Modern Foreign Languages
"A different language is a different vision of life." (F.Fellini)
At Hillcroft, we believe that the learning of a language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for our pupils. It helps them to develop communication skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing, with an aim of making substantial progress in one language. In addition, children’s knowledge of how language works will be developed to lay the foundations for further language learning in future. We believe that learning another language gives children a new and broader perspective on the world, encouraging them to understand their own cultures and those of others
At Hillcroft, children are taught French, to develop an interest in learning other languages in a way that is enjoyable and stimulating. We encourage children’s confidence and strive to stimulate and encourage children’s curiosity about languages.
In planning we actively plan links to develop their awareness of cultural differences in other countries, as well as to embed the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing necessary, to enable children to use and apply their French learning in a variety of contexts and lay the foundations for future language learning.
Our MFL curriculum enables children to use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary organised around a variety of topics designed to progressively develop children's skills in language acquisition as well as an enthusiasm for the subject.
Pupil Voice:
I like the fact that you get to talk in other languages so you can get to talk to French people. Emily, Year 3
We learn French using a programme called Rising Stars and do fun activities like guessing the numbers and words in French. Sonny, Year 4
Learning French is a way to be confident in another country where you can talk to them in their language. Maggie, Year 5
Progression of Skills and Knowledge:
At Hillcroft Primary School, we follow the National Curriculum. From this, we ensure that skills and knowledge are taught in the appropriate year groups to ensure progression and sequencing.
Across Early Years, to ensure progression from the newly published Early Years Framework into KS1, we follow the revised and updated July 2021 version of Development Matters. In our Nursery, children are aged three and four, and so the progression maps show the objectives related to Three and Four year-old objectives. However, some children join after just turning three, therefore, with these children and following rigorous assessment of starting points, it may be deemed necessary to look at the Birth to Three objectives too.
For more information on this, please see the Nursery and Reception year group pages.
Below are links to our Progression of Skills and Knowledge documents.
