MFL
Intent
At Hertford Heath, the Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) curriculum is designed to foster children’ curiosity about language and culture and to develop the confidence to communicate in another language. We teach French using the Language Angels scheme, which provides a carefully sequenced and engaging curriculum that enables pupils to build knowledge, vocabulary and communicative skill over time.
Our intent is for children to develop a positive attitude towards language learning and to gain the foundations needed to understand and use French for practical purposes. Through the study of vocabulary, phonics, grammar and sentence structure, pupils learn to listen, speak, read and write with increasing confidence and accuracy. They are encouraged to participate actively, take risks with language and develop resilience as they learn to express themselves in a new language.
We want children to develop an appreciation of French-speaking cultures and a broader understanding of the world beyond their own. The curriculum is inclusive and ambitious, ensuring that all pupils can access high-quality language learning and make progress regardless of starting point.
Implementation
French is taught through the Language Angels scheme, which provides a clear progression of knowledge and skills from Year 1 to Year 6. The curriculum is carefully sequenced so that pupils revisit and build on language over time, embedding vocabulary and structures securely.
Teachers use the scheme to ensure that pupils are taught the key strands of language learning, including:
- listening and responding
- speaking with pronunciation and intonation
- reading and understanding written French
- writing with increasing accuracy
- phonics and sound-spelling links
- grammar and sentence construction
- cultural understanding of French-speaking countries and communities
Lessons are structured to provide regular opportunities for repetition, retrieval and practical use of language. Children are taught through songs, games, spoken practice, reading tasks and short written activities, helping them to develop confidence and fluency. Teachers model pronunciation carefully and use subject-specific vocabulary consistently so that pupils can hear, say, read and write French accurately.
Language Angels supports progression through carefully planned units that revisit key vocabulary and grammatical structures in different contexts. Teachers adapt learning to meet the needs of all pupils through modelling, scaffolding, paired practice and challenge. Our children are encouraged to take part actively and to enjoy the process of learning a new language.
Our curriculum also develops pupils’ cultural awareness by introducing them to aspects of life in France and other French-speaking countries. This helps children to understand that language learning is about communication, identity and connection, as well as vocabulary and grammar.
As children progress through the MFL curriculum, they become increasingly confident in understanding and using French in familiar contexts. They can listen, speak, read and write with growing accuracy, use subject-specific vocabulary, and demonstrate secure recall of key structures. Children develop curiosity about other languages and cultures, and a positive attitude towards language learning.