French
The subject leader for French is Mrs Walker.
Our children also visit France at the beginning of Year 6 - take a look at some of the photographs on the website.
French Curriculum Overview & Skills Progression inc EYFS 21-22
French (MFL) Curriculum Statement
Intent
At Grange Primary School we want our Modern Foreign Languages curriculum to inspire our children to want to learn about other languages and cultures.
We choose to teach our children French – about the country, its language and its culture. In Year 6, we take all the class to France to then experience that culture first-hand and our children make penfriends with children in a French school, they visit a typical French market and eat in French restaurants.
In this environment, our children have a wonderful opportunity to apply their understanding of both spoken and written language, to increase their confidence to speak in French with others and know how important fluency in other languages can be in their future.
‘Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.’ Flora Lewis
Implementation
All children in KS2 are taught French once a week where they have the opportunity to read, speak and write in French. However, we recognise that children acquire language at a much earlier stage of development and we recognise the importance of our EYFS and KS1 curriculum in preparing children for being able to acquire a second language.
In EYFS, we recognise that children’s back-and-forth interactions from an early age form the foundations for language and cognitive development. The number and quality of the conversations they have with adults and peers throughout the day in a language-rich environment is crucial. By commenting on what children are interested in or doing and echoing back what they say with new vocabulary added, practitioners will build children's language effectively.
We then begin in Year 2, by introducing children to greetings in French. This is an additional provision as the National Curriculum introduces modern foreign languages in Year 3. However, we find that our children can be reticent speakers so aim to develop their confidence at a younger age.
We currently use the French scheme of work from La Jolie Ronde to create a curriculum overview to support our teaching of French. The scheme plans for progression and builds on the language skills and knowledge the children learn year by year. Vocabulary is repeated in different year groups and children spend valuable time consolidating prior learning. We are currently transitioning from this plan and scheme to the Oak National Academy scheme. This will enable non-specialist teachers to deliver a broad and balanced experience of the French language. We have planned a new curriculum overview following their content to begin Summer 2022. The scheme plans for coverage and progression and will enable children to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to develop their love of language and the confidence to speak French to others.
Children are taught to listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding. They explore the sounds of language through songs and rhymes, linking the sound and meaning of words. Children are encouraged to engage in conversations by asking and answering questions as well as expressing opinions and responding to those of others. Children are taught to speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures.
As well as practice through songs and stories, French will be used in register time throughout the week to encourage children to practice their speaking and listening skills on a daily basis.
The full range of skills and content is detailed on the French Curriculum Overview and Skills Progression document. Planning is further detailed on medium term plans – which clearly show the sequence of learning, links to prior learning and opportunities for connections across the curriculum along with links to the EYFS Framework 2021.
Impact
We assess the impact of our Languages curriculum in a range of ways which includes:
Summative assessment of learning.
Images of the children’s practical learning.
Children’s work saved onto their individual accounts or in teacher evidence files
Children’s French books where they record their written learning
Reflective evaluation of lessons, (AfL) leading to review and adjustment where needed
Interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice) through formal and informal monitoring and through our RRSA committees
Annual reporting to parents of standards across the curriculum.
Follow the link below for the full programme of study for Languages:
Have a go at learning some French words
Learn your French numbers with this catchy song https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lsc3qLMaCu8
Learn to introduce yourself with this song https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NXkJ88ygPY0
Learning French
