Modern Foreign Language (French)
At Moor Hall Primary School, we aim to raise standards and achievements in French for all children through quality first teaching and a SEND friendly environment. Cultural diversity is valued and all members, both adults and children, are treated with respect. The Moor Hall Child pupils’ standards and drivers are at the forefront of all we do. In a safe, healthy and stimulating environment, children are expected to achieve their full potential to become confident language learners and are given opportunities to behave responsibly when applying their language skills in a variety of practical and exciting contexts.
Intent
To introduce young children to another language in a way that is enjoyable and fun.
To develop linguistic competence, extend their knowledge and make the children aware that language has a structure and this structure differs from one language to another.
To develop pupils’ communication and literacy skills that lay the foundation for future language learning.
To celebrate children’s own cultural heritages and additional languages.
To help children develop their awareness of cultural differences in France and other francophone countries.
To underpin the curriculum with the Moor Hall Child values: achieving, confident, healthy, responsible.
To fulfil the MFL National Curriculum PoS 2014.
Implementation
The carefully designed curriculum that is followed here in school is taught by a specialist MFL teacher, with many years of experience. The Moor Hall Child and the Moor Hall Way are at the centre of all teaching and learning, and it is our intention to aspire to those values at all times. Emphasis is placed on the adaptation of plans to the context of our school and abilities of the children.
Using the 3 pillars of progression (phonics, vocabulary, grammar) as the basis for all teaching and learning, we intend that children will be able to achieve in all 4 areas of language learning – AT1 Listening, AT2 Speaking, AT3 Reading and AT4 Writing. Skills progress each year, in line with the published KS2 Programme of Study expectations, and great care is taken to ensure mastery in skill areas, with the expectation that every child will learn, succeed and become an able linguist.
The vocabulary and grammar structures taught in school are ambitious and both are revised, revisited and recycled at every opportunity. Children understand, as they are told from day one, that what they are learning today will be interleaved and interwoven into future lessons and topics, both in primary school and beyond, as they enter secondary education.
Children’s work is recorded in exercise books, and each child in KS2 is also issued with a phonics record book, created by the specialist MFL teacher, to support the development of a strong understanding of French phonics, which will in turn underpin the progress made within the curriculum.
There is a thematic approach to the French units taught and regular focus on a healthy lifestyle which is in accordance with the vision for Moor Hall School. Healthy foods, recreational activities, opinions and sport are focused on in every school year to enforce our school values.
In Year 2 there will be an emphasis on French songs, games and other kinaesthetic activities to engage the children and provide them with a solid base of vocabulary on which to build in KS2. French songs will help children retain words and expressions effectively. The rhythm of the music, as well as the repetitive patterns within the song, help them memorise words. There will also be a focus on intercultural understanding, where again children’s heritage and additional languages, along with French customs and traditions, will be celebrated.
Teaching and Learning Styles
We use a variety of techniques to encourage the children to have an active engagement in French, including games, role-play and songs. We frequently use mime to accompany vocabulary, as this serves to reinforce the retention of vocabulary. All lessons use a multi-sensory and kinaesthetic approach to teaching, which caters for different learning styles and abilities. Lessons are intended to be as enjoyable as possible, as we realise that this approach serves to develop a positive attitude to the learning of another language. We build children’s confidence through constant praise for any contribution they make in French. French lessons are taught as much as possible in the target language.
As children move through the school, there is progression and continuity in the four skills of language learning. This is an essential element for language learners and provides the children with a consistent framework to develop their competency in French. Emphasis on phonics, vocabulary, grammar, knowledge about language and strategies for language acquisition and retention ensures a solid foundation by the end of Year 6 when the children progress to secondary school.
Organisation
The specialist language teacher delivers up to an hour of French a week to all classes from Year 2 to Year 6. Each week, two Language Ambassadors are chosen in each KS2 class to be responsible for the French weather and date display in their classroom. Language Ambassadors wear a lanyard during the week and are rewarded with Dojo points.
Assessment
The language specialist monitors, assesses and evaluates standards across the school on a regular basis. The school’s policy of assessment for the wider curriculum is adhered to, in line with Age Related Expectations (ARE) and assessment data is recorded within the school system. Children are required to monitor their own progress through the use of success criteria towards our learning objective in every lesson.
Impact
We aim to foster a love of language learning and proficiency in the four aspects of language acquisition (as defined by the 2014 Programme of Study). The modalities of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing, the use of the three pillars of progression (phonics, vocabulary, grammar), as well as cultural understanding and knowledge of language will enable all children to progress to secondary school with a solid foundation in language learning.
In May 2023 Moor Hall Primary School achieved the Linguamarque Bronze Award for languages.
