The Big Ideas for French are:
- Language comprehension: Listening and reading
- Language production: Speaking and writing
- Cultural awareness
The overarching aim of the Modern Foreign Languages curriculum at Duxford Primary School is:
The French scheme of work 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 our 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. The French scheme of work supports pupils to meet the National curriculum end of Key stage 2 attainment targets (there are no Key stage 1 attainment targets for Languages). In Key Stage 1, we aim to develop the children’s awareness of different languages spoken and understanding of other cultures through exploration of stories, song and pictures.
Our aim is that children leave this school with an enthusiasm for languages, a good knowledge of France and its culture and an ability to express themselves verbally and in writing with a secure base of phonics, grammar and vocabulary.
The curriculum coverage ensures that:
The French scheme of work is designed with three knowledge strands that run throughout our units with knowledge building cumulatively.
These are:
● Phonics
● Vocabulary
● Grammar
This knowledge can then be applied within our skills strands, which also run throughout each unit in the scheme:
● Language comprehension (Listening and reading)
● Language production (Speaking and writing)
Our National curriculum coverage shows which of our units cover each of the National curriculum attainment targets as well as each of the strands. Our 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 the 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 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.
Teaching should fulfil the requirements of the KS2 programme of study and provide learning experiences that engage, enthuse and motivate all of our learners.
Progression through the subject is set out using the Kapow scheme of work. The 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.
Curriculum planning:
Please see the French Overview.
