At Earlsmead Primary School, the study of French offers an exciting opportunity for our pupils to immerse themselves in a different culture, explore the wider world around them and gain an invaluable life skill as well as embedding respect for different cultures, and thereby reinforcing the acceptance of the diversity of the world. We are proud to offer our pupils the chance to broaden their cultural horizons and increase their cultural capital. The French curriculum is adapted and developed for pupils with a range of needs, abilities and interests. It also provides pupils with knowledge on real and life-like experiences in the French speaking culture. Our aim is that knowledge and skills learnt in French are taught, sought and caught in learning and life, and that this knowledge is retained as they progress through the school.

In line with the National Curriculum for MFL, pupils at Earlsmead Primary school are taught to do the following:

1. Listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding.
2. Explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words.
3. Engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others; seek clarification and help.
4. Speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures.
5. Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases.
6. Present ideas and information orally to a range of audiences.
7. Read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing.
8. Appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language.
9. Broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including using a bilingual dictionary.
10. Write phrases from memory, and adapt these to create new sentences, to express ideas clearly.
11. Describe people, places, things and actions orally and in writing.
12. Understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied.

This is done through a weekly French lesson, taught by a language specialist teacher.  French is taught to both Key stage 1 and Key stage 2.  A French club, as well as a weekly session tailored to more-able French speakers, is also offered weekly to enhance development and enjoyment in the subject.

We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

• Observing/assessing children speaking and listening in another language.
• Marking of written work.
• End of unit assessments to conclude a topic taught.
• Interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice).

The MFL subject leader will continually monitor the impact MFL teaching is having on the children’s learning through work scrutinies, to ensure the progress of knowledge and skills is evident.  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. Impact will also be measured through key questioning skills built into lessons and child-led assessments aimed at targeting clear next steps in learning.