French (MFL) at Cuddington and Dinton

 Intent 

At Cuddington and Dinton C of E School we use the Language Angels scheme of work and resources to ensure we offer a relevant, broad and ambitious foreign languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils using a wide variety of topics and themes. All pupils will be encouraged to achieve their full potential by fostering high expectations and excellent standards in their foreign language learning. 

All content will be updated and reviewed annually to ensure it remains relevant and in line with the National Curriculum. This will ensure that the foreign language knowledge of our pupils progresses within each academic year and is extended year upon year throughout the primary phase.    

The four key language learning skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing will be taught and all necessary grammar will be covered in an age-appropriate way across key stage 2.  

The intent is that all pupils will develop a genuine interest and positive curiosity about foreign languages, finding them enjoyable and stimulating. Learning a second language will also offer pupils the opportunity to explore relationships between language and identity, develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, others and cultural differences. The intention is that they will be working towards becoming life-long language learners.  

You live a new life for every language you speak. If you only know one language, you only live once.’  A Czech proverb

Implementation

All classes will have access to a high-quality foreign language curriculum using the Language Angels scheme of work and resources. This will progressively develop pupil skills in French through regularly taught and well-planned weekly lessons in all KS2 classes. The lesson will be taught by the Year 4 class teacher, who has a French specialism.

The children will progressively acquire and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, language skills and grammatical knowledge organised around age-appropriate topics and themes – building blocks of language into more complex, fluent and authentic language. All lessons will offer appropriate levels of challenge.

At the beginning of the school year in Year 3, pupils are introduced to France and given the opportunity to gain knowledge about the geography and culture of the country.  A series of Early Language units are then used to begin to develop basic vocabulary and grammar. In Year 4 Intermediate units of study develop the level of challenge by increasing the amount and complexity of the foreign language presented to pupils. In Years 5 and 6, there is a 2-year rolling programme so that the pupils experience a mixture of progressive and creative curriculum units of work, where possible linked to their topics.

Over time, the pupils will be taught how to listen to and read longer pieces of text, having ample opportunities to speak and write the French language. They will build on their prior knowledge as the lessons continue to recycle, revise and consolidate the four key language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Knowledge and awareness of appropriate grammar concepts will be taught discretely throughout all units at all levels of challenge.

In all lessons, scaffolding will be provided as required, yet all pupils will be given the opportunity for challenge. The pupils’ learning and progression is assessed at the end of each unit. This is usually at the end of each half-term.

Impact

The pupils develop a bank of ‘sticky knowledge’ as they progress through KS2 and build on prior knowledge and skills to become confident, enthusiastic linguists. They can make links between French and other languages, both in terms of vocabulary and grammar. They develop a positive curiosity about the francophone world and leave our school eager to continue their foreign languages learning journey.