French Statement of Intent

At Cheddar First School the intent of our French curriculum is to ensure that every child enjoys learning a foreign language and becomes an enthusiastic lifelong language learner.

We recognise that language learning brings many and varied benefits, including developing greater intercultural understanding and appreciation of difference and diversity, enhancing pupils’ problem solving abilities and basic literacy and numeracy and improving their listening and communication skills. Our intention is to ensure that these aspects are developed fully through the curriculum and also through the way in which the curriculum is delivered. We seek to develop a rich and motivating language learning environment, in which risk-taking and creativity are encouraged and actively developed in order to promote independent learning.

Furthermore, we intend to show pupils the real world value of language learning and how productive communication strategies can be initiated and maintained to foster intercultural relations and co-operation.

Aims of French

In line with the National Curriculum 2014 we aim to ensure that all pupils:

• Understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
• Are able to speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and that they are continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation.
• Can write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt.
• Discover and develop an appreciation of a range of writing in the language studied.
• Develop a positive attitude towards learning a foreign language.

Implementation:

French is a compulsory subject from Year 3, but a scheme of learning is in operation from Preschool to Year 2. Children in EYFS and Key Stage 1 are taught basic vocabulary in discrete slots by a specialist teacher.

In Years 3 and 4 French teaching is delivered creatively and effectively by a specialist teacher, following the planning and support from the iLanguages and Early Start schemes and other various resources. In both these year groups pupils currently receive 30 minutes French teaching a week in a discrete timetabled slot.

Children are taught to listen intently to spoken language and respond, and pronunciation skills are specifically taught at an age appropriate level.  Furthermore, learners are encouraged to develop an appreciation of a variety of stories, songs, poems and rhymes in French that are delivered throughout the curriculum.

Impact:

Pupils’ written work is recorded in a designated French book which spans both Years 3 and 4. This is supplemented by audio and video recordings where appropriate.

An assessment map is in place and pupils are assessed in 1 or 2 of the 4 key skills of listening, speaking reading and writing once per term. Results and completed tests are retained and a record is made of which pupils are at, above or below ARE.

Progression is achieved through liaison with MFL staff at Fairlands to ensure that pupils continue to build on the progress they have made.