MFL Lead: Jenny Ferguson

What is MFL?

Modern foreign language (MFL) teaching in primary schools is an important part of the curriculum, aimed at introducing children to a foreign language and fostering an interest in language learning and cultural awareness. By teaching children a foreign language at an early age, we can help them to develop important language skills, as well as an appreciation for other cultures and ways of life.

Learning another language presents opportunities for the reinforcement of knowledge, skills and understanding developed in English, especially in the development of speaking and listening skills. It also helps compound the skills required to elicit meaning from text and the knowledge and understanding of grammar and sentence construction.

Our Curriculum Intent

With our long tradition of language learning, we are committed to providing every child with a sound foundation in a modern foreign language (MFL) from Reception.  At Trent Young’s CE School, French is the chosen language. 

We plan for language learning to nurture curiosity by opening a door to the wider world.  We want it to enable children to learn about, and foster an interest in, a language and culture other than their own. Our intent is for children to develop their personal resilience, knowledge, skills and understanding.  We plan that learning a language will help children to develop transferable linguistic skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing to other languages. 

MFL makes a major contribution to their ability to understand the structure and grammar of English.  It raises awareness of their own and other cultures through intercultural understanding.  We offer a broad, rich and demanding languages curriculum with a strong cross-curricular focus.  It is our aim to engage and enthuse the children by giving them the opportunity to apply their learning to a range of different subjects, topics and themes. 

Our language learning allows children to develop their curiosity, confidence and skills to apply to any language.  We deliver a sound foundation in languages to prepare every child to meet the rigours of the new GCSE and the English Baccalauréat. We intend to equip our children for a bright future in a globally connected workplace.

Our Curriculum Implementation

Languages (French) are delivered to all children by a Specialist MFL Teacher. 

It is a statutory requirement that KS2: Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6 are taught a foreign language at primary school.  At Trent Young’s CE School, KS2 children are taught in their year groups, and receive an hour session every week.  In addition, Hedgehog and Otter children also have an hour session a week. 

Learning languages at Foundation Stage and KS1 is intended to complement the languages taught at KS2 in a less formal way, concentrating mainly on speaking and listening. It aims to be a cross-curricular experience and gives languages a real sense of purpose with the core aim of developing a diverse range of vocabulary to grow communication skills, confidence and a lifelong interest in languages and other countries. The emphasis is on whole class teaching during which, children will also learn individually, with a partner or as part of a small group.   

For KS2, the 2014 National Curriculum provides attainment targets to be achieved by the end of KS2.  Each year group has a set of objectives linked to these attainment targets delivered at an age-appropriate level and designed to be progressive from Year 3 to Year 6.  The pillars of language learning are: phonics; grammar and vocabulary and these are the foundations on which we build to deliver progress.  To ensure clear progress is made and the latest DfE guidance (post Covid) is adhered to, Trent Young’s CE School has adopted the Rachel Hawkes scheme of work.  Expectations of progress are clearly identified in this scheme of work and the children benefit from using subject booklets to record and review their own progress.  Learning objectives are clearly displayed in each booklet and the relevant objectives appear on each activity.  This scheme is supplemented by target language video clips, songs, fiction, non-fiction, bi-lingual dictionaries, Mon Ane and Take 10 DVDs to provide a stimulating, rich and varied French curriculum.

ENRICHMENT

We have an active school twinning with a French Primary School in Normandy and the Y6s put all their language skills to use to write and receive letters from their pen-friends.  We are all mindful of the different languages present within our school.

Our Curriculum Impact

By the end of their time at Trent Young’s CE School, as linguists, the children will be:

• Successful learners who develop their personal resilience, knowledge, skills and understanding to develop transferable language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. 
• Confident Individuals who are engaged and enthused to apply their learning to a range of different subjects, topics, themes and future languages.
• Responsible citizens who learn about, and foster an interest in, a language and culture other than their own.

How do we assess?

• Formative assessments are carried out continuously by observing, questioning and correcting misconceptions.  Effort is recognised as the corner stone of confidence and a growth mind set is encouraged at all times.
• Summative assessment of learning is carried out in three phases:  children peer assess each other’s learning; the MFL Teacher reviews it before the children improve their learning.  We record where the learning objective has been met and also where it hasn’t been achieved and where the areas for improvement are.
•  Progress is recorded using the MFL Assessment Grid and parents receive an annual report about their child’s progress in French.

Curriculum Drivers:

More in-depth documentation is available on request for our MFL curriculum.