Languages

Intent

At Danesholme Junior Academy our MFL (Modern Foreign Languages) curriculum enables and develops a thirst for learning other languages and exploring other cultures. We 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 skills, knowledge and understanding gained through learning a language contribute to the development of children’s oracy and literacy and to their understanding of their own culture and those of others. At Danesholme Junior Academy, we believe that the early acquisition of Spanish will facilitate the learning of other foreign languages later in life.  

Communicating with our friends and peers is so important that we want to give all year 3 pupils at Danesholme Junior Academy the opportunity to learn British Sign Language (BSL).  This will set a foundation for an inclusive culture that recognises over one hundred and fifty thousand people in the UK use BSL to communicate. We intend our BSL curriculum to teach young learners to communicate with Deaf people in British Sign Language (BSL) on a range of topics that involve simple, everyday language use. BSL will improve vocabulary, fine motor skills, self-esteem, and is accessible for all learners.  

Implementation

Spanish

At Danesholme Junior Academy we will prepare children for the KS3 language curriculum by enabling them to transfer confidently and successfully following a engaging languages curriculum in Key Stage 2. Alongside a rich and progressive Spanish curriculum from year 4 onwards, the Year 3 children receive a bespoke BSL (British Sign Language) curriculum. We teach Spanish across years 4-6. The academy uses the "Language Angels" scheme of work to support the teaching and learning of Spanish. This provides clear progression for the development of speaking and listening and vocabulary acquisition. There are resources to support the teaching and learning opportunities for pupils. 

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 the primary phases from year 4 through to year 6. This will enable pupils to use and apply their learning in a variety of contexts, laying down solid foundations for future language learning. All classes will have access to a very 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 lessons. 

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. 

We use a variety of the following techniques to encourage children to have an active engagement with Spanish: 

• Games – in order to develop vocabulary through repetition, reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. 

• Role-play – these should relate to the situations the children may find themselves in the future. 

• Action songs and rhymes – to develop phonetic skills, memory skills and to further vocabulary. 

• Reading and writing quality materials. 

• We build children’s confidence through praise for any contribution they make in the foreign language, however tentative. 

British Sign Language (BSL)

British Sign Language is taught to all year 3 pupils by class teachers. Their classrooms display signs in BSL and the pupils and academy staff are encouraged to use BSL in their daily lessons and routines to ensure BSL is embedded within the classroom.  

BSL lessons are fun, engaging and accessible to all. Teachers use a variety of resource materials such as visuals, videos and role play. Pupils are given the opportunity to practise BSL signs throughout their academy day, not just during stand alone BSL lessons. This is encouraged by all year 3 teachers to ensure an embedded approach.

This is how our languages curriculum is mapped across the school:

YEAR 3

YEAR 4

YEAR 5

YEAR 6

Impact

Through the high quality first teaching of Spanish taking place we will see the impact of the subject in the following ways: 

· Children will become aware that a language has a structure, and that the structure differs from one language to another. 

· Children will develop their language and communication through development of the four key skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. 

· Children will enrich their language learning by developing an understanding of the Spanish culture. 

· Children will transfer to KS3 effectively and successfully and will be well prepared to continue and develop their language skills. 

All children achieve in Modern foreign languages as the curriculum builds their knowledge and equips them to study or work in a foreign country later in life.  

The year 3 pupils can engage in simple conversations, ask questions, and respond using BSL. They are confident to communicate through more than one language and show an understanding of Deaf awareness. Pupils have developed an inclusive approach to language and recognise the importance of BSL to the Deaf or hard of hearing community.