Download leaflets

Enjoying the benefits  
Colour (PDF, 231KB) | Black and white (PDF, 282KB)

Supporting your child 
Colour (PDF, 341KB) | Black and white (PDF, 443KB) 

Information for parents

Read the Enjoying the benefits leaflet to read more about how learning a language at primary school can impact on a child’s education and outlook.

The Supporting your child leaflet suggests a range of ways in which you as a parent can support and encourage this language learning at home.

The CILT publication ‘Bringing it home’ offers further ideas, such as how to make use of rhymes and games, the Internet and visits at home and abroad. Visit the CILT Shop to purchase a copy.

There are many free web-based resources you can access with your child, such as via the BBC Learning Parents website. Look at our Online resources page for further suggestions. Just click on the language that your child is learning.

If you want to check the meaning of a word, a quick search will bring up many free online bilingual dictionaries. Search engines themselves (e.g. Google) usually offer a very simple word look-up facility also. Your children will be introduced to the specific skills of using bilingual dictionaries as they progress through KS2 and into KS3.

If you have bilingual children, including of pre-school age, National Literacy Trust resources may be of interest.

If you have older children, take a look at our Languages Work website, which offers a wealth of information on career and study choices, from options at the end of KS3 through to university and beyond. There is also a Learner Zone with fun activities and guidance on which language to choose.

To understand how languages fit into the primary curriculum, visit our Policy and reform page.

Information for schools

The Enjoying the benefits and Supporting your child leaflets have been created to help schools answer parents’ questions and to promote language learning to parents. Schools are invited to make use of these leaflets as best suits their needs. The content has been written so that the leaflets can be used together or separately.

Schools are welcome to print and photocopy the leaflets or to distribute the electronic files. Please note that both colour and black and white versions are available. Ways of reaching parents might include:

• Putting a link to this web page on the school website
• Putting a link to this web page in the school newsletter
• Emailing electronic copies to parents
• Sending a copy home with children
• Adding a copy to a mailing to parents
• Placing a copy on the parents’ notice board
• Making copies available at Parents Evenings and open days.

Whilst it is permitted for schools to host the leaflets on their website, we recommend that schools use the link instead so the most up-to-date version is available to parents.