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Guidance on implementation of the KS2 Framework for languages

Which language to teach

Schools may choose to teach any modern foreign or community language. The choice of language will depend on factors such as:

• the availability, expertise, experience and interests of the staff;
• the ability to sustain and resource the teaching of a particular language across Years 3 to 6;
• the expectations and ambitions of the children and their parents;
• support from native speakers in the locality and contacts with countries where the language is spoken;
• the languages which are taught in neighbouring primary and secondary schools;
• the language policies of the local authority.

Teaching a language with a non-Roman script Some schools have introduced children to a language with a non Roman script - Urdu, Chinese, Japanese for example. The Framework has been designed for use with any language. It will, however, be necessary to interpret some of the literacy objectives sensitively when dealing with characters and non-Roman scripts. Additional guidance will be made available on this in the course of 2005/6.

Of particular importance will be the development of links between primary and secondary schools and discussion and agreement about common and compatible approaches within local learning communities. The Framework is designed to help this process.