French

Intent

At Hoo St Werburgh Primary School, we deliver a rich, relevant and broad foreign languages curriculum through a range of opportunities and activities. Our pupils are first introduced to the French language in Key Stage 1, through song, rhyme and simple phrases. As the children move through to Key Stage 2, the children are taught to develop and embed the four key language learning skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing with age-appropriate grammar. At Hoo St Werburgh Primary School, we ensure that children not only learn the fundamentals of communicating in a different language, but develop interest and curiosity in learning about other languages, cultures, traditions and identity. Within their learning of a foreign language, pupils will also acquire key transferable skills such as strategies for memorisation, retrieval, recognising patterns in language and manipulating grammar to write creatively.

Our intent is that all our pupils develop a positive curiosity about learning another language through enjoyable lessons and provide them with opportunity to apply variety of contexts, which will secure key foundations for future language learning.

Implementation

Our French curriculum is taught in Key Stage 2 through weekly lessons using the Primary Languages Network scheme of work, which incorporates a variety of purposeful and meaningful activities, including stories, poetry, interactive games and songs. These lessons are designed to be progressive, build on pupils’ prior learning and offer challenge in relation to the four key language learning skills. Phonics, vocabulary and grammar are introduced systematically and explicitly in each unit of work. In addition to the teacher speaking in French, pupils will also have the opportunity to listen to native speakers through the weekly video. Throughout Key Stage 2, pupils will be encouraged to demonstrate their learning through shared talking, games, role-play, rhymes and songs. Children’s work is recorded in a floor book, which moves up through the school with them and allows pupils to revisit and draw upon previous learning.

At the end of each lesson, the children are given opportunity to reflect on their learning through feedback clouds and develop and awareness of their strengths within their language learning.

Impact 

The impact of children’s learning in French is monitored by the subject leader through book looks, data analysis, pupil voice, lesson observations and teacher assessment of progress against curriculum objectives. At Hoo St Werburgh Primary School, the impact of the MFL curriculum can be seen through increased pupil confidence in speaking another language, enthusiastic learners who have positive attitudes towards foreign language learning and their culture, as well as good progression of linguistic skills and knowledge. 

Hoo St Werburgh Primary School ensures that our pupils will leave year six with a strong foundation of language skills and an enthusiasm for learning of a foreign language that they will continue to develop in KS3.