Welcome to French at Bussage! (Bienvenue au français à Bussage.) 

At Bussage, French is more than learning new words—it is about communicating ideas, exploring different cultures, and understanding the wider world. Our approach to teaching French is designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and help children make meaningful connections beyond their immediate environment.

Our vision: At Bussage C of E Primary School, we aim to teach children to enjoy French so much that they grow into confident and reflective language learners. We provide them with a strong foundation that will equip them for further language study and inspire a lifelong interest in languages.

"Learning a language is a gateway to understanding the world."

What is a Linguist?

At Bussage, we believe a linguist is someone who explores and understands different languages and cultures. Learning French means listening carefully, recognising patterns, and developing the confidence to communicate with others.

Linguists are inquisitive and reflective—they enjoy discovering new sounds, words, and ways of communicating. They listen attentively, ask questions, and take risks when speaking a new language. They recognise patterns in language and begin to understand how grammar and structure work.

They develop strong communication skills, learning to express their ideas clearly and respond to others. As they grow in confidence, they are able to switch between languages and use their knowledge to solve problems and make connections.

Being a linguist also supports the development of important personal qualities such as resilience, curiosity, and respect for other cultures. It encourages children to understand and appreciate the diversity of the world around them.

At the heart of language learning is a desire to communicate, connect, and broaden horizons.

Future Careers in Languages

Studying languages opens the door to many exciting opportunities. The skills developed—such as communication, listening, memory, and cultural understanding—are highly valued in a wide range of careers.

Young linguists may go on to careers in teaching, translation or interpreting, tourism, international business, or diplomacy. Others may work as tour guides, liaison officers, copywriters, or customs officers.

Learning a language helps children develop confidence and adaptability, preparing them for life and work in a global society.

Our core values in French

The teaching of French at Bussage is underpinned by our four cornerstones:

• Hope: Inspiring children to explore new languages and believe in their ability to communicate
• Wisdom: Developing knowledge and understanding of language, grammar, and cultural context
• Community: Encouraging communication and connection with others, both locally and globally
• Dignity: Promoting respect for different languages, cultures, and ways of life

By focusing on these values, we encourage children to become confident communicators who are open to new experiences and perspectives.

Join us on a journey of language learning, where every lesson opens a window to the wider world.

Our French Curriculum

At Bussage, our French curriculum begins in Year 3 and follows the National Curriculum. It is designed to develop children’s understanding of language through engaging and structured learning experiences that build progressively over time.

The National Curriculum highlights that learning a foreign language helps to open children’s minds to other cultures and deepen their understanding of the world. It enables them to express their ideas and communicate in both speech and writing, while developing new ways of thinking.

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure progression in both knowledge and skills. We aim to foster curiosity and provide opportunities for children to interact and communicate with others, including exposure to authentic French through listening to native speakers.

Children learn through:

• Listening and responding: Developing understanding of spoken language
• Speaking and communication: Taking part in conversations and expressing ideas
• Reading and understanding: Interpreting words, phrases, and simple texts
• Writing and creating: Forming sentences and expressing ideas in writing
• Exploring culture: Developing awareness of French-speaking cultures 

In Reception and Key Stage 1, children will:

• Begin to develop listening and speaking skills through songs, rhymes, and stories
• Experience early language awareness and sound patterns
• Build confidence in communicating ideas and responding to other.         
• During EYFS and KS1, children will be exposed to a range of songs and stories of different places and cultures to begin their journey into understanding different places in the world.                    

These skills are the basis for future foreign language learning which will begin once children reach KS2. Language learning at this stage supports wider communication and listening skills, preparing children for more structured learning in Key Stage 2.

Throughout Key Stage 2, pupils will learn to:

• Listen attentively and respond to spoken language
• Speak in sentences using familiar vocabulary and phrases
• Engage in conversations, asking and answering questions
• Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation
• Read and understand words, phrases, and simple texts
• Write phrases and sentences to express ideas
• Broaden their vocabulary and understand new words
• Use basic grammar, including gender, verbs, and sentence structure

They will learn these skills and knowledge through study of the following areas:

Key Stage 2

• Speaking and listening through songs, conversations, and role play
• Reading and understanding simple texts and stories
• Writing phrases and sentences to communicate ideas
• Developing pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar knowledge
• Understanding cultural aspects of French-speaking countries

At Bussage, we use the Primary Languages Network scheme of work to support the teaching of French, ensuring lessons are engaging, well-structured, and progressive. This helps to inspire children and supports teachers in delivering high-quality language learning.

Through engaging and interactive lessons, we aim to inspire every child to develop a love of languages, build confidence in communication, and broaden their understanding of the world beyond Bussage.