MFL - Mandarin

MFL - Modern Foreign Languages

At EWPS, we are incredibly proud to offer Mandarin as our Modern Foreign Language (MFL). Thanks to our team's dedication and the exceptional quality of our programme, we have been officially awarded Confucius Classroom status.

Our Vision:

We aim to spark a lifelong love for language learning that prepares our pupils for both secondary school and the wider world. By opening doors to new opportunities, fostering a deep curiosity about different cultures, and encouraging global awareness, we are proudly shaping the global citizens of tomorrow.

Meeting National Curriculum Requirements:

Our Mandarin curriculum fulfils the National Curriculum requirement for languages at Key Stage 2, ensuring pupils develop competence in listening, speaking, reading and writing. While Mandarin becomes a statutory requirement from Year 3 onwards, we're proud to introduce our pupils to the language from Year 2, giving them a head start in their language learning journey.

How we teach MFL - Mandarin:

Our MFL curriculum is carefully structured to build skills step-by-step. To ensure the highest quality of education, our weekly lessons are delivered by a specialist Mandarin teacher who joins our school for a two-year residency. This wonderful opportunity is made possible through our ongoing partnership with the Confucius Institute at London South Bank University.

Year 2: Pupils enjoy weekly lessons focusing on essential everyday vocabulary, such as numbers, colours, and greetings.

Years 3 to 6: Children dive deeper into the core building blocks of the language—phonics, grammar, and vocabulary—through engaging themes and topics.

Interactive Learning: We bring the language to life using games, hands-on activities, role-play, and song. Character writing is introduced in Year 3 or 4, tailored carefully to the confidence and progress of each year group.

How we ensure access for all:

With over 40 different home languages spoken across EWPS, we intentionally chose Mandarin for the educational, cultural and practical reasons of the global importance of Mandarin, as it is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world; its economic relevance to international business and the rapid advancement of technology and some of the local business initiatives that represent our growing local community.

To ensure every child thrives, we tailor our approach to meet diverse learning needs:

Immersive & Multi-Sensory Support: We use songs, vivid imagery, and regular repetition to naturally boost language acquisition. Immersing children in rich cultural contexts also helps them retain what they learn.
Support for Hearing Difficulties: We break sounds down into smaller, manageable parts and ensure pupils are strategically seated so they can clearly see how the teacher’s mouth forms each sound.
Tailored Accessibility: For children facing other barriers to learning, we provide enhanced visual cues, extra opportunities for rehearsal, and supportive audio files.

How we develop cultural capital:

We believe language learning goes far beyond vocabulary. Our Mandarin lessons are deeply immersive, introducing pupils to Chinese geography, cities, wildlife, and the art of calligraphy.

Through our fantastic partnership with the Confucius Institute, our pupils enjoy incredible cultural roadshows and an annual showcase. These vibrant events bring Chinese culture to life right in our school through:

Traditional cultural dancing and musical recitals
Martial arts demonstrations
Interactive singing and live instrumental performances

How we know your child is succeeding:

We measure success by the confidence and enthusiasm our pupils show in class. Every term, we conduct a friendly oral assessment to evaluate how well children have absorbed and understood their latest vocabulary and language skills.

How you can support your child:

Learning a new language is all about practice! You can help your child build confidence by exploring Mandarin together at home. Check out this excellent starting resource:

Little Chinese Learners: Chinese for Kids - Greetings 你好 (Mandarin Lesson A1)

Mrs. Kelly's class | Early learning | Chinese little fox level 1 stories

website:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePzxGxOj7us&list=PLZ27m2K2W5n52BZVKeQcDJVINEYERsgIn

Galaxy Kids Chinese - Kids Stories & Music

website: https://www.youtube.com/@galaxykidschinese/videos

Learning Songs 1 | Chinese song | By Little Fox

website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96ZzzwPdNhM&list=PLZ27m2K2W5n57ry67cUnC0Gv65hzHEGf3