French 2023 - 2024

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At St. Stephen's, we love languages!

There are more than 20 different languages spoken by children at our school, and we enjoy sharing and learning language together. Comparing and contrasting the structures of language also gives children an increased awareness of how English is structured. Our modern language of focus is French, and children are provided with opportunities to develop their skills in speaking, writing, reading and listening for practical purposes. Through an exposure to a wide variety of sources such as songs, stories, magazines, newspaper articles, interviews and film clips, children are able to apply their skills in real-world contexts, as well as broaden their cultural horizons. Most importantly, we have fun!

Intent

Through our French curriculum, we aim to help children:

develop a love for language and a wider cultural awareness
acquire language learning strategies for memorisation and retrieval
build a sound grasp of the key sounds of the French language and their corresponding graphemes, and be able to apply this knowledge when speaking, listening and reading aloud
understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation.
write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt
discover and develop an appreciation of a range of writing in French

Implement

French is taught across KS2 on a weekly basis using a 2 year rolling-programme of study. Children learn the building blocks of the language through phonics, grammar and vocabulary. The requirements of the National Curriculum are incorporated through lessons adapted to the needs and interests of the children. Lessons are structured to allow children to make substantial progress over the course of four years in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Children build on previous knowledge gradually as grammatical strucutures are revised, consolidated and extended in order to encourage effective memory retention. These language structures are recycled and extended using different vocabulary and contexts in order to increase confidence and proficiency. An explicit focus on how to be an effective language-learner encourages children to develop the metacognitive skills and motivation to become lifelong language-learners.

Impact

We measure the impact of our French curriculum through regular assessment of children's knowledge and skills, work scrutiny and discussions with children and staff. The progression of skill is carefully monitored in order to ensure children are able to make consistent progress in all language strands. Lessons are adapted in accordance with assessment outcomes and feedback from the children.

Equality and diversity

At St. Stephen's, we are committed to supporting the Equality Act of 2010. We believe all pupils, regardless of gender, race, culture or special needs, should have access to learning opportunities that encourage individual progress and achievement. Furthermore, we believe all children should be exposed to curriculum content and resources which reflect modern Britain and its diversity, allowing them to see themselves and others in a positive manner. Curriculum content and resources are carefully chosen in order to be relevant and purposeful to children, and to allow all children to succeed in their learning . All children are celebrated, and a positive ethos of inclusion is fundamental to all we do. In the study of a foreign language, we encourage children to explore diversity of language and culture in the UK and across the world, incorportating and celebrating children's own experiences and knowledge of other languages and cultures.

Access and inclusion

We believe all children have the right to access a broad and balanced curriculum. Our French curriculum allows children to explore language learning in a purposeful and relevant manner, inspiring a curiosity and appreciation for other languages and cultures. Children are supported in developing skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing using a range of teaching and learning strategies designed to foster purposeful learning in all areas. Special Education Needs and EAL co-ordinators assist staff to ensure that children have the necessary resources to learn their next steps in learning. A variety of resources such as additional support staff, laptops, ipads, overlays, coloured paper and enlarged text support individuals to access learning. Individual needs are considered and carefully planned for so that all children are able to feel successful and make good progress. Children are encouraged to reflect upon their own learning and all achievements are celebrated.

Deepening spirituality

Teachers use a variety of resources including audio visual, texts, visits and visitors to enable pupils to understand the world they live in and to reflect on their own identity as well as that of others. A sense of awe and wonder is developed through study of the subject and a celebration for that which enriches the world for all. We encourage our pupils to believe that they can change the world for the better after continuing to acquire knowledge from this curriculum subject.

Assessment

A variety of assessment strategies are employed throughout the teaching and learning of French in order to allow all children an opportunity to demonstrate their learning in their own way, and grow in confidence.

*Assessment for learning is consistently used throughout lessons in order to gauge children's understanding and teaching methods adapted accordingly.

*Learning intentions are made clear so that children recognise the relevance and focus of their learning, allowing them to self-assess against success criteria.

*Prior learning is assessed in order to encourage consolidation and to build upon what children already know and understand.

*High-quality and differentiated questioning is used to elicit prior knowledge, help children reflect upon their learning, and to challenge them to extend their understanding, as well as provide feedback for the teacher in assessing needs and next steps in learning.

*Children are given opportunities to work individually, in pairs and in small groups, applying their knowledge and skills, and peer and teacher feedback given in a positive way in order to help them refine and deepen their understanding.

*Self-assessment is integrated into every lesson so that children develop independence in reflecting upon their learning and identify gaps in understanding as well as progress made.

*Book moderation and monitoring, as well as discussions with children allow for the evaluation of the teaching and learning of the subject, ensuring children are being given a wide range of opportunities to develop and demonstrate their learning.

*Key learning is identified, shared and assessed for each lesson, and revisited at the end of each unit. A variety of methods including written responses, drawings, listening activities, digital recording of oral work, self-reflection and role play allow children to demonstrate their learning in different ways.