Introduction

Most schools will be aware that the The National Languages Strategy (2002) has made a commitment to a KS2 entitlement to the study of a Modern Foreign Language (MFL).

'By the end of this decade--every child should have the opportunity throughout Key Stage 2 to study a foreign language and develop their interest in the culture of other nations. They should have access to high quality teaching and learning opportunities, making use of native speakers and e-learning '.

This is an exciting but also very challenging proposal for primary schools with an already full curriculum and limited language expertise among their staff.

This MI sheet is intended as an introduction to our proposed action plan for the next four years, a summary of current provision in Norfolk and an introduction to the forthcoming KS2 PMFL Framework. More detailed information can be found through the given web links and in the attached appendices.

Norfolk's Action Plan for PMFL: 2005-2009 (See Appendix 1)

The DfES has provided initial funding in 2005/6 to assist LAs with the challenge of helping schools teach a MFL throughout KS2 by 2009. An action plan has been written with the long-term aim of introducing a MFL into all Norfolk KS2 classes by September 2009.
The Norfolk Action Plan for PMFL is based upon two over-riding objectives:

1. There should be effective dialogue between primary and secondary schools so that Early Language Learning (ELL) can be effectively recognised and built upon at KS3.
2. Schools should be encouraged to develop individual yet sustainable approaches to PMFL

The four-year action plan will encompass about a quarter of Norfolk's schools each year, providing advice and training to clusters and their high schools. See Appendix 1 for a list of schools involved in 2005/6 and an outline of the PMFL Action Plan.

The Norfolk PMFL Pathfinder Project, 2003-2005

Norfolk LA was selected to be funded by the DfES, along with 19 other LAs, as part of a five-term PMFL Pathfinder Project from September 2003 to April 2005.
The pathfinder authorities were asked to investigate different ways to implement a foreign language in KS2 and a variety of methods and 'routes' were trialed. Ofsted published an evaluation of ten Pathfinder LAs in July 2005.

The Norfolk Pathfinder Project focussed in particular on the issues facing small schools, factors helping successful transition between KS2 and KS3 and how quality ICT resources can help to successfully introduce a MFL into the KS2 curriculum.

The Norfolk Pathfinder has produced a DVD 'Opening doors with Modern Foreign Languages ' featuring staff and pupil interviews and examples of good classroom practice from the Pathfinder primary schools. The DVD addresses the issues facing most schools such as lack of confidence, expertise and time-table space and is available on request to every school from joan.dickie@norfolk.gov.uk

Other existing provision in Norfolk

An audit of provision and staffing expertise across the county was carried out in 2003 and will be updated in 2005/2006 in order to identify the existing practice and future training needs of all schools. From the existing audit we know that:

• several Norfolk primary/middle schools, in addition to the Pathfinder schools, have already made considerable progress towards foreign language teaching in KS2, most frequently where there has been an able linguist or linguists on the staff and/or where an enthusiasm for language learning has been encouraged by the senior management team
• languages currently taught include French, Spanish and German in KS2 with several schools also providing some Latin, Italian and a little Portuguese
• Norfolk's three language colleges (Cromer, Dereham Neatherd and Notre Dame) continue to extend their outreach work to local primary schools
• Norfolk Regional Support Group's (RSG) twilight meetings for PMFL training have welcomed over 100 teachers in the last two years. These sessions are free and open to all staff. They are funded by the National Advisory Centre for Early Language Learning (NACELL). The 2005/06 programme is available on the Nacell website which also contains many links to PMFL resources, initiatives etc.

The New Framework for KS2 Languages

The Framework for KS2 MFL, to be launched in late October 2005, is being developed by the DfES to support both the National Languages Strategy and the Primary Strategy. Although at first glance the framework may appear to be a daunting document, it has been very carefully constructed and will eventually be supported by a wealth of material such as video links to actual classroom practice. In particular:

• schools will be encouraged to introduce primary MFL (PMFL) not as a bolt-on extra, but as an integrated part of a rich and coherent curriculum, with particular links to literacy
• the Framework will be a source of guidance and advice for teachers and curriculum leaders, many of whom may currently have little or no experience of primary language teaching
• county-based CPD training will take place over the next four years to guide schools through the Framework document.

Appendices: additional information can be found in the attached appendices:

Appendix 1: A summary of the Norfolk PMFL Action Plan 2005/9 including lists of schools involved in 2005/6
Appendix 2: Questions you may want to ask when planning for the future of PMFL in your school covering the following areas: choice of language(s), mixed age classes, resources, timetabling, staffing, cross-curricular activities, planning, monitoring, policies and assessment.

LA Contacts: joan.dickie@norfolk.gov.uk (KS1/2) adam.cooke@norfolk.gov.uk (KS2/3)