Classes 3,4 and 5 have a one year rolling programme. Due to the nature of French and our mixed age classes the curriculum is taught as a cyclical, this means that pupils revisit key vocabulary and grammar concepts again and again. Every time vocabulary or grammar learning is revisited, it is covered with greater depth. Upon returning to each area, prior knowledge is utilised so pupils can build on previous foundations, rather than starting again.
Five key strands run through the curriculum: speaking and pronunciation, listening, Reading and writing, Grammar and Intercultural understanding. We believe the skills children develop can help them in the future learn other languages. Key skills covered are: recognising learnt vocabulary when listening or reading; spotting cognates (words which have the same origin or are in some way similar) and near-cognates; using context and their own knowledge of the world to predict the meaning of unknown words and considering word order to anticipate the meaning of words. We believe these skills support our children to communicate effectively when visiting France and meeting their pen friends in person or through writing and video calls.