French Intent
Our love of languages, other cultures and ways of communication begins in the EYFS, where the children develop ability to speak in small group, class, and one-to-one discussions. In addition to this, the children are taught to explore and explain some similarities and differences between life in this country and life in other countries. This work is built upon in KS1, where the children learn simple words and phrases in French and other languages, linked to other countries studied.
From Year 3, our French scheme of work aims to instil a love of language learning and an awareness of other cultures. We want pupils to develop the confidence to communicate in French for practical purposes, using both written and spoken French.
Through our scheme of work, we aim to give pupils a foundation for language learning that encourages and enables them to apply their skills to learning further languages, developing a strong understanding of the English language, facilitating future study and opening opportunities to study and work in other countries in the future.
The French scheme of work supports pupils to meet the National curriculum end of Key stage 2 attainment targets.
Implementation
Our French scheme of work is designed with three knowledge strands that run throughout our units with knowledge building cumulatively:
- Phonics
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
This knowledge can then be applied within our skills strands, which also run throughout each unit in the scheme:
- Language comprehension (Listening and reading)
- Language production (Speaking and writing)
Our National curriculum coverage shows which of our units cover each of the attainment targets as well as each of the strands.
Our Progression of skills and knowledge shows the skills and knowledge that are taught within each year group and how these skills develop to ensure that attainment targets are securely met by the end of Key Stage
Through the French scheme, pupils are given opportunities to communicate for practical purposes around familiar subjects and routines. The scheme provides balanced opportunities for communication in both spoken and written French, although in Year 3 the focus is on developing oral skills, before incorporating written French in Year 4 and beyond. The scheme is planned on a 2-year cycle, with Y3/4 and Y5/6 mixed-age planning implemented.
The scheme is a spiral curriculum, with key skills and vocabulary revisited repeatedly with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revise and build on their previous learning. Cross-curricular links are included throughout our French units, allowing children to make connections and apply their language skills to other areas of their learning.
Impact
The impact of the scheme is be monitored continuously through both formative and summative assessment. Each lesson includes guidance to support teachers in assessing pupils against the learning objectives. Progression grids enable staff to build a picture of children’s learning through each unit.
After the implementation of French, pupils will leave school equipped with a range of language-learning skills to enable them to study French, or any other language, with confidence at Key Stage 3.
The expected impact of following the French scheme of work is that children will:
- Be able to engage in purposeful dialogue in practical situations (e.g., ordering in a cafe, following directions) and express an opinion.
- Make increasingly accurate attempts to read unfamiliar words, phrases, and short texts.
- Speak and read aloud with confidence and accuracy in pronunciation.
- Demonstrate understanding of spoken language by listening and responding appropriately.
- Use a bilingual dictionary to support their language learning.
- Be able to identify word classes in a sentence and apply grammatical rules they have learnt.
- Have developed an awareness of cognates and near-cognates and be able to use them to tackle unfamiliar words in French, English, and other languages.
- Be able to construct short texts on familiar topics.
- Meet the end of Key Stage 2 stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Languages.
