philosophy teacher and passionate oracy advocate Bob Coenraats.

Bob talks about:

* His own insights from his experience as a philosophy teacher, highlighting the importance of teaching students to express their ideas and engage in meaningful conversations.

* How encouraging a safe space for children and young people to share their ideas can create life-changing moments not just for the students, but for the teacher too. Bob shares a moment that has stayed with him to this day and has lead to a lasting relationship throughout one child's education.

* How governments can The conversation explores the concept of equity in education, emphasizing the need for all students to have access to opportunities that allow them to express themselves and engage with content meaningfully. The episode discusses how oracy can contribute to creating a more equitable educational environment.

* How oracy should be a government responsibility. Bob argues that teaching children oracy can lead to better citizenship education and emphasizes that, in a democratic society, the government should ensure that all students learn how to express and exchange ideas effectively.

(We talk about the current UK government's pledge to bring oracy to the fore in education. You can read more about it here.)

You can find out more about Bob and how he is changing the lives of young people through oracy here:

LinkedIN: Bob Coenraats

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Thank you for listening to Oracy And Beyond.

If you'd like to come on the show and share your passion for all things oracy, and highlight how it can create equity amongst young people, please drop me a line in any of the following places.

Find out more at the website: OracyAndBeyond.com

The podcast is also on social media (how very modern)

Instagram: Oracy And Beyond

Facebook: Oracy And Beyond

LinkedIn: Oracy And Beyond

You can also find me at:

LinkedIN: Al Booth

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Oracy And Beyond is brought to you by Your Podclass: the oracy-focused podcast workshop for schools. Find out more at YourPodclass.com

Blimey, is that the time? I better go and pick up the kids from school...

See you soon.

Oracy In Science: How debating scientific theories can change the world's future - Peter Munroe

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0100

"Mistakes are okay. If you're making mistakes, it shows that you're trying something and that you're working on it." - Pete Munroe

Once upon a time in a radio station boardroom a new Managing Director was giving a talk to the on-air team. During her introduction she said she wanted to see mistakes. She wanted to see ideas that didn't come off. Because if we were getting things wrong, we were trying something new, and we were learning from it.

You can't learn anything new if you don't move in a direction other than where you are.

This is a point that Peter Munroe brilliantly raises and shares examples of this in science teaching in this episode of Oracy And Beyond.

(Admittedly, there's more potential for explosions in a science lab than in a radio studio. Depending on the idea...)

Peter is the Head of Chemisty at Uckfield College and is passionate about oracy in science.

On this episode Peter talks about:

* His own experiences with oracy, in particular struggling to talk to peers, despite a background in drama.

* How oracy gave a voice to young adults who had been affected by the lockdowns during the Covid pandemic, and helped build confidence dented by a lack of social communication.

* How making those mistakes can open the eyes and the minds of young people and give them the confidence to try.

You can find out more about Peter Munroe here.

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Oracy And Beyond is brought to you by Your Podclass, the oracy-led podcast workshop for school-aged children (and their teachers).

You can find out more about Your Podclass here.

It is hosted by me, Al Booth. Please feel free to get in touch with me on:

Instagram: @AlBoothMedia or LinkedIN/AlBooth

And if you'd like to be a guest on Oracy And Beyond, please email me at Al:OracyAndBeyond.com

Oracy As An Epiphany: How listening is a vital way of teaching - Louise Pickering

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 22:00:00 +0100

"I'm talking too much and I'm not letting anyone else speak, and that will be impacting students all the time in my classroom. It's not just the students' oracy; it's mine too. And the staff in the room. That was my epiphany."

Louise Pickering is the Head of Social Sciences at Weavers Academy, part of the Creative Education Trust.

Louise admits to having been someone who taught how she'd been taught to teach... until a chance meeting at a conference led her down an oracy rabbit hole from which she's never surfaced. (Much to the benefit of her students.)

In this episode Louise shares:

* How a student gained a distinction through being taught in an oracy-led environment.

* How oracy would have helped her in her social situations during her academically successful school life.

* How oracy benefits her as a neurodivergent adult.

What really stood out for me was how Louise looks at the need to bring oracy into the learnings of teachers and educators to help them help students.

(As someone who coaches presenting techniques, this really made me think.)

It's a fascinating conversation with a guest who really opens up the landscape in terms of how oracy fits into education and life beyond the classroom.

You can find Louise Pickering on LinkedIn: Louise Marie

Louise was also a brilliant first-time host on Teachers Talk Radio recently.

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If you'd like to appear on Oracy And Beyond, you can email me: Al@OracyAndBeyond.com

Or you can find me on LinkedIn too: Al Booth

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Oracy And Beyond came about after talking to people about my idea for a podcast workshop for schools.

Having learned more about oracy I, like Louise, fell down an oracy rabbit hole and the oracy-led podcast workshop Your Podclass was born.

I was a shy schoolboy, who grew into an unconfident teenager and young adult. All I wanted to do was be on the radio but I lacked the self-confidence to do that until I was in my mid-20s.

As a former commercial and BBC radio and TV presenter, Your Podclass has been set-up with a focus on creating equity for all young people and help them understand that their voice is equal to anybody else's.

To discuss bringing my workshop to your setting, visit YourPodclass.com

#Oracy #Education #Empowerment #StudentVoice #Presenting #TeacherTraining #Coaching

Oracy By Numbers: How Maths Is Transformed By Talking - Caroline Hudson

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 08:30:00 +0100

"I would deliberately do bits wrong, and they could tell me. And they did it in pairs, they did it in fours, they did it where they were starting off with a question, or they were halfway through a question. For me, that was like the prime example of how we could prove that oracy was just a brilliant way of doing things."

Caroline Hudson is The Kitchen Table Teacher. With more than 30-years' experience in Early Years teaching and leadership, she specialises in Oracy, Maths and English.

And it is how she brought oracy into her maths teaching, and how it transformed the understanding of her pupils when it came to long division that highlights just how powerful oracy is in creating equity amongst young people.

"Oracy is about giving children the right level of step to have an equal chance at the top."

Caroline also shares her own experience of how a child in Year 6 went from being largely uncommunicative to presenting in front of his class. She also shares how oracy could have made a difference in her own schooling too.

You can find out more about Caroline Hudson in these places:

KitchenTableTeacher.co.uk

Insta: @KitchenTableTeacher

Facebook: Kitchen Table Teacher

Oracy And Beyond is brought to you by Your Podclass - the Oracy-led podcast workshop that I bring into schools to help give confidence to young people through professional podcasting techniques.

To find out more go to YourPodclass.com

If you'd like to discuss bringing Your Podclass into your setting, email me AlBooth@YourPodclass.com

Follow Oracy And Beyond on Instagram @OracyAndBeyond

And if you'd like to be a guest on the show, email me Al@OracyAndBeyond.com

Or find me on LinkedIn - Al Booth

Oracy for the Community: fostering oracy in school and at home - Michelle Windridge (Twinkl)

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 08:30:00 +0100

"I was painfully shy. I am dyslexic as well. If I could get through a day without speaking and having anyone look at me, then that was a success. But then because of that, because the way that education was back then, I never developed those skills needed and that vocabulary needed."

Michelle Windridge is the National Education Lead for school-based EYFS at Twinkl. She has also been published in TES and EYE magazine.

In this episode Michelle shares her own reflections on the new details being released around the Government's Best Starting Life Strategy.

She tells the story of how she took an unconfident, removed child who would walk into school with fingers wrapped around their tablet... and helped him find his voice. (With the help of 3 curly-tailed heroes.)

Michelle also reflects on her own schooling, in which she opens up about her struggles with shyness and not having the confidence to communicate. Being in school in the 80s with dyslexia and no oracy teaching wasn't easy on her.

She also shares her views on where we need to take oracy: "We need to support the whole network around a child, not just teachers, but working with the entire community to ensure all children get the best possible chance."

You can find Michelle Windridge in all of these places:

@MrsPrimary_EYFS on Twitter/X

Instagram - @MrsPrimary_EYFS

and on LinkTree

ORACY AND BEYOND is brought to you by Your Podclass: the oracy-led podcast workshop for schools, created by Al Booth - the host of this very podcast.

To bring Your Podclass to your school, email me on AlBooth@YourPodclass.com

Resources Mentioned:

- CAMTREE (Twinkl's Oracy-led Inquiry Program with Cambridge University's Oracy resources.)

Find out more here.

You can find more information about dyslexia at the British Dyslexia Association

If you would like to be a guest on a future epsiode of Oracy and beyond please email me at AlBooth@YourPodclass.com

TRAILER: Why Oracy and beyond?

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Oracy and beyond exists to celebrate the fact that Oracy IS equity. On this show I chat to anyone who is passionate about oracy, and more so about helping young people discover their voice (and their confidence) through communication.

I'll talk to people from education who have been and are in classrooms, to experts in the field, to people for who oracy - whether they knew it or not at the time - has impacted them directly.

Oracy IS equity. Which is why this podcast is all about Oracy and beyond.

If you'd like to be a guest on the show, please drop me a line at albooth@yourpodclass.com

"Oracy and beyond" is brought to you by Your Podclass: The oracy-led podcast workshop for all schools and all children, everywhere.