Modern Foreign Languages

Link to Spanish long-term plan

At Arnot St Mary, learning a language opens a window onto other cultures and ways of life. We want children to enjoy communicating in another language, develop confidence in trying something new and become curious about the wider world.

Spanish is taught weekly in Years 3–6 by our specialist Spanish teacher, Mrs Grant, from School Improvement Liverpool. Specialist teaching supports accurate pronunciation, carefully sequenced learning and consistent progression throughout Key Stage 2.

We value the languages spoken within our school community. Learning Spanish builds on this diversity, helping children appreciate different languages, cultures and identities.

Our Spanish curriculum

Our curriculum develops children’s ability to understand and communicate in Spanish through listening, speaking, reading and writing. Learning builds progressively, with familiar language revisited and used in new contexts.

Three connected elements underpin our teaching:

• Phonics and pronunciation: recognising Spanish sounds and understanding how they relate to written letters and words.

• Vocabulary: learning useful words and phrases, practising their recall and combining them to communicate meaning.

• Grammar: understanding how words work together and using patterns to build increasingly varied sentences.

Children learn to ask and answer questions, share information and express simple ideas and opinions. As their knowledge develops, they become more confident in understanding familiar language and constructing their own responses.

Building confidence and independence

In lower Key Stage 2, children develop foundations in Spanish through listening, speaking, songs, games and short reading and writing activities. They practise pronunciation, learn useful vocabulary and begin to recognise how simple sentences are constructed.

In upper Key Stage 2, children build on these foundations through more sustained conversation, reading and writing. They combine familiar language in different ways, express opinions and develop greater accuracy and independence.

Regular revisiting helps children remember previous learning and use it confidently in new situations.

How we teach Spanish

Mrs Grant uses Spanish extensively during lessons, supported by gestures, images, demonstrations and clear explanations to make meaning accessible.

Lessons provide regular opportunities for children to hear accurate language, rehearse it and use it themselves. Activities include:

• Songs, rhymes and stories that develop listening and pronunciation.

• Games and retrieval activities that strengthen vocabulary recall.

• Paired and group conversations.

• Reading and responding to words, sentences and short texts.

• Exploring authentic Spanish-language materials.

• Writing activities that apply vocabulary and grammatical knowledge.

• Digital resources that support practice and engagement.

Children are encouraged to have a go, learn from mistakes and recognise their progress. Familiar Spanish is reinforced beyond specialist lessons where appropriate, helping children see language as a useful means of communication.

Language, culture and community

Learning Spanish gives children opportunities to explore the lives and experiences of people in Spain and the wider Spanish-speaking world.

Children discover similarities and differences in everyday life, stories and traditions, while learning to avoid assumptions about people and places. Connections with geography and other subjects help them place their language learning in a meaningful context.

Through this work, we encourage respect for different cultures and an appreciation of the many languages spoken within our own community.

Spanish for every child

Teaching is adapted so that all children, including those with SEND, can participate and experience success. Visual prompts, repetition, manageable steps and supported rehearsal help children understand and remember new language.

Mrs Grant checks learning through listening, questioning, conversation and reading and writing activities. Feedback and further practice help children strengthen their understanding and become more independent.

By the time children leave Arnot St Mary, we want them to have a secure foundation in Spanish, the confidence to communicate using what they know and a positive attitude towards learning languages at secondary school and beyond.