“Learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures” – The National Curriculum
Why we learn French
Learning a foreign language at Primary school is an integral part of a global education. Making the effort to try and understand someone in their language shows we can respect, work hard and be kind. We love to challenge the assumption that English is enough.
It helps us see the world from a different perspective. We have chosen French in Primary in the Pele Trust as preparation for Year 7 Modern Foreign Languages at Ponteland High School; many pupils will broaden their horizons later with Spanish or German in Year 8.
Aims
- To understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources from around the French speaking world
- To speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity with an increasingly sound application of phonics and grammar
- To celebrate diversity and embrace commonalities with speakers of other languages
- To understand our language roots and provide a foundation for lifelong language learning
Our French teacher, Madame Magee teaches French across the Pele Trust primary schools and works collaboratively with the languages department at Ponteland High School. This ensures that the curriculum pupils receive at Key Stage 2 prepares them exceptionally well for Key Stage 3 languages
French lessons aim to be inclusive with an engaging multi-modal approach that allows pupils to rehearse and retrieve learning through a range of songs, stories, poems, art, games, and listening, reading, writing, copying, conversing, acting.
Language
Our French curriculum is designed to help learners make substantial progress in vocabulary, phonics and grammar. We learn language so that we can communicate with others in context. We learn how to greet and say how we are feeling; to describe families, animals, appearance, where we live; to talk about what music or food or hobbies we like; as well as ‘core’ content such as numbers, days, months.
Culture
French in France is only one part of a diverse French speaking world and we give children the opportunity to encounter many interesting and inspiring aspects from cultures, countries and role models throughout Francophonie
Skills
By the end of Key Stage 2 children will have learned to communicate in simple language with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity. They will learn to listen attentively and pronounce words accurately, use a bilingual dictionary and develop other skills such as: asking questions, reading and listening to authentic sources, and having conversations. The challenge of language learning also helps develop creativity, empathy, communication, resilience and self-esteem.
Supporting Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
All children with SEND will have equal access and opportunities within the curriculum. The School will support these children to ‘catch up’, ‘keep up’ and experience success in the following ways (where appropriate):
- High quality teaching each day through Ordinarily Available Provision (formerly Quality First Teaching);
- Opportunities for pre-learning (particularly new vocabulary) before lessons;
- Appropriately scaffolded or differentiated work or materials;
- Classrooms and materials set up to reduce cognitive load and follow dyslexia friendly strategies;
- Children with SEND have a Pupil Passport which identifies approaches and strategies to be used which will help them to succeed;
- For children with Education, Health and Care Plans there may be 1:1 adult support in lessons.
The School recognises that while a child may have additional needs in one area of the curriculum they may well have skills and talents which allow them to shine and be successful in another and this is to be celebrated.