Celebrating languages

Following a recent survey, we discovered that 66% of our families speak or understand a language other than English. Among the languages shared were Russian, German, Greek, Polish, Spanish, French and Punjabi—highlighting the rich cultural diversity within our school community.

To bring these languages to life, we invited several parents and carers into school to read stories to our pupils in their native languages. Each story was also read in English, helping children make connections between words and phrases and broaden their vocabulary. The stories came from the classic Aesop’s Fables collection, including favourites like The Three Little Pigs and The Tortoise and the Hare.

After the storytelling sessions, pupils across all year groups took part in a range of fun, language-themed activities. These helped reinforce what they had learned and gave everyone a chance to celebrate the beauty and value of all languages.

It was a fantastic day that brought our community together and reminded us of the power of language to inspire.