Curriculum Intent:

Learning a language enriches the curriculum, helping to create enthusiastic learners and to develop positive attitudes to language learning throughout life. The skills, knowledge and understanding gained should contribute to the development of children's oracy and literacy to their understanding of their own culture and those of others, especially in a small rural community like Swanage. 

At St Mark's we feel that the earlier a child is exposed to a foreign language, the faster the language in question is acquired. We believe that the early acquisition of French from year three will facilitate the learning of other foreign languages later in life. We aim to prepare children for the KS3 language curriculum to enable them to transfer confidently and successfully. Also, many studies have shown that language learning has a positive impact on achievement in other subjects as well as helping to improve thinking skills and memory abilities.

Curriculum Implementation:

We teach French across Key Stage 2. The school uses 'Primary Languages' to support the teaching and learning of French. This provides a clear progression for the development of speaking and listening and vocabulary acquisition. The children are also taught about phonological awareness in French along with key grammatical concepts. 

A variety of the following techniques are used to encourage children to have an active engagement in French:

• Games - in order to develop vocabulary through repetition, reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
• Role-play - to increase confidence speaking the language.
• Action songs and rhymes - to develop phonetic skills, memory skills and to further vocabulary.
• Reading and writing through high quality materials.
• Confidence building - through praise for any contribution they make in the foreign language, however tentative.
• SEND children are present in lessons and are supported where necessary. The lesson content features a mix of songs, games and activities which are accessible and enjoyable.