MFL is not taught discretely in EYFS and KS1, however the children are exposed to French signage around the school and teachers use French key vocabulary (such as body parts, classroom items, basic classroom commands) in routine language, which prepares the children with some early language acquisition prior to beginning MFL teaching in KS2. 

Intent

At Helmdon Primary School we want our children to develop an interest in learning other languages in a way that is enjoyable and memorable. We aim to increase their awareness and understanding of other languages through quality teaching each week in Key Stage 2.

We promote and value diversity and believe that it is important that our children have exposure to, and experiences, of other languages and cultures.

The four key language learning skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing will be taught and all necessary grammar will be covered in an age-appropriate way across the primary phase. This will enable children to use and apply their learning in a variety of contexts, laying down solid foundations for future language learning.

Implementation

All KS2 classes will have access to a very high-quality foreign languages curriculum using the Language Angels scheme of work and resources. The lessons will progressively develop the children’s skills in foreign languages and the children will build on previous knowledge gradually as the lessons recycle, revise and consolidate previously learnt language whilst building on all four language skills. Knowledge and awareness of required and appropriate grammar concepts will be taught throughout all units.

Grammar rules and patterns will be taught by level of challenge:

• We start with nouns and articles and 1st person singular of high frequency verbs in Early Learning units.
• We move on to the use of the possessive, the concept of adjectives, use of the negative form, conjunctions/connectives and introduce the concept of whole regular verb conjugation in Intermediate units.
• We end with opinions and introduce the concept of whole high frequency irregular verb conjugation in Progressive units.

Units are progressive within themselves as subsequent lessons within a unit build on the language and knowledge taught in previous lessons. As pupils progress though the lessons in a unit they will build their knowledge and develop the complexity of the language they use.

Impact

As well as each subsequent lesson within a unit being progressive, the teaching organisation of Language Angels units also promotes progressive learning and challenge. Units increase in level of challenge, stretch and linguistic and grammatical complexity as pupils move from Early Learning units through Intermediate units and into the most challenging Progressive units. Units in each subsequent level require more knowledge and application of skills than the previous one. Activities contain progressively more text (both in English and French) and lessons have more content as the children become more confident and ambitious with their French learning.