Intent
Introduction – Vision & Aims
At Ridgeway we believe that learning a language enriches the curriculum, providing excitement, enjoyment and challenge for children and teachers, helping to create enthusiastic learners and to develop positive attitudes to language learning throughout life. The natural links between languages and other areas of the curriculum can enhance the overall teaching and learning experience. The skills, knowledge and understanding gained make a major contribution to the development of children’s oracy and literacy and to their understanding of their own culture/s and those of others. Language also lies at the heart of ideas about individual identity and community, and learning another language can do a great deal to shape children’s ideas in this critical area as well as giving them a new perspective on their own language. We at Ridgeway have decided to teach French as our MFL subject across the school.
Curriculum Drivers in (MFL – French)
We give children opportunities to be imaginative, to use experiences and observations to make connections in their learning and appreciate that learning can be accomplished in different forms. To do this, we have established some key ‘curriculum drivers’ which outline our aspirations for our children by the time they leave us (Expressive Communicators, Healthy Champions, Life Long learners, World Citizens and Open to possibilities). Our ‘curriculum drivers’ are designed to enable our pupils to ‘Reach for the Stars’ through their learning. We aim for our children to grow both academically and socially and our curriculum has been created to achieve these aspirations for all.
ExpresSive Communicators
Our curriculum encourages pupils to talk in all areas of learning; communicating their ideas in a range of different and imaginative ways, so they are able to communicate effectively with confidence and enthusiasm. Children are given the opportunity to begin communicating in French from Year 3. They begin by learning simple every day words and phrases and are taught to speak and listen to each other with respect.
Life-Long LeArners
French lessons at Ridgeway aim to engage and enthuse pupils so they embrace the challenge presented by learning a new language. The learning of French is done in a variety of ways: songs, videos, stories, teacher modelling and enrichment activities. Children are encouraged to work collaboratively to build their speaking and listening skills (reciprocity). Similarly, as each year builds upon prior learning, they are required to recall key skills upon which they can improve (reflective and resourceful). Finally, given the challenges presented in learning a new language, pupils are encouraged to be committed in their endeavours: translating text, pronouncing new words and sharing ideas (resilient).
WoRld Citizens
Our curriculum enables our children to develop an understanding about their local community where they live and the wider world, by providing opportunities for learning within and beyond the classroom. MFL lessons give children the opportunity to widen their knowledge of other countries and cultures. In addition, enrichment lessons focus on enhancing the cultural capital and knowledge of our pupils. Furthermore, children take part in activities such as food tasting, investigating festivals and French theme days that help them to become more globally aware.
Open to PoSsibilities
Through the exploration of significant people of the past, pupils are encouraged to challenge themselves to gain high aspirations about what their future ‘world of work’ may look like. Through their learning, children are able to identify achievements in a variety of different areas of work, such as space travel (Neil Armstrong), nursing (Mary Nightingale), members of parliament (Samuel Pepys) and the careers of their parents and grandparents By exploring a variety of career paths, children are able to recognise their own ability to achieve success.
Implementation
Curriculum Progression
Our teaching of French begins in Year 3 with topics that are relevant to children at this age. Phonics is a key part in supporting the children’s capacity to speak and write accurately. As children progress through the school, these core skills are regularly reviewed through retrieval and fluency tasks at the start of lessons and at other available opportunities. Therefore embedding and building solid foundations upon which to progress and develop. The topics taught in each year group are as follows.
Our Ridgeway Progression Document ensures the complete coverage of the National Curriculum objectives for MFL. It outlines which skills each year group need to teach in order for their knowledge and understanding to be built upon as they progress through the school. This document was created by the MFL co-ordinator and an MFL specialist from the local high school. Our aim was to also ensure lessons were pitched appropriately and that children were able to start high school with a good knowledge and understanding which could be further built upon. Content is delivered in a way that enables children to build on their learning from previous years by applying key skills to new topic areas and themes.
Did you Know? The Eiffel Tower shrinks by up to 6 inches during winter. Lexon Year 5
Enrichment
Providing learning experiences that enhance cultural understanding and raises the aspirations of our children is a fundamental element within the planning, development and teaching of our curriculum. As part of our French curriculum, children are provided with opportunities that extend beyond their community.
These opportunities include;
- Educational visits to local High schools to access resources and enhanced learning opportunities.
- French Days , which are planned into the whole school curriculum on a rolling three-year basis, allowing children to engage in learning about foreign cultures and traditions.
- In-school MFL clubs, which give pupils the opportunity to further develop their speaking and listening skills and confidence.
- Sessions building the cultural capital of pupils are planned into the curriculum to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the world around them.
