Languages at Saint Edmund's

Saint Edmund’s uses the Language Angels scheme of work and resources to ensure we offer a relevant, broad, vibrant and ambitious foreign languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils using a wide variety of topics and themes. All pupils will be expected to achieve their full potential by encouraging high expectations and excellent standards in their foreign language learning - the ultimate aim being that pupils will feel willing and able to continue studying languages beyond Key Stage 2.
The content is continuously updated and reviewed annually, creating a dynamic programme of study that will be clearly outlined in both long-term and short-term planning. This will ensure that the foreign language knowledge of our pupils progresses within each academic year and is extended year upon year throughout the primary phase and, in so doing, will always be relevant and in line with meeting or exceeding national DfE requirements.
The four key language learning skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing will be taught and all necessary grammar will be covered in an age-appropriate way across Key Stage 2. This will enable pupils to use and apply their learning in a variety of contexts and laying down solid foundations for future language learning. In addition, the children will be taught how to look up and research language they are unsure of and they will have a bank of reference materials to help them with their spoken and written tasks going forward. This bank of reference materials will develop into a reference library to help pupils recall and build on previous knowledge throughout their primary school language learning journey.
It is hoped that all pupils will develop a genuine interest and positive curiosity about foreign languages, finding them enjoyable and stimulating. Learning a second language will also offer pupils the opportunity to explore relationships between language and identity, develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, others and cultural differences.
Click here for the link to the National Curriculum information for languages: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-languages-progammes-of-study
Teaching and learning in languages
French is taught from Year 3 onwards. Year 3 children start with Early Language units. The level of challenge is then increased with the Intermediate units, which are taught across Years 4 and 5. The Progressive and Creative Curriculum units are taught in Year 6 to stretch and challenge children who by then will have a good understanding of the basics of the French language. Children will be taught how to listen and read longer pieces of text gradually in French and will have plenty of opportunities to speak, listen to, read and write the language with and without scaffolds, frames and varying levels of support.
Children will progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, language skills and grammatical knowledge organised around age-appropriate topics and themes - building blocks of language into more complex, fluent and authentic language. Children will build on previous knowledge gradually as their foreign language lessons continue to recycle, revise and consolidate previously learnt language whilst building on all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Knowledge and awareness of required and appropriate grammar concepts will be taught throughout all units at all levels of challenge. Grammar rules and patterns will be taught by level of challenge. Grammar is integrated and taught discreetly throughout all appropriate units.
All Key Stage 2 classes will have access to a high-quality foreign languages curriculum using the Language Angels scheme of work and resources. This will progressively develop pupil skills in foreign languages through regularly taught and well-planned weekly lessons in Key Stage 2, which will be taught by class teachers or as part of planned PPA cover.
The school has a unit planner in place which will serve as an overall ‘teaching map’ outlining for all teachers what each class in each year group will be taught and when it will be taught. Each class in each year group also has an overview of units to be taught during the academic year. Each teaching unit is divided into 6 fully planned lessons, which should, as far as is possible, be taught weekly for at least 30 minutes. Units are progressive within themselves as subsequent lessons within a unit build on the language and knowledge taught in previous lessons. As pupils progress though the lessons in a unit they will build their knowledge and develop the complexity of the language they use.
Teachers will have a clear overview of what they are working towards. They will use short-term planning and individual lesson plans provided to ensure they know what to teach and how to teach it in each lesson, across whole units and across each school year.
Pupil learning and progression will be assessed informally throughout each session and formally at the end of each unit using the assessment materials provided. Pupils, including those in Key Stage 1, will also enjoy opportunities throughout the school year which link to the learning of languages other than English. Pupils are encouraged to access each unit’s core vocabulary sheets both at school and at home, to support them to develop and cement their knowledge and understanding of what is being taught within class.
The assessment activities, both during and at the end of each unit, will ensure teachers know where every child is in their foreign language learning journey. Each lesson allows for all children to be supported and, where necessary, challenged to ensure pupils learn effectively, continuously building their knowledge of and enthusiasm for the language they are learning. The choice of units of learning will be reviewed annually to enable teachers to choose from a range of different units that, in some cases, may provide particularly strong links with other areas of the curriculum.