CHILDREN in York primary schools are ahead of the game when it comes to learning foreign languages.

The Government wants modern language lessons to become compulsory for the first time in primary schools.

A review led by Lord Dearing recommended all children should learn a language from the age of seven. The current target is to provide an entitlement to do so by 2010.

City of York Council has already given schools money to allow them to pay for supply teachers so full-time staff can be sent for training to increase their language skills - and many schools have taken advantage of this.

At New Earswick Primary School, teaching assistant Kate Pollard started lunchtime sessions in French three years ago with children as young as seven.

Now 30 pupils in Year 3 at the school learn the language and, next year, Years 3 and 4 will be taught French.

Carole Farrar, New Earswick head teacher, said the method was to incorporate the language as part of other classes, such as literacy, when children are learning the rudiments of English language.

Miss Farrar said: "French can be used to support the children's learning of basic English.

"For example, when we had Pancake Day recently, the children were learning about the French equivalent, crepes.

"Recently, they did a lesson on English grammar and were learning about vowels and consonants and the French equivalents. It goes beyond just learning the basics of colours and numbers. It makes it about the language and language learning."

But the Government is not expected to urge a reversal of the decision to make languages optional beyond 14, despite a sharp fall in pupils studying the subjects at GCSE.

In 2004, pupils were allowed to drop languages at GCSE stage.

Since then, the numbers taking a GCSE qualification have fallen from about three quarters of the age group to half, with the biggest decline seen in State comprehensives.

It is estimated 60 per cent of primary schools already teach languages to some extent.

Lord Dearing's report has called for £50 million in Government funding to make his recommendations work.

Education secretary Alan Johnson said: "This excellent report provides an innovative and commonsense plan for encouraging a renaissance in languages in schools and beyond. The earlier you start learning a language, the better."