“To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.” – Chinese Proverb

Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) at Captains Close Primary School

Belonging · Ambition · Equity

Learning a foreign language opens doors to new cultures, broadens horizons and strengthens communication skills. At Captains Close, pupils learn French, developing confidence in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Our curriculum fosters curiosity, celebrates diversity and helps children understand their place in a multilingual world.

Our approach is shaped by the Discovery Trust DNA and grounded in evidence-informed practice.

Curriculum Intent

Our intent for MFL is to ensure all pupils:

• Develop confidence in speaking and listening in French.
• Build accurate pronunciation and intonation.
• Understand and use key vocabulary and grammatical structures.
• Appreciate French culture and traditions.
• Develop strategies for language learning.
• Experience equity through adaptive teaching.

Curriculum Implementation

We deliver our MFL curriculum through:

Speaking & Listening

• Repetition and modelling.
• Songs, rhymes and games.
• Dialogue and role-play.

Reading & Writing

• Key vocabulary.
• Simple sentences.
• Short texts.

Grammar

• Nouns and gender.
• High-frequency verbs.
• Sentence structure.

Cultural Understanding

• Festivals
• Food
• Traditions
• Geography

Progression

• Long-term map.
• Vocabulary progression.
• Grammar progression.
• Skills progression.

Assessment

• Speaking tasks.
• Written outcomes.
• Pupil voice.
• Practical activities.

Curriculum Impact

We measure impact through:

• Confident use of spoken French.
• Secure understanding of vocabulary and grammar.
• Positive attitudes towards language learning.
• Pupil voice.
• Assessment information.

Pupils can:

• Greet others and hold simple conversations.
• Read and write short sentences.
• Use key vocabulary independently.
• Talk about French culture.

Protected Characteristics in MFL

We ensure pupils learn about and respect protected characteristics through:

• Exploring diverse French-speaking communities.
• Challenging stereotypes about language and culture.
• Ensuring SEND pupils access all language learning.
• Celebrating identity and belonging.

Examples include:

• Francophone countries across Africa.
• French-speaking communities in Canada and the Caribbean.
• Diverse cultural traditions.

British Values in MFL

British Values are woven through MFL lessons:

• Democracy: Group decision-making in language activities.
• Rule of Law: Understanding classroom expectations.
• Individual Liberty: Expressing ideas in another language.
• Mutual Respect: Appreciating different cultures.
• Tolerance: Learning about global diversity.

Long-Term Curriculum Map

A full long-term map for MFL can be found here.

Progression Documents

Our progression documents show how knowledge and skills build from Year 3 to Year 6:

• Vocabulary progression.
• Grammar progression.
• Speaking and listening progression.
• Writing progression.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary is taught explicitly and revisited regularly.

We focus on:

• Tier 2: descriptive vocabulary.
• Tier 3: language-specific terminology.

SEND & Equity

All pupils access the full MFL curriculum through:

• Adaptive teaching.
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• Visual supports.
• Regulation strategies.
• Personalised resources.

Enrichment & Wider Opportunities

MFL enrichment includes:

• French cultural days.
• Food tasting.
• Links with French-speaking communities.
• Language games and competitions.

How to Find Out More

Parents and carers can request further information about our MFL curriculum by contacting the school office.