At St Richard’s we aim to provide a fun and engaging MFL curriculum which fosters a love of languages and develops a strong foundation for future learning. French is taught across Key Stage 2, with the intent that, not only do the children develop skills in language acquisition, but also that they develop an understanding of other cultures and celebrate differences. We aim to make the learning of a new language accessible and attainable for all. We want children to feel excited about learning a new language; show curiosity, wanting to find out more – not only about French but also the first language of their peers.

Our language learning is taught through the Kapow Primary’s French scheme of work which aims to instil a love of language learning and an awareness of other cultures. We want pupils to develop the confidence to communicate in French for practical purposes, using both written and spoken French. Through the scheme of work, we aim to give pupils a foundation for language learning that encourages and enables them to apply their skills to learning further languages, developing a strong understanding of the English language, facilitating future study and opening opportunities to study and work in other countries in the future. Kapow Primary’s French scheme of work supports pupils to meet the national curriculum end of Key stage 2 attainment targets.

Implementation

Opportunities are always taken to celebrate different cultures and their spoken language. This takes place in the form of visitors and celebration days as well as regular opportunities to celebrate the children’s own cultures and languages. Through these celebrations, the children are able to better understand themselves, their own, and other's identities whilst recognising and embedding appreciation for other cultures.

The Kapow French scheme of work is designed with six strands that run throughout.

These are:

• Speaking and pronunciation

• Listening

• Reading and writing

• Grammar

• Intercultural understanding

• Language detective skills

The National curriculum mapping shows which of our units cover each of the National curriculum attainment targets as well as each of the strands.

The Progression of skills and knowledge shows the skills and knowledge that are taught within each year group and how these skills develop to ensure that attainment targets are securely met by the end of Key Stage 2.

Through Kapow Primary’s French scheme, pupils are given opportunities to communicate for practical purposes around familiar subjects and routines. The scheme provides balanced opportunities for communication in both spoken and written French, although in Year 3 the focus is on developing oral skills, before incorporating written French in Year 4 and beyond.

 The Kapow Primary scheme is a spiral curriculum, with key skills and vocabulary revisited repeatedly with increasing complexity, allowing pupils to revise and build on their previous learning. Cross-curricular links are included throughout our French units, allowing children to make connections and apply their language skills to other areas of their learning. 

 Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work including role-play, language games and language detective work. Our scheme of work focuses on developing what we term ‘language detective skills’ and developing an understanding of French grammar, rather than on committing to memory vast amounts of French vocabulary. Differentiated guidance is available for every lesson to ensure that lessons can be accessed and enjoyed by all. In order to help pupils, retain their French learning, we provide information about how to incorporate French into the classroom environment every day in our ‘During the week’ sections.

 Strong subject knowledge is vital for staff to be able to deliver a highly effective languages curriculum. Each unit of lessons includes multiple teacher videos to develop subject knowledge and support ongoing CPD. We utilise the strengths across the school with language teaching and continue to develop confidence in the teaching of languages. Kapow has been created with the understanding that many teachers do not feel confident delivering the full languages curriculum and every effort has been made to ensure that they feel supported to deliver lessons of a high standard that ensure pupil progression. Lessons include a section entitled, 'Teacher knowledge - language points' to explain key grammar and other details to the teacher before the lesson, together with a Key vocabulary and pronunciation presentation with sound files to demonstrate the correct pronunciation. Many of the other presentations included in the lessons also include sound files, supporting teachers who are less confident with their own pronunciation to deliver the lesson and support the children's learning. 

Impact