Welcome to our Bucks Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 schemes of work for French.  The schemes have in mind the non-specialist teacher but could also be used as a basis for learning by more experienced colleagues. Each of the schemes has from 8 to 12 modules and comes with lesson plans and a set of resources.  All  can be downloaded.  We also refer to some published resources along with some well-known children's books in English which schools have to buy separately.  In the case of the books (e.g. The Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear and others) we have provided overlays in simplified French which you can download and stick over the English.   

Do continue to send us your suggestions to update the schemes.  Teachers outside of the county are most welcome to make use of the resources but, if these are posted on other sites, please refer to the Bucks team and this website! 

THE FIRST 3 MODULES OF THE Y3 REVISED SOW HAVE NOW BEEN UPLOADED- THE OLD MODULES ARE STILL AVAILABLE TO VIEW ('OLD MODULES- SUMMER 2010' FOLDER).  THE REMAINING MODULES WILL BE UPLOADED NEXT TERM

We have developed the cross curricular units for teachers who would like to incorporate some French into existing curriculum areas, such as Geography and DT.  These are based on units of the QCA Key Stage 2 documents.  Each unit has a plan with activity suggestions and a set of resources.  Select what you want to try out.  You don't need to follow everything.

The 'Other Powerpoints' have resources which can be used for cross- curricular work in teaching, for example, about the Second World War.

The plans from various schools show sample plans which you could adapt for your use.

These materials have been developed to provide a framework for primary and secondary colleagues to start working together on progress from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 in language learning.  The materials are for French but easily adapted for another language or for other subject matter but working on the same principles.

With thanks to:  Kerrianne Harvey (Bourton Meadow), Aimee Westnedge (Buckingham Primary), Sam Ferriera- Thornton (The Buckingham), Andrea Savage (The Royal Latin)

You will find below details of all courses and events that are being run in County.

If you wish to apply for any of the courses please complete the course booking form and return it to Laura Whelan, Business Support Officer on fax number 01296 383948, alternatively you can apply online at www.bucksgfl.org.uk/cpd.

If you wish to attend any of the meetings advertised please telephone Laura on 01296 382779 or email at lwhelan@buckscc.gov.uk.

Foreign Language Assistants (FLAs) that are employed in Bucks are native speakers of French, German or Spanish.

They are usually aged between 20 and 30 years of age and are either currently studying English in their home country or training to be teachers of English.  They are looking to gain valuable work experience as well as improving their English and learning more about UK culture.

The role of the language assistant is to:

• improve students' confidence and oral communication skills
• motivate students to learn languages
• update teachers' knowledge of the target language and culture
• support the language teacher, either by working alongside them in the classroom or on their own with small groups of pupils.

If you have any news or articles you would like to share with colleagues through this newsletter, please email them to Laura Whelan, Business Support Officer at lwhelan@buckscc.gov.uk

The Languages Strategy sets out the expectation that ' every child should have the opportunity throughout KS2 to study a foreign language and develop their interest in the culture of other nations'

There is an entitlement that by Sep 2009 all primary schools will provide foreign language teaching of about one hour per week.  This will become compulsary from Sep 2011.

Key recommendations from Sir Jim Rose Review (May 2009) for implementing the statutory inclusion of languages in primary schools include, to:

• Situate languages within understanding English, communications and languages programmes, so that pupils strengthsn their understanding of the English language as they learn (5.7)
• Emphasise learning and using languages to engage with different cultures and societies (5.8)
• Focus on 1-2 languages with planned progression to secondary (5.12)
• Strengthn the language skills of the primary workforce- the most important challenge (5.15)
• Have primary teachers responsible for main delivery, with support from secondary specialists and foreign language assistants and appropriate resources (5.16)
• Have Ofsted review implementation from 2014.  Year 3 to have languages from September 2011 (5.19)

Bucks Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) primary survey

This is a much appreciated thank you to all those language co-ordinators and Heads who took the time to complete our quick survey on MFL in Bucks primary schools sent out in May 2009. Some 71% replied, here are the headline figures:

96% of Bucks primary schools teach a foreign language to some extent in KS2

This compares well to the national average of 92% in England. Note the phrase ‘to some extent’ as provision is hugely varied. We are now asked to look at whole class teaching during lesson time, though previously, as language teaching was starting up, this distinction had been blurred and had often included after-school clubs.

73% teach a language across KS2 (ie in all year groups Y3-Y6).

Well done Bucks: this is a more telling figure as it shows continuity across the year groups. The national figure isn’t known –as far as we’re aware.

10% of schools teach a language from reception to Y6.

An intriguing figure. The entitlement to teach a MFL is across KS2 (this will eventually become compulsory, says the Jim Rose review, but not until Sep 2011 and then beginning with Y3). Playing devil’s advocate: where schools are teaching a language before KS2 is there a clear sense of progression?

27% of schools teach some KS1 MFL .

This is varied in content, time and even language. The key issue here is to ensure progression into KS2 so that the songs, games and other activities do lead to an enhanced understanding of language. Of course, much can be about language learning strategies and cultural awareness .

All schools who replied teach French as a foreign language, 7 schools teach German in some form (e.g. after school clubs or tasters), 8 schools teach Spanish and 1 teaches Italian .

Note: as is the case nationally, most schools in Bucks, opted for French as this was a) the most commonly known language amongst teachers and b) the more obvious in terms of transition to KS3. Our free county materials (see www.bucksgfl.org.uk ) are also in French and deliberately promote a county format thus easing transition. However, taster courses often in Year 6, particularly in German and Spanish make sense; particularly once pupils are attuned to the skills of language learning.

58% of MFL classes are taught by class teachers

Nationally, just over 50% of language lessons are delivered by the classroom teacher. With a well resourced and planned SoW, primary teachers who are non linguists regularly deliver MFL lessons in Years 3 and 4. There is a challenge, though, in terms of confidence and competence for the non linguist delivering in later year groups. An internal peripatetic model may be best here or support from Language Colleges, Foreign Language Assistants or elsewhere as the issue of language upskilling is being addressed.