Languages - French

At Sussex Road, we want all our children to develop a life-long love of foreign languages, starting with French as the language of our nearest neighbour and one that is spoken on every continent.  We want children to be able to communicate with confidence and curiosity.  We encourage them to question the structure of the language, deepening their understanding of how languages function.  Children are challenged to apply their learning in practical contexts, building resilience and enthusiasm in acquiring a new language.  We aim to foster children’s curiosity about different cultures and to deepen their understanding of the world, through learning about the countries where French is spoken, broadening their global awareness and appreciation of diversity.

From Year 3, our children are taught the skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing using a structured yet engaging approach that ensures progression in the acquisition of skills whilst promoting a love for learning.  Our curriculum is implemented through a combination of interactive teaching methods and high-quality resources, including EuroStars and Rigolo, providing a rich and immersive language experience.

Within each session are a variety of activities, such as songs, stories, role-play and games to develop children’s confidence.  Rigolo supports visual and auditory learning through animated stories and interactive exercises, while EuroStars enhances engagement with songs, dialogues, and cultural insights. These resources ensure that pupils are exposed to authentic pronunciation and meaningful language use.

Assessment is ongoing, ensuring that children build confidence and make steady progress in their language learning journey. Through this approach, we equip pupils with the foundational skills needed for further language study in Key Stage 3 and beyond.

By engaging with a structured and interactive curriculum, the children develop strong foundations in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, preparing them for further study in Key Stage 3 and beyond.

Through the use of high-quality resources such as EuroStars and Rigolo, our children experience French in an enjoyable and meaningful way, allowing them to retain key vocabulary and structures effectively.  Regular opportunities to practise pronunciation and conversation skills ensure that they become confident communicators, who have the courage and desire to experiment with language.

Beyond linguistic skills, learning French fosters curiosity about other cultures and broadens children’s understanding of the wider world.  They develop resilience, problem-solving abilities and an appreciation for the value of language learning in a global society.  As a result, they leave us with a positive attitude towards language learning, a sense of achievement and a readiness to continue their language journey with enthusiasm and confidence.

If you visited a French lesson at Sussex Road Primary School you would see: 

• Children listening to modelled French phrases by adults, each other and resources such as Rigolo and EuroStars.
• Children using French vocabulary confidently in a range of contexts.
• Children engaged in fun oral work including stories, songs, games and role play.
• The use of lots of visuals to support children’s language acquisition.
• The use of writing and speaking scaffolds to develop children’s grammatical understanding.
• Opportunities for partner and small group work to practise and consolidate the language.
• Opportunities to practise, use and write down the new learning.