Modern Foreign Languages

At Pannal, ‘Languages’ (which also falls under the ‘Communication and Language’ and the ‘Understanding of the World’ areas of the EYFS curriculum) starts in the Early Years with children being introduced to the idea that people around the world speak different languages. Staff are aware that our children may well know different languages and many speak languages other than English at home. Opportunities to talk about this and to say ‘hello’ etc. in these languages are captured where possible. Children in the Early Years take part in whole school celebrations of language at a level which is appropriate to their understanding. The children take part in both planned and spontaneous activities. For example, they may learn some key phrases during European Day of Languages, they may teach staff and friends how to say ‘hello’ in their home language, or they may show an interest in another country, leading to discussions around the languages spoken there.

We have an enthusiastic team of linguists who aim to share their love of foreign languages with the children. We hope that this passion for speaking French will be infectious and the children will develop a lifelong love for languages. 

Our first aim is to develop speaking and listening skills and encourage the children to ‘have a go’ at all times.  We then lay the foundations, through written French, in readiness for the children’s transition to secondary school and hopefully future study in adulthood.

French is introduced through songs, rhymes and games. In Lower Key Stage 2 weekly French lessons incorporate speaking and listening skills in a fun and enjoyable way as well as learning vocabulary and writing short sentences. As the children progress to Upper Key Stage 2, they learn to read and write in French and speak with more confidence. Topics are interesting and relevant and engage and stimulate learning.

The children learn about both the language and the culture of France and other European countries. Each year we embrace this by marking European Day of Languages with a whole school themed day.

At Pannal, we work closely with a cluster of primary schools to share good practice. We are developing links with the secondary schools in Harrogate to meet the needs of transition from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 to ensure that our children continue with their successful language journey.

We have recently introduced a Physical French Phonics programme which will help the children to recognise different phonemes in French and their grapheme correspondence. This is an approach which is being developed in all Key Stage 3 settings in readiness for the new GCSE curriculum.

We have also recently partnered with a school in France, the École Louis Pasteur and we have started to write to one another. We hope this experience will bring language learning to life, showing the children what school is like in France and also enabling them to use the French they have learnt so far.