Languages

At Steeple Morden Primary School, we have purposefully taken a radically different and ambitious approach to the language curriculum to reflect the linguistic diversity of the world and to bring children into contact with culture they would not ordinarily experience in their everyday lives.

In different year groups we teach; sign language, Mandarin, German, Italian and French.

Intent

Curriculum by Year Groups

We believe studying a range of languages is integral to developing a global perspective in our children. We wish to prepare our children for a world beyond Steeple Morden - our children will be global citizens and many of our parents already travel to different countries for work.

We have thought carefully and make use government recommended training to enable our teachers to deliver this ambitious approach successfully. Our intent for the teaching and learning of Languages is to develop a lifelong love of language learning, promote cultural awareness.

We aim to achieve the following:

Progression of knowledge and skills: All children learn a foreign language (Mandarin/French/Italian/German) with a clearly sequenced curriculum that builds progressively on their knowledge, skills, and understanding from Year 3 to Year 6.
Cultural Appreciation: We provide opportunities for children to explore the culture and traditions of the countries whose languages they are learning, including unique customs, cuisine, and festivals that they are unlikely to encounter in their everyday lives, thereby nurturing respect and curiosity towards linguistic and cultural diversity.
Communication Skills: Children will develop their speaking, listening, reading, and writing abilities in the target language to enable confident communication in various contexts, including interactions that allow them to engage with cultural elements distinctive to other societies.
Assessment for Learning: We will assess language skills regularly, using formative assessments to adapt teaching to meet individual needs and to ensure all children achieve high standards.

Implementation

To effectively implement our language programme, we take the following approaches:

Curriculum Design: Our Languages curriculum is designed in alignment with the National Curriculum, ensuring comprehensive coverage of key linguistic elements such as vocabulary acquisition, grammar, pronunciation, and cultural context. Lessons are planned with clear learning objectives and adaptions made to cater for all levels of attainment.
Engagement Strategies: Lessons incorporate a range of engaging activities, including songs, games, role play, and use of interactive technology. These strategies expose children to cultural artefacts and experiences that they are unlikely to come into contact with outside their everyday environment.
Staff Training and Development: High quality government backed, continuous professional development opportunities are provided locally and abroad for all staff delivering language lessons, ensuring they are equipped with the latest pedagogical strategies and resources to inspire children.

Impact

The impact of our language programme is assessed through several measures:

Pupil Outcomes: All children make good progress in their language studies, evidenced by high attainment in internal assessments and the ability to apply their skills in real-world contexts, including cultural scenarios they may not encounter locally.
Cultural Awareness: Children demonstrate a keen understanding and appreciation of the cultures associated with the languages they study. Surveys and discussions reflect that children feel enthusiastic and engaged with languages and express a desire to explore further language learning in secondary school. The main secondary school, where many of our children attend after their time at Steeple Morden, report our children are enthusiastic and open to learning languages.
Quality of Teaching: Lesson observations and feedback indicate high-quality teaching practices, highlighting the use of varied teaching methods and effective assessment strategies. Staff report feeling confident and competent in delivering the language curriculum.
Community and Global Citizenship: Children exhibit respect and curiosity towards different cultures and backgrounds, reflecting their exposure to diverse experiences that encourage them to appreciate and engage with a multicultural world.