Intent

At Our Lady of Fatima, our Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) curriculum reflects our commitment to providing a broad and balanced education, which nurtures curiosity, cultural awareness, and confidence in communication.

We introduce French in Key Stage 2 to ensure that all children :

• Develop a love for language learning in a fun, inclusive environment;

• Gain an understanding and appreciation of French culture and the wider Francophone world;

• Acquire the foundational skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing in another language;

• Build resilience and independence through practicing new vocabulary and structures;

• Recognise the value of learning languages as a life skill and a window into the world.

Our French curriculum is designed to progress sequentially from Year 3 to Year 6, providing increasing challenge and opportunity for children to grow in confidence and competence.

Implementation

French is taught weekly in Key Stage 2 through engaging, interactive sessions that are carefully sequenced to build knowledge over time.

• Year 3: Children are introduced to French in a joyful and interactive way. Lessons focus on basic vocabulary (e.g., greetings, numbers, colours) and developing accurate pronunciation through songs, games, and role-play. Cultural elements are also introduced to help children explore life in French-speaking countries.

• Year 4: Pupils move on to asking and answering simple questions, developing their ability to construct short sentences. Vocabulary themes include family, food, weather and classroom objects. Listening and speaking are key skills at this stage.

• Year 5: Children build confidence in holding short conversations. They begin to express opinions, understand and use familiar vocabulary in context, and are introduced to writing simple sentences.

• Year 6: Pupils develop the ability to initiate and sustain conversations using familiar vocabulary and accurate grammar. They learn to apply knowledge from previous years to new topics, engage in role-play scenarios, and write with increasing fluency and accuracy.

We use visual prompts, songs, real-life contexts, and cross-curricular links to bring the language alive. Teachers follow a clear progression map and adapt planning to ensure accessibility for all learners, including those with SEND or EAL.

Impact

By the end of Year 6, our pupils will:

• Communicate in French using spoken and written language with growing accuracy and confidence;

• Engage in conversations, express opinions, and respond appropriately to familiar questions and topics;

• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of French culture and traditions;

• Be well-prepared for the demands of secondary MFL study, having developed secure foundational knowledge and a positive attitude towards learning languages.

Our children leave us as enthusiastic and curious linguists who are ready to live, love and learn with open hearts and minds in a diverse and global community.