Primary Languages Network Teacher Service
In French, Spanish, and German
PLN Teachers have been delivering foreign language provision to primary schools in the Northwest of England since 2011.
Our approach
At the heart of our approach is the strong belief that schools should retain ownership of all parts of their curriculum, including languages. We want to work WITH you to make languages more visible so you can proudly say ‘We are a French/Spanish/German-speaking school!’
Who are the PLN Teachers?
PLN Teachers are trained MFL Specialists with backgrounds in Primary and/or Secondary Education. They deliver the Primary Languages Network methodology using PLN’s award-winning digital platform and the Click2Teach SOW in KS2, and the Language Explorer in EYFS and KS1.
What to expect from working with a PLN Teacher?
PLN Teachers plan and deliver lessons to whole classes from Reception to Y6.
They work alongside the class teacher or teaching assistant who plays an active role in the lesson through team teaching and supporting children as needed, including with classroom management.
The class teacher or teaching assistant’s role is to model being the learner, including having a go, learning from mistakes, and showing curiosity and empathy towards learning about a new culture and language.
Who is it for?
• Schools that are starting or restarting their language learning approach.
• More experienced schools that have employed a specialist teacher in the past.
• Schools that want to upskill themselves with the support of a trained teacher.
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PLN Teacher checklist
At the start of the year:
• Request a meeting with MFL Coordinator to discuss SOW, planning, assessment, and additional learning opportunities e.g whole school celebrations and KS1 teaching.
• Meet with MFL Coordinator
• Obtain class information for all timetabled class using the PLN Class information sheet.
• Revisit, refresh, and informally assess prior learning using PLN tools to identify stage of the language learner.
Planning
Weekly:
Review the C2T lessons (weekly) and identify learning points and opportunity to extend, celebrate and further investigate.
Half termly:
Provide the CT with planning document (MTP)
Occasionally:
Actively identify and be willing to prepare creative lessons to celebrate specific events throughout the school year using the Seasonal Specials and Cross Curricular lesson on the PLN digital platform.
Teaching
• Deliver the C2T lesson (with the identified learning points and opportunities to extend, celebrate and further investigate including making purposeful links to the primary curriculum – as planned for at the beginning of a unit/term)
• Use audio files to support you and the children to hear native like pronunciation.
• Teach all 4 skills where appropriate + language detective skills over the course of the unit.
• Have a good understanding of progression in content, phonics and grammar in line with the PLN principles of quality primary teaching and learning in MFL.
• Communicate with the CT reasons to review or celebrate class learning using the PLN lesson feedback chart.
• Marking of key pieces of work by the PLN teacher (using PLN Marking scheme) as well as evidence of self/peer marking.
• Identify opportunities where the Planet Language App can provide consolidation of learning, individual child learning opportunities, and home learning.
• Manage the class in line with the individual behaviour policy.
Assessing
• Clear understanding of the skills (CORE SKILLS DOC) for each stage.
• Plan for opportunities to track and assess in line with the school expectations.
Engaging with PLN Team
• To contribute to the PLN WhatsApp group (“PLN staffroom”), discuss, share ideas and examples of work, offer solutions, challenges and successes.
• Attend half termly staff meetings (proportionate to number of hours taught – see contract)
• Make use of the native speaker teacher knowledge within the team to keep up to date with TL culture
At the end of the year:
• Prepare for the end of the year using the PLN tools.
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“Here at Barrow Hall, we really enjoy working with PLN and the process is very much a collaborative one.
Lisa Ormes, our PLN teacher, took on board the school pedagogy with great enthusiasm in September and we have found this to improve the retention of knowledge in Spanish.
By having our class teachers work as a team with Lisa, they have been upskilled and the children’s engagement has continued to flourish. During the observe part of our lesson, Lisa and our class teachers model speaking and listening skills which will be taught in that lesson, and we have found this to be an excellent collaboration.
As well as upskilling teachers, the presence of teachers in lessons ensures that there are overlearning opportunities for key vocabulary in other aspects of the day and week.
We are very passionate about Spanish speaking out of lessons too therefore Spanish is embedded in day-to-day practice, such as answering the register, ordering toast and asking for the toilet or to fill their water bottle up.
We very much look forward to continuing our work with Lisa and PLN as our children love learning Spanish!”
Faye Worrall, MFL Subject Lead, Barrow Hall Primary School.
How to join?
If you’d like more information about the PLN Teacher Service, please contact Emilie Woodroffe for a free consultation. Schools receive a SLA and commit to working with a PLN Teacher for a minimum of 12 months. Schools must be Premium members of PLN to access the Teacher Service.
How much does it cost?
£36.00 per hour with a minimum booking time of 3 hours for a morning session or 2.5 hours for an afternoon session.
Schools are charged for the days and hours worked and pay by monthly invoice.
We are fully compliant with IR35 regulations. Every school receives an annual Service Level Agreement.
All our PLN Teachers receive regular training so that they teach to the requirements of the DfE KS2 Languages PoS to ensure progression.
They all have current and valid DBS, have up-to-date Hays Education Safeguarding certification, and we have Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance in place.
