As primary languages professionals we can work to highlight the need for and benefits of language learning in the primary school that we have personally experienced.

National Curriculum Review - consultation

The Government has launched a comprehensive review of the National Curriculum in England for key stages 1 to 4 (ages 5 - 16 years). The review will look at all subjects currently within the National Curriculum (with the exception of religious education), with English, maths, sciences and PE will all remaining statutory from KS1 to KS4.

Phase 1 of the review is now underway. As well as providing new programmes of study for the subjects listed above, it will also evaluate the status of all other current curriculum subjects, including languages - whether they should remain in the curriculum, at which key stages and with what kind of programmes of study.

You can contribute your views towards Phase 1 of the review by completing the consultation questionnaires on the Call for Evidence website (ends 14 April 2011).

In making your case for primary languages, you may find this guidance on writing testimonials helpful.

Suggestions for teachers – writing personal testimonials

• Draw on your own personal experiences of the success of primary languages
  Highlight the enthusiasm and motivation of children towards KS2 languages. Focus on the progress that children have made since the start of the initiative; if you have children in Year 6 who have been learning a new language for a few years, briefly describe what they can now do in the new language.
• Highlight the very hard work that non-specialist primary teachers invest in developing their own skills to teach KS2 languages
  It is really important to emphasise the commitment and dedication of teachers, teaching assistants and head teachers.
• Focus on the wider benefits of teaching and learning languages
  The intercultural understanding element of your work can provide an important insight into the different ways of doing things in other cultures. Children also enjoy the challenge of analysing how another language works, which in turn can reinforce their understanding of English and other languages they may already speak.
• Highlight transition work that you have been involved in where prior learning at KS2 has been built upon in KS3
  You may also want to mention how some aspects of primary methodology have been successfully adapted and used in the KS3 classroom.
• Draw on your own experience of language learning
  Especially if you were fortunate enough to learn languages at primary school; how has this helped you to become a successful and proficient linguist?

Testimonials from ‘ambassadors’

Testimonials from those outside of the immediate language teaching community, in particular, pupils, parents, governors and head teachers, can be an especially powerful way to demonstrate the widespread positive impact of primary languages.

Head teachers
CILT is coordinating an online survey of head teachers’ views on the primary languages initiative. Click the link below to read a report of the findings:

• CILT Primary Languages Head Teacher Survey Report (CILT, 2011)
• Appendix 1: Head teachers' key messages to government
• Appendix 2: Head teacher's views on the benefits of primary languages
• Appendix 3: Support needed by head teachers to sustain language teaching in primary schools

The survey is still active and can be completed at the following link: www.surveymonkey.com/CILT_headteacher_survey 

School governors
Raise their awareness of your work and encourage them to make their views heard.

Business
Encourage any business contacts you may know to sign the CILT Languages Work Pledge on behalf of their organisation. If you believe that it is vital for every young person to learn a language, the Pledge is a way to show support. HSBC, Blackburn Rovers, British Airways and Jonny Wilkinson OBE are amongst those who have signed to date, and the comments they and others have left on the site are worth quoting.

Lord Coe, sports people and other high profile patrons
Capitalise on the high profile of events like the Olympics. According to Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee:

London is the most cosmopolitan city in the world, constantly renewing itself, and now home to 200 ethnic communities, who speak a total of 300 languages. We want to involve all of these people and communities in delivering our Games.

Visit valuing languages on the CILT website for more information. Indeed, there are a number of education initiatives being developed around the 2012 Olympics, including an international strand.