French
At Kells Lane, we believe that learning a new language is one of the most exciting and empowering things a child can do. French is taught from Year 3 through to Year 6, giving children four years of rich, carefully sequenced language learning that builds their knowledge, confidence and curiosity year on year. Our French curriculum is rooted in the national curriculum's four key strands — speaking, listening, reading and writing — ensuring that children develop as well-rounded linguists who can communicate in French with growing independence and accuracy. Language learning sits at the heart of our Communication curriculum driver, giving children a new way to express themselves, connect with others and engage with the wider world.
Our French curriculum is informed by the work of Rachel Hawkes — one of the leading voices in primary language teaching — ensuring our approach is evidence-informed, linguistically rigorous and genuinely engaging for every child. It is carefully sequenced so that vocabulary, grammar and language structures build progressively across Key Stage 2
Children revisit and consolidate prior learning before moving on to new content, ensuring that knowledge is secure and retained over time. In the early stages, children develop confidence through games, songs, repetition and spoken practice — building an ear for French sounds and rhythms. As they progress, they develop the ability to read and write in French with increasing accuracy, applying their understanding of grammar and sentence structure to communicate their own ideas. By the end of Year 6, children leave Kells Lane with a solid foundation in French that prepares them well for the demands of secondary school language learning.
French at Kells Lane is about much more than grammar and vocabulary. Through our curriculum, children explore the cultures, traditions and ways of life of French-speaking countries across the world — from France and Belgium to Senegal and Martinique. This connects directly to our Culture curriculum driver, broadening children's horizons and developing the respect, empathy and open-mindedness that are central to life at Kells Lane. We want every child to see language learning not as a lesson, but as a window onto a richer, wider world — and to Find Their Remarkable in the discovery that they can communicate beyond their own language and culture.
We are committed to ensuring that every child can access and enjoy French, regardless of their starting point. Children who find language learning challenging receive targeted support and carefully scaffolded activities, while those who excel are stretched through more complex language tasks and extended writing opportunities. You can find our French curriculum overview and subject on a page using the links below.