Languages
At Barlby Bridge, we have chosen to teach French.
In line with statutory guidance, French is taught across Key Stage Two. Pupils begin learning in Year 3 using our CUSP French Curriculum, which is sequenced to ensure pupils have the building blocks of language and communication.
Our Languages Curriculum Vision
Intent
Our intent is to deliver the content outlined in the Languages programmes of study within the national curriculum augmented with powerful knowledge carefully selected to build upon our pupils’ starting points of cultural capital.
To this end, we use the CUSP curriculum. This is a knowledge-engaged progress model which clearly outlines the key knowledge and vocabulary for each stage of learning in sequence.
Implementation
In Languages, we want to encourage pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. We approach the teaching by starting with small blocks of language knowledge, increase the number and complexity and encourage pupils to put the blocks together to create complex, adventurous and amazing linguistic structures. We provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original languages. We ensure a solid foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils to study and work in other countries.
Impact
The impact of our curriculum is directly aligned to our whole school vision and culture statements, as well as the languages vision statement and the aims and purposes set out in the national curriculum.
CUSP French Sequence & Resources
As outlined in our Curriculum Vision for Languages, we are passionate about ensuring our pupils are equipped with the skills to communicate in a new language. We have therefore adopted the CUSP French Curriculum, which is sequenced to ensure pupils have the building blocks of language and communication.
Of their, curriculum, CUSP say:
"CUSP French has been designed to serve young linguists in the modern world. Key areas of focus have been deliberately selected to ensure that pupils are equipped with knowledge and language that will serve them in engaging with important and useful topics such as the environment, well being and travel. The curriculum focuses not just on vocabulary acquisition but also on the building blocks of learning a new language. Clear structures and learning routines underpin CUSP French. This allows pupils (and teachers) to direct their cognitive attention to the core content in each block. As with all CUSP subjects, Knowledge Notes are used to support instruction and the revisiting of new concepts. This strong focus on cognitive science provides the framework for pupils to deepen and broaden their knowledge of the French language and become confident, inspired linguists."
For more information about the CUSP French Curriculum, please visit their website, here.
Our French Specialist
To ensure pupils receive the most authentic teaching of Languages possible, we work closely with another expert who assists us with teaching the CUSP French Curriculum. Julie Caudrelier is a specialist from France who teaches Y3, 4, 5 and 6 French over Teams. She is fast-paced, knowledgeable and engaging, and we are delighted to have her expertise to support the teaching of Languages at BBS.
Here's a little bit more about her:
Julie Caudrelier has been teaching French for almost twenty years. Born in St Quentin in northern France, she moved to the UK in 2005 and has been sharing her love of her country and its language ever since. She has taught French to children and adults of all ages, from pre-school children to retired adults wanting to brush up on their French conversational skills. She has helped many students achieve success at GCSE and A Level and was Head of Modern Languages at Hogarth Primary School in Essex for ten years. She gave up this position in 2022 to start her own online French language school, Voilà French Tuition.
