The Rissington School MFL
INTENT:
At The Rissington School we recognise that learning a foreign language is not only a requirement for KS2 pupils as part of the Primary National Curriculum, but is also a life-long skill that supports an understanding of other cultures.
We aim to develop the confidence and competence of each child in a foreign language, so that they are passionate, curious and confident about their own foreign language learning abilities when they finish the primary phase of their education.
We will help them develop and demonstrate substantial progress in the 5 key language skills necessary for learning French: Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing and Grammar.
We ensure that pupils of all abilities develop solid foundations in these key language learning skills - properly preparing them for the next stage of their language learning journey. These skills will develop children’s ability to understand what they hear and read and enable them to express themselves in speech and writing. We will extend their knowledge of how language works and explore the similarities and differences between the foreign language they are learning and English. We will also help strengthen their sense of identity through learning about culture in other countries and comparing it with their own.
We are unique at The Rissington School because we are a dual site school. While we embrace the differences this might bring, we also are clear that children at both sites belong to one school and receive the same MFL provision.
The Rissington School values of Aspire, Belong and Challenge (ABC) are throughout the MFL curriculum. The lessons and experiences that are planned for the children extend learning beyond the national curriculum and bring learning to life in the aim that children can apply their learnt skills to real life circumstances beyond the classroom, for example by exposing them to a wider range of languages and cultures within our school community. This not only inspires pupils, but supports a sense of belonging as part of a wider school community. We provide challenge by having high expectations of all pupils.
In addition to our ABC values, our Golden Threads are woven throughout.
Vocabulary and Language: ensuring that our pupils develop the use of a wide and ambitious vocabulary.
Resilience and Independence: instilling a growth mindset, so that pupils persevere and are independent in both their learning and social skills.
Equality and Diversity: ensuring that learning encourages connections with our local community and the wider world, preparing them for the world beyond Primary.
Through the MFL Curriculum our Growth mindset is embedded, using the ‘Power of Yet!’, and understanding the importance of the 5 R's (Resilience, Responsibility, Reciprocal, Resourceful, Reflective), Growth mindset is rewarded and recognised when children support each other to overcome challenges and to be proactive in their learning.
As part of our curriculum we promote and encourage the children to recognise The Characteristic of Effective Learning; these are:
- Go For it Gorilla - I will have a go.
- Exploring Elephant - I am an Explorer
- I know Rhino - I play with what I know
- Proud Peacock - I am proud of what I do
- Concentrating Crocodile - I join in and concentrate
- Persevering Parrot - I keep trying
- Choosing Chimp - I choose ways to do things
- Creative Chameleon - I have my own ideas
- Slinky Linky Snake - I can make links
Within our MFL curriculum all lessons give the children opportunities to display one or some of the characteristics for example making connections from previous knowledge like a Slinky Linky Snake.
IMPLEMENTATION:
At Key Stage 2
French is taught in a whole-class setting and is not reliant on one key member of staff. Teachers plan their lessons using the Language Angels scheme of work and can supplement this with their own ideas and experience and those of their colleagues.
Lessons are designed to motivate, captivate and interest children from the first moment. They have clear, achievable objectives and incorporate different learning styles.
Each class has a timetabled lesson of at least thirty minutes per week, but these can also be revisited in short sessions throughout the week to consolidate knowledge, ensure new language is retained and to develop confidence using the language in different contexts.
French lessons may include:
- PowerPoints and interactive whiteboard materials
- Interactive games (which pupils can access from home to consolidate their learning)
- Songs & raps
- Differentiated desk-based consolidation activities
- Worksheets (at three different levels of challenge) are provided throughout each teaching unit and can be used in class or can be sent home to be completed as a homework exercise.
Each lesson will focus on a combination of the 5 key language learning skills.
The Language Angels scheme is a fully online resource enabling all teachers in all classes to have instant and continuous access to all the resources they need to teach whichever lesson they choose.
Pupils are assessed at the end of each unit. This can be done by:
- Peer and self-assessment ‘I can do…’ grids. A quick and easy way for all pupils in the class to record which units they have completed and the progress they are making.
- More detailed skills based assessments using bespoke skills assessment worksheets. This form of assessment enables us to determine the learning and progression of all pupils in the key language learning skills as well as monitoring their progress against the 12 attainment targets stipulated in the DfE Languages Programme of Study for Key Stage 2.
To ensure that MFL lessons are inclusive, all teachers at The Rissington School will anticipate the barriers that may arise when taking part in and learning particular activities/lessons or a series of lessons for pupils with particular SEN and/or disabilities. So, in planning, teachers will consider ways of minimising or reducing those barriers so that all pupils can fully take part and learn. In some activities, pupils with SEN and/or disabilities will be able to take part in the same way as their peers. In others, some modifications or adjustments will be made to include everyone. In other activities, provision will be a ‘parallel’ activity for pupils with SEN and/or disabilities, so that they can work towards the same lesson objectives as their peers, but in a different way.
IMPACT:
At The Rissington school our Key Stage 2 pupils are able to talk confidently about what they have learnt in French, using subject specific vocabulary.
Through the high quality first teaching of French taking place we will see the impact of the subject in the following ways:
- Children will become aware that a language has a structure, and that the structure differs from one language to another.
- Children will develop their language and communication through development of the five key skills of speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar.
- Children will enrich their language learning by developing an understanding of the French culture.
- Children will transfer to KS3 effectively and successfully and will be well prepared to continue and develop their language skills.
USEFUL DOCUMENTS: