We want our pupils to develop the confidence to communicate in French for practical
purposes, using both written and spoken French. We feel that this confidence will stand them in good stead to transition to secondary school. 

Through our scheme of work - based on the Kapow Scheme of Learning - 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.

Our 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 Modern Foreign Languages).

Children in Key stage 2 have a weekly French lesson. In order to help pupils retain their French learning, we incorporate French into the classroom environment every day using Kapow's ‘During the week’ sections in the teachers' plans. 

Our 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)

The Kapow National curriculum coverage document shows which of our units cover each of the National
curriculum attainment targets as well as each of the strands. Click here to read it. 

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.

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.

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, and key vocabulary rather than on
committing to memory vast amounts of French vocabulary. Pronunciation is emphasised
early on using Mouth mechanics videos to support pupils with phoneme pronunciation in
French.

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. This has been created with the understanding that
our teachers may 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.

By the end of Key stage 2, our pupils:

➔ Are able to engage in purposeful dialogue in practical situations (e.g., ordering in a cafe,
following directions) and express an opinion.
➔ Make increasingly accurate attempts to read unfamiliar words, phrases, and short texts.
➔ Speak and read aloud with confidence and accuracy in pronunciation.
➔ Demonstrate understanding of spoken language by listening and responding
appropriately.
➔ Use a bilingual dictionary to support their language learning.
➔ Be able to identify word classes in a sentence and apply grammatical rules they have
learnt.
➔ Have developed an awareness of cognates and near-cognates and be able to use them to
tackle unfamiliar words in French, English, and other languages.
➔ Be able to construct short texts on familiar topics.
➔ Meet the end of Key Stage 2 stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for
Languages.