Intent 

MFL at Riverside aims to open up the world to children. Across the school, we hope to inspire a love of language, culture and understanding of other countries and people from a multitude of backgrounds. Furthermore, we aim to develop a secure set of listening, speaking and writing skills in a target language, helping the pupils to be able to communicate effectively for a range of purposes. Children should leave Riverside with key language learning skills that will prepare them for further language learning.   

Implementation  

French is taught using highly engaging strategies that bring together a wide variety of interactive resources designed to engage and enthuse learners. This is delivered in KS2. Children listen to a range of vocabulary on a wide range of topics and build their knowledge to a point where they can put this vocabulary into increasingly more complex sentences and record this in their writing. Articulacy is a key focus, allowing children to practise their language skills through speaking and listening activities, including structured conversations, role-play, and discussions, which help to build confidence and fluency. High-quality resources help the children tune their ears to a range of new sounds and develop accuracy when speaking French. We develop an understanding of key grammatical structures, which also helps develop an understanding of the language. Many classes embed singing opportunities into language learning to ensure that language is reinforced regularly. To further enrich language learning, we welcome language teachers from Rainham Mark Grammar School, allowing children to explore languages beyond French. We also hold a Cultural Day, where all year groups take part in language sessions and assemblies that celebrate festivals from around the world, deepening their appreciation of different cultures. As a school, we use knowledge of our pupils' varied backgrounds to build opportunities to understand other cultures and use words of various languages around the school to build on our inclusive practice. 

Impact 

The children at Riverside are developing their language skills and show real enjoyment when learning French. Teachers are able to plan progressive and appropriate lessons and deliver them with confidence, allowing children to make progress year on year. Extra-curricular activities such as the European Day of Languages and Cultural Day provide opportunities for children to engage with different languages and cultures, fostering a sense of curiosity and enthusiasm for language learning. The involvement of language teachers from Rainham Mark Grammar School further enhances pupils' exposure to different languages, broadening their understanding and appreciation of global communication.