Pupils learn core vocabulary as well as the culture and traditions of Spain. To ensure that pupils develop a secure knowledge that they can build on across primary school and beyond, our Spanish curriculum is organised into a progression model that outlines the knowledge, skills and vocabulary to be taught in a sequentially coherent way from Year 3 to Year 6 with school designed pre-learning taught in EYFS and KS1.

The four key language learning skills that are taught are: listening, speaking, reading and writing. 

Learning a second language offers all pupils the opportunity to explore relationships between language and identity, develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, others and cultural differences. 

EYFS & KS1 

• Pupils develop their speaking and listening skills through practical activities, conversational work, singing activities and games to help improve memory and recall.

KS2

• Pupils progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, language skills and grammatical knowledge organised around age-appropriate topics and themes, building blocks of language into more complex, fluent and authentic dialogue.
• Words are learnt in a multi-layered way through image, sound, action and repetition. This approach strengthens memory, making the knowledge secure enough for easy retrieval and more importantly, for application of new words in context.
• Regular practise in applying the knowledge to the pronunciation of new words with the same sound-written relationship is regularly undertaken.
• Pupils develop their vocabulary and expression and learn grammatical rules e.g. placement of adjectives and recognising words that are spelt differently depending on the gender of the noun.

In classrooms, displays are used to remind children of key vocabulary and visual prompts are used to support children in translating new vocabulary. This is supplemented through the use of spoken Spanish in the classroom beyond the timetabled lesson, which includes the use of Spanish to give basic instructions and refer to familiar objects in the classroom. 

Varied learning experiences, including ‘Hispanic Day’ ensure that languages are celebrated throughout the school community. Cross-curricular learning experiences such as the Erasmus project has ensured secure links with Spanish speaking schools in mainland Spain and the Canary Islands, including hosting and undertaking visits and collaborative project work. 

Innovative approaches to MFL have also enabled the achievement of the British Council’s ‘International School Award’ and the Hackney ‘Premio Espana Primaria’ Award at Gold Level.  

Click here for further Erasmus+ news.

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