MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES (SPANISH)

INTENT

At Smallthorne Primary Academy, the teaching of Modern Foreign Languages provides pupils with the opportunity to explore new cultures, broaden their understanding of the world and develop confidence in communication.

Through the learning of Spanish, pupils develop the ability to listen, speak, read and write in another language while gaining an appreciation of the cultures and traditions of Spanish-speaking countries.

Our MFL curriculum aims to inspire curiosity about languages and encourage pupils to become confident communicators who are willing to take risks and experiment with language.

Learning a language supports pupils to develop a range of wider skills, including memory, problem-solving, and understanding of grammar and sentence structure. It also strengthens literacy skills in English by helping pupils recognise patterns in language and develop a deeper understanding of how language works.

Our curriculum ensures pupils:

• develop the confidence to communicate in Spanish
• understand and respond to spoken and written language
• build a secure bank of vocabulary and simple sentence structures
• develop accurate pronunciation and intonation
• understand basic grammar structures
• develop an awareness of different cultures and traditions

Through Spanish, pupils develop curiosity, resilience and confidence while gaining an appreciation for languages and cultures beyond their own.

Character & Arts Alignment

Spanish contributes meaningfully to the Smallthorne Character & Arts curriculum, helping pupils explore culture, communication and identity.

MFL contributes to the Character & Arts strands by enabling pupils to:

Heritage
• explore traditions, festivals and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries

History
• understand how languages and cultures influence global communities

Performing & Expressive Arts
• use songs, drama and storytelling to practise pronunciation and communication

Sustainability
• develop awareness of global communities and cultural understanding

Enterprise
• build communication skills, confidence and adaptability for future learning and careers

Through language learning, pupils develop empathy, curiosity and respect for different cultures.

IMPLEMENTATION

Spanish is taught in Key Stage 2 from Year 3 to Year 6, following the Twinkl PlanIt Spanish scheme of work, which provides a structured and progressive programme aligned with the National Curriculum for Languages.

The scheme has been developed by experienced teachers and provides lesson plans, resources and audio materials to support accurate pronunciation and language development.

Curriculum Structure

The curriculum builds progressively across KS2 so that pupils move from learning simple vocabulary to forming sentences and communicating ideas.

Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3–4)

Pupils begin to develop basic language skills through:

• greetings and introductions
• numbers, colours and everyday vocabulary
• simple questions and responses
• listening and speaking activities
• songs, rhymes and repetition to develop pronunciation

At this stage the focus is primarily on listening and speaking skills, building confidence with the sounds and rhythms of the language.

Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5–6)

Pupils build on prior knowledge and begin to develop:

• reading and writing simple phrases
• understanding sentence structures
• using verbs and basic grammar patterns
• describing people, places and everyday activities
• presenting information orally

By Year 6, pupils are able to communicate using simple sentences and understand basic written and spoken Spanish.

Teaching Approach

Spanish lessons are designed to be engaging, interactive and practical.

Teaching strategies include:

• repetition and recall of key vocabulary
• songs, games and role-play activities
• speaking and listening tasks
• visual prompts and images to support understanding
• reading and writing simple words and phrases

Lessons regularly revisit vocabulary and sentence structures to strengthen retention and build confidence.

Inclusion and Adaptive Teaching

All pupils are supported to participate fully in language learning.

Teachers support pupils through:

• visual prompts and vocabulary displays
• repetition and modelling of pronunciation
• structured speaking activities
• paired and collaborative learning

These strategies ensure pupils with SEND or EAL can engage with language learning successfully.

Assessment and Monitoring

Assessment in Spanish focuses on pupils’ developing ability to:

• listen and respond to spoken Spanish
• speak with increasing confidence
• read simple words and phrases
• write short sentences

Progress is monitored through:

• observation during speaking activities
• vocabulary recall
• simple reading and writing tasks
• pupil voice and engagement

Subject leaders review planning and outcomes to ensure progression across KS2.

IMPACT

By the time pupils leave Smallthorne Primary Academy, they will:

• understand and respond to basic spoken Spanish
• speak confidently using simple words and sentences
• read and write short phrases with support
• demonstrate accurate pronunciation of key vocabulary
• show curiosity and enthusiasm for learning languages
• develop respect for different cultures and traditions

Pupils leave primary school with the confidence and foundation needed to continue studying languages at Key Stage 3.

Measuring Impact

The impact of the Spanish curriculum is evaluated through:

• pupil engagement and participation in language learning
• developing vocabulary and pronunciation
• pupils’ ability to communicate simple ideas in Spanish
• curriculum monitoring and work scrutiny
• pupil voice demonstrating curiosity about languages and cultures

Through Spanish, pupils develop the confidence, curiosity and cultural awareness needed to thrive in an increasingly connected world.

At Smallthorne Primary Academy, language learning enables pupils to Smile, Strive and Shine as confident global citizens.