Intent

At Acres Hill, MFL is taught in a way that inspires our children to have a love of learning a new language alongside a deeper understanding of the English language. We want pupils to develop the confidence to communicate in French for practical purposes, using both written and spoken French. Through the learning of another language, we also aim to foster our children’s curiosity about the world around them and the cultures of other people. 

The three key language learning skills; Phonics, vocabulary and grammar will enable pupils to use and apply their learning in a variety of contexts, laying down solid foundations for future language learning. 

Through the delivery of the MFL curriculum, pupils will develop a genuine interest and positive curiosity about foreign languages, finding them enjoyable and stimulating. They will learn a second language which will also offer pupils the opportunity to explore relationships between language and identity and develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, others and cultural differences. 

Our MFL curriculum: 

• uses the Rachel Hawkes scheme of work rachelhawkes.com - Homepage 

• provides broad and balanced coverage of the requirements of the National Curriculum (2014)  

• ensures that knowledge and skills are planned to be taught and learnt sequentially, building progressively across year groups so that children have opportunities to return to and use prior learning to support new learning 

• ensures that knowledge and skills for units of work are clearly defined and focused so that they are taught with precision 

• allows next learning steps for children are driven through formative and summative assessment 

Implement  

Our MFL Curriculum is overseen by our MFL Co-ordinator.  The website Rachel Hawkes Language Learning is used to structure the programme of study for each year group, on a unit by unit basis, and ensures coverage of the National Curriculum (2014).  

The Co-ordinator provides training and support to staff, as well as quality assurance regarding the delivery and implementation of the MFL program delivered through the Rachel Hawkes scheme of learning.  The MFL Co-ordinator is responsible for supporting classroom teachers with the assessment of progress in MFL and reports directly to the Curriculum Lead and Senior Leaders. 

Teachers have access to a high-quality foreign languages curriculum using the Rachel Hawkes scheme of work and resources. Teachers are expected to view and read these schemes of work and the available resources prior to units being delivered to effectively deliver planned learning with knowledge and skill. This progressively develops pupil skills in foreign languages through regularly taught and well-planned weekly lessons in French. Children will acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, language skills and grammatical knowledge organised around age-appropriate topics and themes - building blocks of language into more complex, fluent and authentic language. 

Children will gradually build on previous knowledge as their foreign language lessons continue to recap, revise and consolidate previously learnt language whilst building on all key-language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Knowledge and awareness of required and appropriate grammar concepts will be taught throughout all units at all levels of challenge. 

The MFL Curriculum: 

• is delivered through the Rachel Hawkes scheme of learning 

• is a foundation subject in school and is taught weekly to classes in Y3-Y6 

• Each unit and lesson will have clearly defined objectives and aims. 

• Each lesson will incorporate interactive whiteboard materials to include example of speaking and listening tasks within a lesson. 

• Is progressive as subsequent lessons within a unit build on the language and knowledge taught in previous lessons.  

• builds on knowledge and develops the complexity of the languages used. 

• lessons are divided into 4x15 minute sessions to give maximum flexibility. 

• links French to Literacy and oracy as well as other subject areas of the National Curriculum, including Science and Geography. Basic greetings and vocabulary, such as colours, numbers and animals, are taught in lower KS2. This knowledge is built upon as children move into upper Key Stage two, looking at various themes such as Animals and their habitats, Weather and Transport. 

• includes a comprehensive list of vocabulary that are to be taught in each unit. Our children are encouraged to use read, write and speak the French vocabulary taught in each unit. 

Impact 

Through the delivery of a broad and balanced MFL Curriculum children will develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to be able to converse in basic French and ready for the next stage of their education.  

To ensure that this is the case the school’s MFL Co-ordinator oversees the delivery and impact of the planned curriculum and supports teachers to deliver high quality, focused teaching and learning opportunities which are planned to build on children’s prior learning.  The MFL Co-ordinator attends the citywide MFL network offer to support the delivery and moderation of the network. 

The MFL Co-ordinator ensures the impact of the planned approach using staff CPD, planning and work scrutiny, the gathering of pupil voice and learning walks.   

Our MFL Curriculum: 

• supports children to be ready for their next phase of education 

• provides a sequenced and building schema of understanding which children are able to build their future learning around 

• Develops linguistic and communicative competence 

• Extends their knowledge of how language works. 

• Explore similarities and differences between the new language and any heritage languages our children have, and English.