Byron Primary School

Modern Foreign Languages

French Curriculum Intent

‘A high-quality languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing.’ (National Curriculum 2014 – Appendix A)

The skills, knowledge and understanding gained through learning a language contribute to the development of children’s oracy and literacy and to their understanding of their own culture and those of others. At Byron Primary School, we feel that the earlier a child is exposed to a foreign language, the faster the language in question is acquired. We believe that the early acquisition of French will facilitate the learning of other foreign languages later in life. We will prepare children for the KS3 language curriculum to enable them to transfer confidently and successfully. Our current Modern Foreign Language taught is French. It is our intention to ensure that by the end of our children’s primary education, they have acquired an understanding of both spoken and written French, confidence to speak in French with others and know how important other languages can be in their future. 

French Implementation

French is taught in a whole-class setting by the Class Teacher or Learning Support Assistant (LSA) and is therefore not reliant on one key member of staff. 

Teachers plan their lessons using the Language Angels scheme of work and can supplement this with their own ideas and experience and those of their colleagues.

The lessons are designed to motivate, captivate and interest children from the first moment. They have clear, achievable objectives and incorporate different learning styles. SEN children have access to the curriculum through variation of task, grouping or support from an adult.

Each class has a timetabled lesson of at least thirty minutes per week. French can also be revisited in short sessions throughout the week to consolidate knowledge and ensure new language is retained.

French lessons include:

• PowerPoints and interactive whiteboard materials
• Interactive games (which pupils can access from home to consolidate their learning)
• Songs & raps
• Differentiated desk-based consolidation activities
• Worksheets (at three different levels of challenge) are provided throughout each teaching unit and can be used in class or can be sent home to be completed as a homework exercise

Each lesson will focus on a combination of the 5 key language learning skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar). 

An outline of the units we will cover throughout KS2, is shown below; this will be a developing programme:

EL = Earling Learning; IN = Intermediate & PR =Progressive.

The Language Angels scheme is a fully online resource enabling all teachers and LSAs in all classes to have instant and continuous access to all the resources they need to teach whichever lesson they choose. 

Each class will have examples of vocabulary being taught in the unit displayed in the classroom, which can be reinforced outside French lessons.

There will also be an Annual whole school French Language Day celebration (20th March) where the children will develop a further cultural awareness of France and an opportunity to showcase their language learning.

French Impact

Where appropriate, an example of worksheets completed by the class will be kept in a whole class book, which will be passed through the years and become a portfolio of their learning and a reference/ revision point for the future Year’s learning.  Teachers may also save audio and video recordings of pupils speaking and presenting in French on their class Ipad.

Below is the Progression of Skills grid for French taught