Modern Foreign Languages

At Holy Family, our chosen focus language is French. Through learning another language, pupils develop curiosity about the wider world, confidence in communicating and an appreciation of different languages and cultures. We also value and celebrate the diverse range of languages spoken by pupils and families within our own school community.

In Key Stage 2, pupils receive dedicated weekly French lessons using the iLanguages programme of study alongside carefully selected additional resources. Learning is progressively sequenced so that pupils build upon previously taught vocabulary, pronunciation and grammatical structures as they move through the school.

Lessons provide regular opportunities for pupils to listen, speak, read and write in French. Children learn to ask and answer questions, take part in conversations, express ideas and opinions and communicate using increasingly familiar vocabulary, phrases and sentence structures. Songs, rhymes, stories and other authentic contexts help make language learning engaging and memorable.

In Key Stage 1, children are introduced informally to languages through opportunities within everyday school life, including greetings, songs, taking the register and our French lunchtime prayer. These early experiences encourage children to listen to and use French naturally, developing enjoyment and curiosity about languages before formal French teaching begins in Key Stage 2.

Alongside developing their language skills, pupils learn about French culture and life in French-speaking communities, helping them recognise both similarities and differences and develop respect for cultures beyond their own.

As pupils progress through Holy Family, they develop the confidence to understand and communicate simple ideas in French and establish strong foundations for further language learning. We aim for children to leave us enthusiastic about languages and increasingly confident in exploring the languages, cultures and communities of the wider world.

MFL Progression of Skills and Knowledge

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