At Elmstead Primary School, our aim is that all pupils will develop a genuine interest and positive curiosity about foreign languages, finding them enjoyable and stimulating. Learning a second language will also offer pupils the opportunity to explore relationships between language and identity, develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, others and cultural differences. The intention is that they will be working towards becoming life-long language learners.

French is taught through the four key language skills:

• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing

Listening and speaking skills are taught using a multisensory approach,  giving children an enjoyable way to learn French with authentic pronunciation by using a range of sound clips, games and songs. These skills are built upon within  every unit of work to support the children in developing an ambitious vocabulary by teaching a wide variety of topics and themes. To support pronunciation, in KS2,  the children are taught about French phonics  to support their accuracy when speaking.

Reading and writing skills are taught as the children progress through a unit of work, building on the vocabulary they have learnt and applying it in a variety of contexts. French grammar is also taught in an age-appropriate way, when it is relevant to the theme the children are focusing on. This enables the children to create their own accurate and personalised responses within their theme of learning.