French

Intent (before the teaching)

At Wendell Park, we want to develop children’s experiences of language acquisition and encourage curiosity about languages and we do this by teaching French to all pupils in Key Stage 2.

We want children to develop their understanding of what they hear and read; to express themselves with confidence; to extend their knowledge of how language words and explore the differences between French and English.

Our ultimate aim is to strengthen our children’s sense of identity and foster an understanding of others and the world around them which we do through learning about cultures in Francophone countries and compare this to their own lived experiences.

Implementation (subject in action)

French is taught by a subject specialist teacher and all children access an hour of French teaching per week. 

In French, children will learn to speak confidently, read fluently, write purposefully and understand the culture of the countries in which the language is spoken.

In conjunction with the National Curriculum for Languages, we aim to ensure that children:

• Understand and respond to spoken and written French from a variety of authentic sources such as through stories, songs and rhymes
• 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 lengths, for different purposes and audiences using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt including through using a dictionary
• Discover and develop an appreciation of a range of French written work 

Alongside embracing the National Curriculum programme of study, French teaching and learning at Wendell Park follows a cyclical methodology that incorporates and builds upon the core elements of speaking, listening, reading and writing.  Each unit of work develops from speaking and listening – hearing the new vocabulary and being able to practise it with songs, rhymes and games; to being able to read the words and looking for phonics links and differences as well as similarities between English and French.  This is followed by writing the words in meaningful contexts (linking the units to the lives of the children and their surroundings for example).  Understanding is then assessed through questioning, thumbs up/down, written activities and formal assessment at the completion of each unit.

Impact (after the teaching)

Assessment in French is through ‘Assessment for Learning’ techniques which support the teacher in planning for future lessons.

During the unit of work, the teacher makes a judgement against the National Curriculum statements and our Knowledge and Skills Progression, as to whether the child has achieved, is above or below expected standards.

Children can demonstrate their understanding at the end of a topic through a mini assessment which allows the children to show what they have learnt.

Children at Wendell Park have an appreciation for language acquisition.  They are keen learners both of the language and also of culture.  Year 6 pupils are prepared for the next step of their learning whether this will continue to be in French or whether they will implement the skills they have learnt at Wendell Park to a new language.

Progression of skills and knowledge

Our ‘French subject progression of skills and knowledge ‘ document gives further information about what the children are taught in this subject by year group.

Progression of skills and knowledge

French Long term plan

Modern Foreign Languages National Curriculum

If you would like to know more, please visit Languages National Curriculum