• Our main aim is to promote the early development of linguistic competence. We believe that to accomplish this, we should help the children to do the following: familiarise themselves with the sounds and written form of a modern foreign language: develop particular language-learning skills: begin to understand a new language and communicate in it: make comparisons between languages: learn about different countries and their people and work with materials from different countries and communities. Therefore, we need to:

• Increase children’s awareness of other cultures Develop a positive attitude towards the learning of foreign languages

• Encourage children to use their knowledge of the foreign language with growing confidence Support children in expressing themselves in speech and writing

• Allow children to develop a greater understanding of what they hear and read Language learning has four core strands: learning to communicate (with emphasis on oracy, i.e. listening, speaking and interacting), learning ABOUT language, using literacy, i.e. reading and writing in the foreign language to learn about the writing system, spelling and structure of the language and learning about and developing an appreciation of different cultures (inter-cultural understanding). Children should also be encouraged to apply knowledge already learnt about their own language to their learning of the new language. We aim to equip pupils with strategies for language learning that they can use in the future when studying another foreign language.

o Each year group will commence their French teaching in the Autumn Term.

o Throughout units of work, teachers will make links and encourage children to make links between the children’s mother tongue and the target language, as well as their own culture and other countries’ cultures.

o All lessons include elements of speaking, listening and reading or writing. Building up the expectations in writing as the units progress.

o Lessons are planned in sequences that provide children with the opportunities to review, remember, deepen and apply their understanding.

o Teachers will use puzzle it out sheets and tracking clouds to assess children’s progress and understanding at the end of each unit of work.

Children will leave Salesbury School with the ability to listen to, speak, read and write some French. They will have also developed a greater understanding of traditional cultures within these chosen countries. High standards will be maintained during the teaching and learning of both languages so that children are prepared for their Key Stage Three journey. Children will have engaged in cultural theme days and will have had regular opportunities to apply the skills they have learnt within their lessons.