Intent:

At Woodvale, our vision is 'everyone thriving' and our Modern Foreign Languages curriculum aims to foster our three curriculum drivers: developing oracy, embracing cultural richness, and nurturing social intelligence. At the heart of our approach is a belief that learning a language is not simply about acquiring vocabulary and grammar; our intent for French is that children will:-

• develop confidence and enjoyment in learning and using a foreign language
• listen attentively and respond appropriately to spoken and written French
• communicate increasingly confidently through speaking, reading and writing
• develop an understanding of key grammatical structures and language patterns
• broaden their vocabulary and use it to express ideas, opinions and information
• develop curiosity about the wider world and an appreciation of different cultures and traditions

Oracy is a fundamental driver in our curriculum. Through French, children learn to communicate with increasing confidence, fluency and accuracy. Pupils engage in conversations, ask and answer questions, express opinions and present information orally. Through songs, rhymes, role play, discussion and presentation activities, children develop confidence as communicators whilst improving pronunciation, intonation and speaking skills.

Diversity is another of our curriculum drivers. Through learning French, children gain an understanding of life beyond their immediate experience. They explore French culture, traditions, geography, food, festivals, sport, art and music, whilst also learning about other French-speaking countries around the world. This helps pupils develop respect for different cultures and a greater appreciation of the diverse world in which they live.

Social intelligence is a key focus within our MFL curriculum. Learning a language enables children to see the world from different perspectives and develops empathy, curiosity and respect. Pupils work collaboratively, listen carefully to others and learn to communicate meaning effectively. As they engage with another language and culture, they develop the confidence and understanding needed to interact positively with people from different backgrounds.

Implementation:

At Woodvale, French is taught throughout Key Stage 2 through a carefully sequenced curriculum that develops children's skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Learning is built around three key strands: Oracy, Literacy and Intercultural Understanding.

There are several features that run throughout all of our French teaching:-

• Developing communication skills through speaking, listening, discussion, songs, games and role play.
• Building vocabulary and grammar progressively so that children can communicate with increasing confidence and accuracy.
• Developing literacy skills through reading and writing a range of words, phrases and sentences.
• Exploring French culture and the wider French-speaking world to develop curiosity, understanding and respect for other cultures.
• Making meaningful connections across the curriculum so that language learning is engaging, relevant and memorable.

Our curriculum ensures that children build on prior learning each year and leave Woodvale well prepared for further language study at secondary school.

Impact:

We will know that the intent of our MFL curriculum is successful through:-

• our children demonstrating confidence and enthusiasm when communicating in French
• our children speaking, reading and writing with increasing fluency and accuracy
• our children using a growing range of vocabulary and grammatical structures independently
• our children showing curiosity and appreciation for French language and culture
• our children being well prepared for further language learning at secondary school

Through French, our children develop the confidence to communicate in another language, an appreciation of cultural diversity and a curiosity about the wider world.