French
We, at Walkern Primary School believe that many children really enjoy learning to speak another language and the earlier a child is exposed to a foreign language, the faster the language in question is acquired as children tend to be less self-conscious about speaking aloud at this stage of their development.
The early acquisition of a foreign language facilitates the learning of other foreign languages later in life and provides an opening into other cultures. The study of languages prepares pupils to participate in a rapidly changing world in which work and other activities are increasingly carried out in languages other than English.
We also believe our teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read literature in the original language. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages.