Learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures. A high-quality languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original language. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils to study and work in other countries.

National Curriculum in England, DfE 2013

French Curriculum Intent

Thomlinson Junior School believes that every child should have the right to a curriculum that champions excellence; supporting pupils in achieving to the very best of their abilities. 

We believe in the opportunities that learning a foreign language can provide and we teach French at Thomlinson Junior School. Learning a modern foreign language enables the children to reflect on their understanding of their own cultural identity and those of others. It promotes awareness of multicultural communities and a greater understanding of the wider environment in which they live.

French at Thomlinson Junior School is taught on a fortnightly basis to allow for hour long lessons. The lesson helps develop key skills, promote enjoyment of learning languages and embed the purpose and importance of the subject. The core aims of the National Curriculum are addressed in each lesson. Our approach to the planning, assessment and teaching of French is streamlined by being delivered by one teacher to ensure consistency, progression and high standards of teaching and learning. 
 

French Curriculum Implementation

At Thomlinson Junior School French is taught by Mrs Carr throughout all year groups.  As a school, we have chosen The Language Angels Scheme of Work from Year 3 to Year 6. The twelve aims as set out in the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum for Languages are revisited throughout the scheme across engaging units of work that are based on familiar themes.  The scheme is sequenced and ensures progressive coverage as required by the National Curriculum and provides opportunities to communicate both in speech and in writing.

The subject starts with a focus on single words and pronunciation, then progressing onto phrases, simple sentences and then finally onto longer more complex sentences. The use of actions and singing is a key feature in all French lessons allowing for better understanding and faster memorisation.
 

French Curriculum Impact

The teacher will assess the children’s learning informally on a lesson to lesson basis and adjust the planning accordingly. These assessments could include observations of groups, analysis of whole class feedback and marking. There are two forms of assessment available at the end of every Language Angels unit:

• Peer and self-assessment ‘I can do…’ grids. A quick and easy way for all pupils in the class to record which units they have completed and the progress they are making.
• More detailed skills-based assessments using bespoke skills assessment worksheets. This form of assessment enables us to determine the learning and progression of all pupils in the key language learning skills as well as monitoring their progress against the 12 attainment targets stipulated in the DfE Languages Programme of Study for Key Stage 2.

Inclusion in French

At Thomlinson Junior School, we aim to enable all children to achieve to their full potential. This includes children of all abilities, social and cultural backgrounds, those with disabilities, EAL speakers and SEN statement and non-statemented.
Within the French lessons a number of strategies are in place to ensure that all children are included such as: peer support, use of Teaching Assistants, mixed ability activities as well as adaptive teaching techniques.
 

Use the link below to see some videos of us in our French lessons!