Swalwell Primary School
Working together, learning together
Welcome
French
Intent
Learning a foreign language is a necessary part of being a member of a multi-cultural society and provides an opening to other cultures. At Swalwell Primary School, we provide children with these opportunities through weekly French lessons which foster children’s curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. Our MFL teaching enables children to express their ideas and thoughts in French and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. We also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and listen to well known texts in the French language. When children leave Swalwell Primary, they will have a natural curiosity and confidence to explore other countries, cultures and languages, accepting that, in a multi-lingual society it is a valuable skill to be able to communicate effectively with others in another language.
Implementation
French lessons are delivered in thirty minute weekly lessons to all children in Key Stage 2 by teachers and a language specialist. At Swalwell, we follow the Kapow scheme of work to support with the planning and delivery of French lessons. Every class studies a new topic each half term which focuses on a different aspect of France and the French culture. Key words and vocabulary are displayed around each Key Stage 2 classroom which are used during daily activities such as; the register, break and lunch times, at the beginning and end of lessons and when asking and answering questions.
Impact
We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:
- Observing children speaking and listening throughout lessons
- Marking of written work
- Images and videos of children completing speaking and listening activities
- Interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice)
- End of term quizzes
The MFL subject leader will continually monitor the impact MFL teaching is having on the children’s learning to ensure the progress of knowledge and skills is being taught. They will also ensure the knowledge taught is retained by the children and continually revisited and that the learners are able to apply the skills they have been taught to a variety of different settings, showing independence with their learning.
Inclusion
To ensure all French lessons are inclusive of all children, we use a variety of strategies. The long term plan is mapped out to ensure all children build on the basic skills of the French language while gaining an understanding of the country and culture. We always maintain an inclusive environment by ensuring resources and equipment are accessible for children. We often use a multi-sensory approach, mainly using laptops and iPads to support. We often use 'talk partners' and group work to encourage engagement within the lesson and to boost confidence.
In the academic year 2023-24, we will follow Cycle 2 of our curriculum map .