Finding language teachers has become a real headache for primary schools across the UK. While children aged 7 to 11 must learn a foreign language by law, schools are struggling to find qualified teachers to make this happen.

The Problem is Getting Worse

The numbers tell a worrying story. Many primary schools simply cannot find suitable language teachers. This isn't just about finding anyone to fill the role - teaching languages to young children needs special skills that combine knowing the language well with understanding how children learn.

Most primary school teachers are brilliant at what they do, but many feel nervous about teaching languages. They often haven't had proper training in how to teach French, Spanish, or other languages to young pupils.

What This Means for Children

When schools can't provide good language lessons, children miss out in several ways:

• They don't get the brain benefits that come from learning languages early
• They miss the chance to develop better problem-solving skills
• They lose opportunities to learn about other cultures
• They may struggle more with languages later in secondary school

Research shows that children who start learning languages young find it much easier to pick up pronunciation and grammar. They also become more confident speakers overall.

The shortage also means some children get excellent language lessons whilst others get very little - depending on which school they attend. This creates unfair advantages for some pupils.

Covid Made Things Harder

The pandemic didn't help matters. School closures interrupted language learning, and budget cuts forced some schools to reduce their language programmes. Many schools also lost their international connections - nearly 7 out of 10 primary schools haven't had any international contact in the past year. This makes it harder to show children why learning languages matters.

How Schools Are Trying to Cope

Schools are trying different approaches to solve the problem:

• Training existing teachers to teach languages (but this takes time and money)
• Working with local secondary schools to share teachers
• Using online resources and apps
• Bringing in external specialists

However, these solutions often cost more than schools can afford or take too long to set up.

The Government Knows There's a Problem

Officials recognise the teacher shortage and are calling for better training and support. But schools need help right now - they can't wait for long-term fixes whilst their pupils miss out.

A Simple Solution That Works

Many schools are finding that working with specialist language companies solves their immediate problems. These partnerships bring several benefits:

• Access to properly qualified teachers
• Lessons designed specifically for primary school children
• Flexibility to fit around each school's needs
• No need to recruit or train new staff

Mandarin Chinese is becoming increasingly popular in schools. Parents and teachers recognise that Chinese language skills could be valuable for children's futures, given China's role in the global economy. However, finding qualified Mandarin teachers is even harder than finding teachers for European languages.

This is where MANDO SCHOOL steps in. They specialise in providing primary schools with reliable, qualified Mandarin teachers who understand how young children learn. Their teachers can slot straight into school timetables, delivering engaging lessons that meet the legal requirement for foreign language teaching.

For schools, this partnership solves two problems at once. Teachers get their Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time whilst pupils receive expert language instruction. It's a practical solution that works for everyone.

Looking to the Future

The language teacher shortage is a serious challenge, but it's also a chance to think differently about how we teach languages in primary schools. Through smart partnerships and recognising that languages are essential life skills, we can give all children better opportunities.

Today's primary school pupils will grow up in a world where speaking multiple languages is incredibly valuable. Making sure they get quality language education - no matter which school they attend - isn't just good for their education. It's good for Britain's future too.

The question isn't whether we can afford to fix the teacher shortage. It's whether we can afford to let it continue whilst a whole generation of children miss out on these important skills.