MFL Curriculum Statement

Modern Foreign Languages Curriculum Statement

At Bearsted Primary Academy, we want every child to be happy and enthusiastic learners of foreign languages, and to be eager to achieve their very best in order to fulfil their potential. We firmly believe that the recipe for success is high quality first-wave teaching in foreign languages, which is central to the life of our happy, caring academy.

Intent – What we are trying to achieve?

• Our principal aim is that children leave us with a wide range of happy and rich memories in language formed through interesting and exciting experiences driven through vehicles that enhance a child’s awareness of their own abilities and strengths as a learner, thus ensuring that children see learning a foreign language as an ongoing process and not a one-off event.

• Children will meet the National Curriculum expectations in MFL, which will be taught by highly-qualified staff who will support children to develop the mastery of concepts and inspire enthusiasm and interest in the subject.

• All Key Stage Two children will study foreign languages for an hour a week.

• Opportunities will exist for children of all ages to experience learning beyond the classroom. This will allow them to enrich their knowledge by, for example, creative workshop days at Trust secondary academies or visitors to school who may read stories in the language or share their experiences of living abroad.

• Children will develop a deep understanding of the subjects they are studying. They will increasingly use their prior knowledge to solve problems and develop the sophistication of using a foreign language.

• Children will understand how British Values relate to learning about foreign languages and culture.

• Whilst learning a modern foreign language, children will develop the skills to appropriately understand, speak, read, write and transcribe phrases, as well as use and manipulate a variety of key grammatical structures.

Scheme of Learning

Our PYP approach is underscored by the National Curriculum. It allows for appropriate sequencing and aims to secure long-term memory as well as the enjoyment of learning a MFL. We use Language Angels to ensure pupils develop clear pronunciation and avoid misconceptions. The primary language taught at Bearsted Primary Academy is Spanish.

The key areas of speaking and listening, reading and writing, and grammar are initiated in Early Years and KS1 and developed throughout KS2 in order to prepare children for secondary education.

Implementation – How do we translate our vision into practice?

• The subject leader for MFL will meet the senior leadership team and repesentatives from the Trust on a regular basis to evaluate provision in order to ensure that teaching and learning in MFL is highly effective. Where necessary, staff will receive coaching and training in the Spanish language. Subject specialists from Trust secondary academies will continue to support this process and aid transition to Key Stage 3.

• Where possible, carefully designed, interleaved learning in MFL will be used to ensure consistency and develop the knowledge and understanding of all learners.

• Clearly defined end goals are set in order to guide children to achieve their potential. This ensures work is demanding and matches the aims of the curriculum whilst still fulfilling the requirements of a PYP approach.

• High quality teaching responds to the needs of children. Spiral learning is a key focus of all formative and summative assessment with teachers actively responding to learning, understanding and work in lessons in order to identify misconceptions early.

• High quality input from experts and educational resources complement the delivery of language learning admirably. Children understand how foreign languages are used in the wider world including careers.

Assessment

Each lesson will be assesed using Language Angels and our conferencing/evaluation policy. Homework is not formally set in MFL but children are encouraged to take part in enrichment opportunities such as listening to a foreign radio station, trying foreign foods and independent learnign about the cultures and features of a foregin country. High quality teaching responds to the needs of children. An assessment grid (the foundation skills assessment) is used to formally record an overview of progress of each child.

Cultural Capital

Children will learn and experience the following:

• Meeting and talking to native speakers

• Email communication with Spanish children

• Video conferencing with a Spanish school

• Spanish publications (such as newspapers) and books

• Listening to Spanish radio

• Listening to Spanish music

• Watching Spanish television programmes and/or films

• Eating Spanish food

• Gain an understanding from a business leader regarding the importance of learning a language.

Impact – What is the impact of our curriculum on the students?

• Children are happy, feel cared for, and have excellent relationships with others. They know how to deal with challenges and have a range of strategies to overcome them.

• Through learning a foreign language, children deepen their appreciation of other cultures and enhance their international mindedness.

• Cultural capital opportunities have enriched the lives of the children and they are able to discuss how the experience impacted their knowledge and understanding.

• Children of all abilities and backgrounds achieve well in MFL, reflected in outstanding progress that reveals a clear learning journey. Children talk enthusiastically about their learning in Spanish and are eager to further their learning in the next stages of their education.

• There is a proven track record of outstanding outcomes as shown in pupils’ ability in Spanish in the areas of oracy, literacy, intercultural understanding and their knowledge about the language. Discussions with pupils and book reviews reveal their enjoyment of the subject. These indicators reflect the impact of deep learning.

• Clear outcomes focus and guide MFL development plans and drive improvement.

• Through wider reading and experiences in Spanish , children will gain an appreciation and understanding of the country and some of its historical links to other parts of the world and historical events.

• It also allows for the British Values of tolerance and respect to be highlighted, understood and practised by children.