Intent

We are committed to fostering a love of language learning and developing our pupils' understanding of the French language and culture. Our French curriculum, delivered through Grammarsaurus, aims to inspire curiosity and deepen pupils' understanding of the world through exposure to a modern foreign language. We want to develop confidence in speaking, listening, reading and writing in French, building a strong foundation of vocabulary, grammatical structures and pronunciation that prepares pupils for further language learning at secondary school. Through our curriculum, we encourage cultural awareness and appreciation of French-speaking countries and communities, promoting respect and understanding of diversity as we develop pupils as global citizens. We believe that learning a foreign language opens doors to new experiences and opportunities, helping children to express their ideas and thoughts in another language whilst understanding and responding to speakers, both in speech and in writing.

Implementation

French is taught weekly throughout Key Stage 2, following the carefully sequenced Grammarsaurus French curriculum. Our approach ensures:

• Progressive Learning: Skills and knowledge are built systematically from Year 3 to Year 6, with each unit building upon prior learning
• Engaging Lessons: Interactive activities, songs, games, and role-play make learning enjoyable and memorable
• Four Key Skills: Each lesson develops speaking, listening, reading and writing through varied activities
• Vocabulary Development: Regular revisiting of key vocabulary ensures retention and builds confidence
• Cultural Understanding: Units incorporate aspects of French culture, traditions, geography and daily life
• Phonics Focus: Explicit teaching of French phonics helps pupils develop accurate pronunciation
• Assessment: Regular formative assessment informs teaching, while end-of-unit assessments track progress

Teachers use the comprehensive Grammarsaurus resources, including lesson plans, presentations, audio recordings by native speakers, and differentiated activities to meet the needs of all learners.

Impact

Our French curriculum ensures that pupils develop competence and confidence in understanding and communicating in French. Children progress from learning basic vocabulary and phrases to constructing their own sentences and short texts, demonstrating increasing accuracy in pronunciation, intonation and grammatical structures. Pupils show enthusiasm and curiosity about language learning, with many children eager to share what they have learned with their families and peers. By the end of Year 6, our pupils achieve age-appropriate proficiency in the four language skills and are well-prepared for the transition to secondary school language learning. They demonstrate respect and appreciation for French culture and an awareness of the diversity of French-speaking communities. Through regular monitoring, pupil voice, and assessment outcomes, we can evidence that our pupils are making strong progress in their language learning journey. Children leave our school with a solid foundation in French and a positive attitude towards continued language study, equipped with the skills and confidence to become effective linguists.