Mawsley Community Primary School Primary Languages School Policy FRENCH The National Language Strategy for England sets out the Government s commitment to increasing the nation s languages as a life long skill to be used in business and pleasure, to open up avenues of communication and exploration, and to promote, encourage and instil a broader cultural understanding. The cornerstone of that strategy is the introduction of an entitlement to language learning for every pupil in Key Stage 2. Every child should have the opportunity throughout Key Stage 2 to study a foreign language and develop their interest in the culture of other nations. They should have access to high quality teaching and learning opportunities, making use of native speakers and e-learning. The National Languages Strategy is also an important element within the Primary National Strategy, reinforcing the key approaches to teaching and learning, which are set out in Excellence and Enjoyment : A strategy for Primary Schools. In developing the Framework, careful attention has been given to how best to achieve the most positive outcomes for children. The framework builds on key principles for teaching and learning in the document Languages for all: Languages for Life the Government s National Strategy for Languages. 1. Aims and Objectives 1.1 Mawsley C.P. School is using the Northamptonshire approved scheme of work: The Catherine Cheater Scheme of Work. It is based on the Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages and provides comprehensive lesson plans and resources. 1
The scheme provides clear guidance on teaching and learning strategies. These build on good primary methodology and, above all, on good practise in literacy and oracy. We have chosen to teach French, as it is the language that the school s staff are most likely to be able to support and sustain. 1.2 The aims and objectives of teaching French are : To gain enjoyment, pride and a sense of achievement. To express themselves creatively and imaginatively in another language. To apply and develop their knowledge of languages and language learning. To explore and apply strategies to improve their learning. To explore their own cultural identities and those of others. To introduce/develop language in the school via the County s approved scheme of work. To evaluate progress and the quality of learning. To build capacity in the school so that all pupils in Key Stage 2 receive their entitlement and language learning is integrated into the curriculum. The expected outcomes when teaching French are: To feel confident enough to listen successfully while not understanding every word. To know a little language but be able to do a lot with it. To know about and celebrate different cultures. 2 Teaching and learning styles 2.1 Mawsley C.P School uses a variety of teaching and learning styles in French lessons. The principal aim is to develop children s knowledge of a different language and appreciation and understanding of a different culture. We do this through a mixture of whole class teaching and individual or group activities. Within lessons, we give children the opportunity both to work on their own and to collaborate with others, listening to other children and treating them with respect. They have the opportunity to use a wide range of materials and resources, including ICT. 2.2 In all classes there are children of differing ability. We recognise this fact and provide suitable learning opportunities for all children by matching the challenge of the task to the ability of the child. We achieve this through a range of strategies: Setting common tasks that are open- ended and can have a variety of results; Setting common tasks of increasing difficulty where not all children complete all tasks; Grouping children by ability, and setting different tasks for each group; 2
Providing a range of challenges through the provision of different resources; Using additional adults to support the work of individual children or small groups. 3 Contributions of French to teaching in other curriculum areas 3.1 English French contributes to the teaching of English in our school by providing valuable opportunities to reinforce what the children have been doing during their English lessons. Through the French learning the children will be able to compare and question factors of English previously taught to them. Children can look at aspects such as grammar, syntax and word origin etc. They will be able to feed curiosity to see many differences and similarities between the two different languages. Drama and role play are key factors in the teaching of French to provide enjoyment and creativity. 3.2 Personal, social and health education (PSHE) and citizenship French contributes to the teaching of personal, social and health education and citizenship. We encourage the children to develop a sense of responsibility in their own learning. We encourage all children to explore their own cultural identities, whilst expressing themselves creatively and imaginatively in another language. 3.3 Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development The teaching of French offers opportunities to support the social development of our children through the way we expect them to work with each other in lessons. Our groupings allow children to work together, and give them the chance to discuss their ideas and feelings about their learning. Through their collaborative and cooperative work across a range of activities and experiences in French, the children develop respect for the abilities of other children, and a better understanding of themselves. They also develop a respect for cultures and languages that are different to their own. They also develop their cultural awareness and understanding, and they learn to appreciate the value of differences and similarities. A variety of experiences teaches them to appreciate that all people are equally important, and that the needs of individuals are not the same as the needs of groups. 4 French and ICT Information and communication technology enhances the teaching of French, wherever appropriate, in Key Stage 2. Children use software to enhance their skills in learning and knowledge of the language. The children also use ICT to collect information and to present their ideas through a range of presentation software. 3
5 French and inclusion 5.1 French is taught to all children in Key Stage 2. It will be taught whatever their ability and individual needs. French implements the school curriculum policy of providing a broad and balanced education to all children. Through our French teaching we provide learning opportunities that enable all pupils to make good progress, allowing them to speak when they feel confident enough rather than feeling a failure because they are not ready to. We strive hard to meet the needs of those pupils with special educational needs, those with disabilities, those with special gifts and talents, and those learning English as an additional language, and we take all reasonable steps to achieve this. 5.2 When progress falls significantly outside the expected range, the child may have special educational needs. Our assessment process looks at a range of factors classroom organisation, teaching materials, teaching styles, differentiation so that we can take some additional or different action to enable the child to learn more effectively. Assessment against the National Curriculum allows us to consider each child s attainment and progress against expected levels. This helps ensure that our teaching is matched to the children s needs. 5.3 Intervention through additional support for a child may lead to the creation of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for children with special educational needs. 5.4 We enable pupils to have access to the full range of activities involved in learning French. Where children are to participate in activities outside the classroom we carry out a risk assessment prior to the activity, to ensure that the activity is safe and appropriate for all pupils. 6 Assessment, recording and reporting We celebrate children s success both verbally and with digital photos of the children. We will report to parents in the same way as for other subjects, discussing effort and progress etc. Initially attainment will be reported in a light touch manner until the assessment has been developed further throughout the school. 7 Resources 4 The scheme of work indicates suggested resources, including CDs, DVDs of songs, stories and finger rhymes, as well as resources already in school that
can be used for practical activities. The CD provided with the scheme of work includes sound files for all the language needed so the teacher can check his/her pronunciation. We have a set of stories recommended in the scheme of work as well as a CD, supplied by the LA, containing Powerpoint versions of the pictures (with and without the text) with sound files of native speakers reading the stories. 8 Health and Safety In this subject the general teaching requirement for health and safety applies. 9 Monitoring and review 9.1 The monitoring of the standards of children s learning, and of the quality of teaching, and is the responsibility of the French subject leader. The work of the subject leader also involves supporting colleagues in their teaching, being informed about current developments in the subject, and providing a strategic lead and direction for the subject in the school. 9.2 This policy will be reviewed every two years. It was reviewed at the Curriculum Committee meeting on 19 th January, 2015 and agreed by the Governing Body on 16 th March 2015. 5