MFL
Curriculum Rationale
Our French curriculum aims to inspire pupils with a love of languages, broaden their understanding of the world, and lay firm foundations for future language learning. French is taught to help children become confident communicators, curious about other cultures, and aware of France’s significant global influence.
Our curriculum develops pupils’ early linguistic competence by building skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing through a structured and engaging programme. We introduce key French phonics early to support accurate pronunciation and decoding. Pupils learn essential vocabulary and simple grammatical structures progressively, enabling them to form sentences, ask and answer questions, and understand spoken and written French. Cultural learning is woven throughout, helping children appreciate French life, traditions and diversity.
Learning is sequenced so that knowledge builds cumulatively from Year 3 to Year 6. Lessons emphasise oracy, using songs, stories, games and role-play to create a rich, enjoyable language-learning environment. Concepts and vocabulary are revisited regularly to strengthen retention. High-quality modelling, visual support and interactive activities ensure learning is accessible for all pupils, including those with SEND.
By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils can communicate simple ideas in French with growing confidence, understand basic written and spoken language, and apply core grammatical patterns. They demonstrate enthusiasm for languages and an awareness of French culture. They are well-prepared for the demands of French at Key Stage 3, equipped with strong foundations in phonics, vocabulary and sentence-building.
