Primary Foreign Languages

Learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures. A high-quality languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. At Halterworth we open the door to 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.

Using the highly-respected Rachel Hawkes scheme of work as guidance, children build progressively on the skills of speaking and listening, reading and writing through exposure to quality texts and authentic songs and rhymes. Children in KS1 are offered the opportunity to join a Spanish Club run by a visiting teacher and every year a whole school celebration of languages takes place, either in the form of a Languages Day or as a range of smaller activities. Through language learning children develop a tolerance and understanding of life in other countries but more importantly, are exposed to the many similarities that also exist between us. Children are provided with opportunities to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original language.

Our aim is to develop a desire within our children to learn further languages, equipping them to study and work in other countries. Links with local universities, secondary schools and the resources within our own school community help us to achieve this.