Stockport Speaks

Stockport Speaks is a collaborative partnership between the EEF, Alexandra Park Research School, Stockport Local Authority, schools and specialist services across the borough. Funded through the Education Endowment Foundation's regional strategy, the project is focused on improving oral language and communication development in Early Years and Key Stage 1, with a particular emphasis on improving outcomes for children experiencing disadvantage. 

The partnership recognises that strong communication and language skills are fundamental to children's success in school and beyond. Through a shared commitment to evidence-informed practice, Stockport Speaks aims to ensure that all children, regardless of background, have access to high-quality interactions, teaching and support that develop their spoken language and vocabulary. 

The project brings together school leaders, teachers, speech and language specialists and local authority colleagues to build capacity across the education system. Participating schools receive training, implementation support and opportunities to collaborate with other practitioners, helping them to translate educational research into effective classroom practice

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At the heart of the project is the development of a network of Oral Language Lead Schools, who work alongside Alexandra Park Research School to model effective practice, support implementation and share learning across Stockport schools. Through professional development, coaching, school-to-school support and shared enquiry, the partnership is creating a sustainable approach to improving oral language provision across the borough. 

By strengthening evidence-informed approaches to communication and language, Stockport Speaks aims to improve children's confidence, engagement, reading and writing outcomes, while helping schools create more equitable opportunities for all learners.

 
Key Objectives 
Improve communication and language outcomes for children in Early Years and Key Stage 1. 
Reduce the impact of socio-economic disadvantage on educational outcomes. 
Develop expertise in evidence-informed oral language approaches across Stockport schools. 
Build sustainable leadership capacity through Oral Language Lead Schools. 
Strengthen collaboration between schools, the Local Authority, Speech and Language Therapy services and Alexandra Park Research School. 
Create a shared commitment to improving outcomes for disadvantaged children through evidence-informed practice. 

Through Stockport Speaks, schools across the borough are working together to ensure that every child has a voice, every classroom promotes high-quality talk, and every learner has the opportunity to thrive.