Modern Foreign Languages

Our expert looking after MFL strategies is Miss Yates.

Overview

Intent

At Carlton Primary School, we want our pupils to see languages as a gateway to the wider world. Languages allow pupils to communicate, explore different cultures, and develop the skills needed to thrive in an interconnected world. We want all children to experience the joy of language learning and to see themselves as global citizens capable of understanding and respecting diverse cultures.

Our curriculum is designed to give children the knowledge and skills they need to use another language with increasing confidence. We want them to enjoy learning, to experiment without fear of making mistakes, and to recognise the value of communication beyond their own experiences.

We aim to create confident, enthusiastic linguists who are ready to continue language learning at secondary school and beyond.

We intend to:

• Captivate pupils and stimulate their curiosity about languages, culture, and the wider world.
• Develop children’s understanding of communication and culture, fostering empathy and global awareness.
• Equip pupils with key language skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, while developing their understanding of linguistics through the three pillars of Phonics, Vocabulary, and Grammar.
• Ensure progression for all learners, with sequenced lessons and resources that prevent unnecessary repetition and allow children to access increasingly challenging units throughout Key Stage 2.

Implementation

At Carlton Primary, pupils’ language learning begins with the Language of the Month initiative, giving all children early exposure to different languages and cultures. Each month, classes explore a new language, the countries where it is spoken, and some key facts about its culture. On a daily basis children practise simple greetings and vocabulary during registration and when leaving school. This approach builds confidence, speaking and listening skills, and fosters curiosity about the wider world.

From Year 3 onwards, pupils follow a structured French programme supported by the Language Angels two-year rolling scheme. Lessons are carefully sequenced to develop the four key skills — listening, speaking, reading, and writing — alongside a gradual introduction to grammar. Lessons include a variety of activities such as:

• Oral practice, songs and role play to develop speaking and listening skills.
• Reading comprehension and stories to extend vocabulary and understanding.
• Writing tasks ranging from sentences to short paragraphs to develop accuracy and expression.
• Grammar activities embedded in context to reinforce structures and patterns.

Topics covered in the French curriculum include, for example: I Am Learning, The Date, Family, My Home, Animals, Seasons, At the Café, Fruits, Vegetables, Clothes, In the Classroom and Do You Have a Pet? These topics give pupils opportunities to practise their language skills in meaningful and engaging contexts.

Learning is further enriched through Focus Weeks, which aim to inspire pupils, link language learning with geography, and ignite curiosity about the wider world. Activities may include cross-curricular projects, games, songs, cultural artefacts, lunchtime themes or interactive presentations, providing pupils with opportunities to consolidate skills and deepen understanding.

Assessment

Assessment is ongoing and measured through the progression of skills, using methods such as transition checklists, observations of groups, analysis of whole-class feedback, marking of work, or short tests in written or oral form. Teachers often record informal assessment data directly onto their planning to inform future lessons and ensure all pupils make progress.

Monitoring

Monitoring is carried out throughout the academic year during subject leadership time, with a focus linked to the school development plan. This includes classroom observations, discussions with staff and pupils, reviewing planning and examples of children’s work, and collecting pupil voice. The results of monitoring inform next steps and subsequent action planning, which are recorded on the subject leader’s ‘Subject on a Page’ completed at the end of each term.

Impact – What knowledge and skills are obtained?

At Carlton Primary, our carefully sequenced curriculum and assessment procedures ensure that pupils make strong and sustained progress in their language learning. The progression of skills helps children build knowledge step by step, enabling them to develop confidence and thrive as they move through school.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils at Carlton will:

• Leave school as confident, enthusiastic linguists with a strong awareness of cultural diversity and curiosity about the wider world.
• Be inspired to explore different cultures and languages, recognising how this broadens their horizons and enriches their lives.
• Be challenged and supported to achieve the national curriculum expectations for languages by the end of Year 6.
• Respond confidently when asked to listen, speak, read, and write in French, applying their knowledge of phonics, vocabulary, and grammar to communicate effectively.
• Understand the value and purpose of learning another language, and how these skills will support their success in Key Stage 3 and beyond.
• Recognise themselves as global citizens, showing respect, empathy, and appreciation for other cultures, and understanding their place in an interconnected world.

At Carlton, everything we do is rooted in our five core values: Share, High Aspirations, Innovate, Nurture, and Empower. Through our language curriculum, we want every child to find joy in language learning, develop a desire to explore the world and its diversity, and be empowered to let their light shine.