🇫🇷 French at Petteril Bank Primary School

🌟 Our Approach to French

At Petteril Bank Primary School, we believe that learning a foreign language provides an opening to other cultures, fosters curiosity, and deepens children’s understanding of the world. We use the Kapow Primary French curriculum to provide a structured, engaging approach to language learning from Year 3 to Year 6. Our aim is to develop confident, enthusiastic linguists who can communicate effectively in French and have a foundation for further language learning.

📚 Our French Curriculum

Kapow Primary French

Our comprehensive Kapow French curriculum:

• Progressively builds language skills across the four key areas: speaking, listening, reading, and writing
• Introduces authentic French language and culture through songs, stories, and games
• Focuses on practical communication skills relevant to children’s experiences
• Develops accurate pronunciation and intonation
• Explores French traditions, celebrations, and daily life
• Builds children’s confidence in using a new language

🗣️ Key Language Skills

Throughout their French learning journey at Petteril Bank, children develop:

• Speaking – Using accurate pronunciation and intonation
• Listening – Understanding spoken language from various sources
• Reading – Comprehending words, phrases, and simple texts
• Writing – Expressing ideas in written French
• Grammar – Understanding basic language structures
• Vocabulary – Building a bank of useful French words and phrases
• Cultural Understanding – Appreciating French-speaking countries and traditions

📝 What Children Learn in Each Year Group

Year 3: First Steps in French – Oral

• Greetings and introducing yourself
• Numbers 1-10
• Colors
• Classroom objects
• Days of the week
• Months and seasons
• Asking and answering simple questions
• French songs and rhymes

Year 4: Building Confidence

• Numbers 11-31
• Telling the time
• Weather expressions
• Food and drink
• Family members
• Pets and animals
• Expressing opinions (likes/dislikes)
• Simple descriptions using adjectives

Year 5: Developing Fluency

• Places in town
• Directions
• Hobbies and sports
• Clothes and shopping
• Ordering in a café
• Simple past and future tenses
• Creating longer sentences
• Reading short texts

Year 6: Becoming Independent Speakers

• School subjects and routines
• Holidays and travel
• Describing people in detail
• House and home
• Using connectives to create more complex sentences
• Writing short paragraphs
• Presenting information orally
• Preparing for transition to secondary language learning

🇫🇷 French Culture

Alongside language learning, children explore aspects of French culture:

• Geography – Learning about France and other French-speaking countries
• Celebrations – Understanding French festivals and traditions
• Food – Exploring French cuisine and eating habits
• Art – Discovering famous French artists and their works
• Music – Learning traditional and contemporary French songs
• Daily Life – Comparing school life and routines in France and the UK

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How Parents Can Support French at Home

1️⃣ Encourage Language Practice

• Ask your child to teach you the French they’ve learned
• Practice simple conversations together
• Label household items with their French names
• Use basic French greetings at home
• Celebrate your child’s willingness to “have a go” in a new language

2️⃣ Simple French Activities at Home

• Count in French during everyday activities
• Sing French songs together (we’ll send links home)
• Play games like “I Spy” using French colors or objects
• Create flashcards for vocabulary practice
• Use French expressions for everyday routines (e.g., “bon appétit” before meals)

3️⃣ Explore French Culture

• Try cooking simple French recipes together
• Watch age-appropriate French films or cartoons
• Look for French products in the supermarket
• Discuss any connections to France in your family history or travels
• Research French landmarks and famous people

4️⃣ Year-Specific Support

Each term, we’ll send home:

• Key vocabulary lists for the current topic
• Pronunciation guides
• Simple phrases to practice
• Information about the cultural aspects we’re studying
• Links to online resources that reinforce classroom learning

🌐 Helpful Online French Resources

Free Resources

• BBC Bitesize French
• Duolingo – Free language learning app
• French Games – Interactive games and activities
• Little Bird French – Songs and videos
• The French Experiment – Stories and lessons

French Videos and Songs

• Alain le Lait – French songs for children
• French Playground – Animated stories and lessons
• Peppa Pig in French – Familiar stories in French

📚 French Books We Recommend

• “Usborne First Thousand Words in French”
• “French for Kids: Learn French First Words” by Little Linguists
• “Learn French with Luc et Sophie” series (Barbara Scanes)
• “Asterix” comics (for more confident readers)
• “Le Petit Prince” (adapted versions for children)

📅 French Events

Throughout the year, we celebrate French language and culture:

• French Breakfast (sampling French pastries and drinks)
• French Café (role-play opportunities)

💬 Common French Phrases You Might Hear at Home

• Bonjour/Bonsoir – Hello/Good evening
• Au revoir – Goodbye
• S’il vous plaît – Please
• Merci – Thank you
• Comment ça va? – How are you?
• Je m’appelle… – My name is…
• J’aime/Je n’aime pas – I like/I don’t like
• Quelle heure est-il? – What time is it?
• C’est… – It’s…