Intent, Implementation and Impact of our MFL curriculum at

Witherley Church of England Primary School

Intent

At Witherley Church of England Primary School, we want to give our children the opportunity to learn a second language.

Learning a second language boosts problem-solving skills, creativity and offers more career opportunities in adulthood. We want our children to learn another language so they find it easier to connect with other cultures becoming more open-minded and tolerant of diversity. In addition, we want to use the learning of language to help our children with their wellbeing, as research shows children are less likely to experience age-related mental illness as they reach old age, if they are bilingual.  

In accordance with the National Curriculum, children will learn to:

• listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding;
• explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words;
• engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others; seek clarification and help;
• speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures;
• develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases;
• present ideas and information orally to a range of audiences;
• read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing;
• appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language;
• broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dictionary;
• write phrases from memory, and adapt these to create new sentences, to express ideas clearly;
• describe people, places, things and actions orally and in writing; and understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied, including (where relevant): feminine, masculine and neuter forms and the conjugation of high-frequency verbs; key features and patterns of the language; how to apply these, for instance, to build sentences; and how these differ from or are similar to English.

Implementation – What does our French Curriculum look like at KS2?

French is taught in KS2 for 30 minutes per week. We teach French throughout KS2 from the objectives specified in the 2014 National Curriculum.

From January 2022, we will use ‘Language Angels’ to support planning, progression and execution of the national curriculum objectives and will adapt this to suit the context of our school. In KS1, whilst MFL is not statutory, children will have the opportunity to speak and rehearse simple words and phrases throughout the remainder of the 2021/22 school year focusing on basic language for example: numbers, hello, goodbye, thank you, please and good morning.

Please refer to:

LTP: to demonstrate the progression of knowledge and skills, French offer, within the whole school.

Unit plans for years 3 to 6 outline the sequence of learning for the progression of knowledge and skills within the French curriculum.

MTP for each year group: to map teaching and learning, knowledge and skills through a topic.

‘French Day’

To coincide with World Music Day, on Tuesday 21^st June 2021, we will be learning all about La Fete de la Musique (a French music festival) and using the opportunity for the children to learn about French culture and possibly making a few French delicacies.  

Impact

Teachers assess French throughout lessons using ‘assessment through learning’. This helps teachers plan for future lessons. Children will transfer to KS3 being well prepared to carry on their language studies.