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Subject tutoring · British primary

Spoken English and confidence tutor for children aged 6 to 11

Spoken English is part of the primary curriculum, not an extra. England's National Curriculum includes spoken language statements for Years 1 to 6: listening and responding, asking questions, explaining and justifying ideas, joining discussions, presenting and performing, and using Standard English. Cambridge Primary English has a speaking and listening strand alongside reading and writing. In November 2025 England's government also announced a new primary oracy framework. For children in Gulf British schools who speak Arabic or another language at home, or who are simply quiet in class, one-to-one conversation with a patient adult is the fastest way to build vocabulary, fluency and the confidence to speak up.

Facts checked:

At a glance

Ages
6 to 11, Years 1 to 6
Curriculum (England)
Spoken language statements, Years 1 to 6
Curriculum (Cambridge)
Speaking and listening strand in Primary English
What is changing
New primary oracy framework announced Nov 2025
Accent preference
Families can state one when booking

What spoken language looks like at each stage

England's curriculum sets one list of spoken language expectations for Years 1 to 6, and teachers expect more depth as children grow. This is what that typically means in practice.

Years (age)What children are expected to do
Years 1 and 2 (5 to 7)Listen and respond, ask simple questions, retell a story in order, describe a picture or event in full sentences
Years 3 and 4 (7 to 9)Explain an idea with a reason, take turns in discussion, use new topic vocabulary, read aloud and perform poems with expression
Years 5 and 6 (9 to 11)Give a short structured presentation, build on and challenge others' views politely, adapt to formal and informal situations, use Standard English

Based on the spoken language statements in England's English programmes of study. Cambridge Primary English sets comparable speaking and listening objectives by stage.

Why speaking matters for school results

Children who can explain their thinking aloud usually write better, because writing is speech organised on the page. In maths and science, primary teachers ask children to reason verbally ('I know it's 24 because...'). A child who is unsure of English vocabulary or nervous about speaking can understand more than they show, which can lead to lower class sets or teacher assessments than their ability warrants.

Bilingual children in the Gulf often have the opposite profile from what parents expect: confident everyday English with friends, but limited academic vocabulary and hesitation in formal situations such as presentations or class discussion. Both profiles respond well to regular, structured conversation.

What a tutor works on

  • Vocabulary for school topics, practised in sentences rather than lists.
  • Speaking in full sentences, with linking words such as because, however and so.
  • Describing pictures, retelling stories and explaining how something works.
  • Asking and answering questions, and saying 'I don't understand' with confidence.
  • Short presentations and show-and-tell, building up length over weeks.
  • Clear pronunciation and pace, without trying to erase a child's accent.

How online speaking lessons work for children

Lessons are 60 minutes, one to one, on video. For younger children the tutor uses games, picture prompts on the shared whiteboard, stories, and role play such as running a pretend shop, changing activity every ten minutes or so and including a movement break. Older children prepare and give short talks, discuss topics they care about and practise class-style debates. Because the child is the only student, they speak for most of the lesson, far more than they could in a class of twenty-five.

Families can state an accent preference when booking. Arabic-speaking tutors are available for some subjects, ask when you book; many families prefer an English-only lesson for speaking practice. A parent nearby helps shy children settle in the first lessons.

Talk at home, in any language

Rich conversation in your home language still builds the thinking and vocabulary that transfer to English. Ask open questions like 'What would you do if...' at dinner.

Common questions

My child understands English but refuses to speak it. Can lessons help?

Yes. One-to-one sessions with a patient tutor are lower pressure than class, and tutors build up from short answers to longer talk as trust grows.

Is this the same as an IELTS or exam course?

No. These lessons are for primary children building everyday and school spoken English. Older students preparing for IELTS or TOEFL are matched with a different kind of tutor.

Can we choose a British or American accent?

You can state an accent preference when booking and we take it into account when matching.

How will I know it is working?

Look for longer answers, more questions asked in class, and teacher comments. The tutor records progress after lessons in your parent account.

What do spoken English lessons cost?

$15 a lesson, the same for every subject. Lessons are one to one and 60 minutes, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.

Sources

Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.

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