How to design a progressive primary MFL curriculum

Specialist language teacher Ellie Chettle-Cully explains how to structure your modern foreign languages (MFL) curriculum, with a focus on vocabulary, grammar and phonics. Make sure your pupils make progress and leave primary school as successful linguists, whatever MFL you teach.

Last reviewed on 5 February 2025
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 49901
Contents
  1. Watch our on-demand talk 
  2. Resources for this talk
  3. Ellie's recommended further reading and resources 
  4. Meet our speaker

Watch our on-demand talk 

This video offers 'bite-sized' CPD for teachers, with accompanying handouts/resources.

It represents the speaker's role and approach (and where relevant, their school/trust's approach) at the time it was recorded, but still serves as both a source of inspiration and practical tips for you to use in practice.

Please note: any commercial providers, products or resources mentioned in this talk, and relevant links here, are on the speaker's own recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

 

 

Resources for this talk

How to design a progressive primary MFL curriculum: key points PDF, 179.1 KB
Download
How to design a progressive primary MFL curriculum: note-taking template DOCX, 66.4 KB
Download

National Curriculum in England: languages programme of study, GOV.UK – DfE Changing Phase blog Physical French Phonics, Cave Languages (resources include a YouTube channel) Key Stage 2 progressive attainment targets, Cave Languages Light Bulb Languages – resources for language teachers British Council schools partner