"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart."

Nelson Mandela

At West Bretton we teach French from foundation stage through to Year 6. We believe that teaching children a different language to their own is vitally important to encourage them to explore and try different experiences throughout their lives. We teach French to ensure our children have a strong foundation before they move onto higher level French at our local high schools. As well as teaching French in school time we have also run Italian and international school clubs out of curricular time to ensure children have tasted a variety of language flavours.

Mrs Corson is a French specialist, who teaches French throughout the school, ensuring continuity and progression from Foundation stage to Year 6. Children are taught basic vocabulary through to written sentences. We aim to ensure French is practical and fun; this ensures a child at all abilities retains the language taught.

In the lower years of school we use Camembear as a French teaching tool. The children are entirely engaged whilst singing French songs, playing games and writing letters to Camembear, ensuring their French learning is as enriched as it can possibly be. In Key stage 2 we use our local authority’s scheme of work which covers every national curriculum MFL objective and more. The learning in Key Stage 2 still encompasses abundant practical activities such as games and singing however lessons are slightly longer in Key Stage 2 to ensure quality written French work is also produced.

We have gained the International Schools intermediate award at our School for our language teaching and international links with Tanzania in Africa. We hold varied themed days throughout school including International day, European language day, French breakfast club and more. This guarantees that children are able to compare their own fundamentally British values with other cultures and values, leading to a well rounded, thoroughly educated individual.