Languages are an integral part of the curriculum. Learning a language is ‘a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures’. It helps to equip pupils with the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. It encourages pupils to appreciate and celebrate difference. The languages curriculum should also provide the foundation for learning further languages. It should enable pupils to study and work in other countries. In doing this, the languages curriculum has a potential positive impact on business and the economy (Ofsted 2021)

The skills, knowledge and understanding gained through learning languages contribute to development of children’s oracy and literacy and to their understanding of their own culture and those of others.  At North Denes Primary School, we feel that in order to prepare children for KS3, at a wider range of settings, it is important for children to be exposed to French to give them the chance of success to broaden their understanding of more than one culture.

BIG IDEAS

• Foster curiosity and deepen understanding of the world
• Express ideas and thoughts in another language in speech and writing
• Communicate for practical purposes
• Speak with increased confidence, fluency and spontaneity
• Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation with an increased understanding of basic grammar
• Appreciation of stories, poems and songs in different languages

CONTENT & SEQUENCING

EYFS: Understanding the World: People, Culture & Communities: children explain some similarities and differences between life in this country and life in others, drawing on knowledge from stories, non-fiction texts and when appropriate maps.

KS1: Knowledge and understanding gained through learning languages contribute to the development of children’s oracy and literacy and to their understanding of their own culture and those of others.  We celebrate the large number of different languages and cultures across our school community.

KS2: French is taught in all year groups in North Denes Primary School by their class teacher. Our school follows Rigolo: it is a ground-breaking Key Stage 2 French course, which provides a wealth of exciting activities for pupils, and as much or as little support for teachers as they need. It fully meets the requirements of the Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages.

RESOURCES

For our MFL, our school follows Rigolo: it is a ground-breaking Key Stage 2 French course, which provides a wealth of exciting activities for pupils, and as much or as little support for teachers as they need. It fully meets the requirements of the Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages. The course is aimed at pupils in Years 3–6, with Rigolo 1 covering Years 3 and 4, and Rigolo 2 Years 5 and 6. The course progression provides worksheets, games and follow-up activities for reinforcement and extension work. The fact that it can be used for all stages of ability adds to its value. Assessment is built into the programme and allows children to know what the Learning Intentions are (unit objectives) and thus know when and precisely what they have achieved. They can then go on to set their own goals, which is an aim of the Assessment is for Learning Programme.

RETRIEVAL

• Games – in order to develop vocabulary through repetition, reading, writing, speaking and listening skills
• Action songs and rhymes – to develop phonetic skills, memory skills and to develop further vocabulary
• We build children’s confidence through praise for any contribution they make in the foreign language

PROGRESS

• Children will become aware that a language has a structure, and that the structure differs from one language to another
• Children will develop their language and communication through development of the four key skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing
• Children will enrich their language learning by developing an understanding of French culture
• Children will transfer to KS3 effectively and successfully and will be prepared to continue and develop their language skills

SUPPORT

Our teaching methodology is based around a whole class teaching and involvement.  We firmly believe that all of the language should be presented to all of the class. We understand that children learn at different speeds and ways and as a consequence, we provide dynamic and varied tasks following the Rigolo programme.  Differentiation is often through outcome and can be evident in the class floor books