Managing the development of primary languages
Answers to twelve key questions that head teachers may wish to ask as they plan to develop primary languages in their schools.
Download the Twelve Questions PDF (220kb)

Rationale for teaching languages in Key Stage 2
Learning a language enriches the curriculum. It provides excitement,
enjoyment and challenge for children and teachers, helping to create
enthusiastic learners and to develop positive attitudes to language
learning throughout life. The natural links between languages and
other areas of the curriculum can enhance the overall teaching and
learning experience. The skills, knowledge and understanding gained
make a major contribution to the development of children’s oracy and
literacy and to their understanding of their own culture/s and those of
others. Language also lies at the heart of ideas about individual
identity and community, and learning another language can do a
great deal to shape children’s ideas in this critical area as well as
giving them a new perspective on their own language.
The Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages (2005)
Part 2, Section 1, p4

What are the benefits for children when their regular class teacher is also their language teacher?
There are undoubtedly many benefits from an arrangement where
children’s regular class teacher is also their language teacher:
language teaching can be readily integrated into many other areas of
the curriculum; maximum use can be made of the flexibility of the
school day, and of learner groupings; and incidental and informal
opportunities for language reinforcement or extension (e.g. taking the
register, singing, classroom routines) can be exploited. Where
another language specialist teaches the language, that teacher needs
to work closely and co-operatively with the primary class teacher.
The Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages (2005)
Part 2, Section 1, p7

The class teacher can provide continuity of experience and can take
full advantage of the flexibility of the primary curriculum to underpin
and extend language learning. Above all the class teacher has a very
clear understanding of how primary children learn most successfully
and can ensure that their learning builds on their existing knowledge
and makes links with other subjects and opportunities.
The Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages (2005)
Part 2, Section 2, p20

The importance of developing sustainablilty
Devoting INSET and staff development sessions to languages helps
to raise awareness amongst staff and promote forward planning. All
schools will need to consider how to develop a strategy to sustain
language provision over time.
It will be advantageous in the long term to move away from a position
where language provision is dependent on a single teacher in the
school. It may be helpful for Head Teachers and governors to review
their recruitment strategy and consider including the ability to speak
another language as a criterion for future selection.
The Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages (2005)
Part 2, Section 2, p21