MFL

MFL at Cam Woodfield Junior School

PRIMARY FOREIGN LANGUAGE POLICY

Intent 

The intent is that all content will be continuously updated and reviewed annually, creating a dynamic programme of study that will be clearly outlined in both long-term and short-term planning. This will ensure that the foreign language knowledge of our pupils progresses within each academic year and is extended year upon year throughout the primary phase and, in so doing, will always be relevant and in line with meeting or exceeding national DfE requirements. 

We will help them develop and demonstrate substantial progress in the 5 key language skills necessary for learning French:

•        Speaking
•        Listening
•        Reading
•        Writing
•        Grammar

Our whole school approach to language teaching and learning is in line with the recommendations of the National Curriculum and the requirements outlined in the Department for Education Languages Programme of Study for Key Stage 2.

The National Curriculum for languages aims to ensure that all pupils:

•        Understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
•        Speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and 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 authentic writing in the language studied.

By the end of key stage 2, pupils should be able to:

1.      Listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding.
2.      Explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words.
3.      Engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others; seek clarification and help.
4.      Speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures.
5.      Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases.
6.      Present ideas and information orally to a range of audiences.
7.      Read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing.
8.      Appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language.
9.      Broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dictionary.
10.   Write phrases from memory, and adapt these to create new sentences, to express ideas clearly.
11.   Describe people, places, things and actions orally and in writing.
12.   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.  

Cam Woodfield Junior School uses the Marling scheme of work (part of CBAT MAT) and a variety of stimulating resources to ensure we offer a relevant, broad, vibrant and ambitious foreign languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils using a wide variety of topics and themes. All pupils will be expected to achieve their full potential by encouraging high expectations and excellent standards in their foreign language learning - the ultimate aim being that pupils will feel willing, excited and able to continue studying languages beyond key stage 2.

The intent is that all content will e continuously updated and reviewed annually, creating a dynamic programme of study that will be clearly outlined in both long-term and short-term planning. This will ensure that the foreign language knowledge of our pupils progresses within each academic year and is recycled and extended year upon year throughout the primary phase and, in so doing, will always be relevant and in line with meeting or exceeding national DfE requirements.

The four key language learning skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing will be taught and all necessary grammar will be covered through the use of knowledge organisers and modelling This will enable pupils to use and apply their learning in a variety of contexts, laying down solid foundations for future language learning and also helping the children improve overall attainment in other subject areas. In addition, the children will be taught how to look up and research language they are unsure of and they will have a bank of reference materials to help them with their spoken and written tasks going forward. Children will have a French exercise book and will build a vocabulary library with knowledge organisers to help them recall and build on previous knowledge throughout their primary school language learning journey.

Implementation 

All classes will have access to a very high-quality French curriculum using the Marling School scheme of work and resources. This will progressively develop pupil skills in French through regularly taught and well-planned weekly lessons across KS2 which will be taught by class teachers.

Children will progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, phrases and cultural understanding around age-appropriate topics and themes - building blocks of language into more complex, fluent and authentic language.

All teachers will know where every child is at any point in their foreign language learning journey by assessing them against bi-termly objectives and using the grading of ‘Below’, ‘Just Below’, ‘On-track’ and ‘Greater Depth’ in line with the school’s policy.

The children’s French journey is planned in a way that builds upon knowledge and gives pupils the opportunity to see links and recycle vocabulary. All language has been selected and devised in collaboration with secondary school teachers and other primary schools in order to prepare students with a strong foundation at Key Stage Two in preparation for the Key Stage Three curriculum and hopefully beyond. Cultural knowledge is prioritised to capture the interest and understanding, as well as intriguing children with cross-curricular links.

 Impact

Pupils will continuously build on their previous knowledge as they progress in their French learning journey through the primary phase. Previous language will be recycled, revised, recalled and consolidated whenever possible and appropriate, consequently building confidence.

Pupils will be aware of their own learning goals and progression as teachers will share the objectives and the expected outcomes, so that all pupils can review their own learning at the start and at the end of each unit. They will know and will be able to articulate if they have or have not met their learning objectives and can keep their unit learning intention sheets and unit core vocabulary sheets as a record of what they have learnt from unit to unit and from year to year.

Children are expected to be on track or greater depth in their French learning and their individual progress is tracked and reported to pupils and parents / carers in line with school recommendations.

If children are not progressing in line with the expectations, they will be provided with addition scaffolding and support.

French assessments will allow children to be assessed in across a variety of skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing and vocab) in fun and engaging ways including games and other activities as set out by school policies.