Modern Foreign Languages

Subject Statement

“At Oak Gardens Primary School, we believe that language learning opens doors to new cultures, experiences and opportunities. Our Spanish curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity, build confidence and celebrate the rich linguistic diversity of our school community. We want every child to see themselves as a successful language learner, developing the skills to communicate, explore new perspectives and engage with the wider world. Through learning Spanish, pupils not only acquire valuable language skills but also gain an appreciation of the cultures, traditions and communities that make our world such a diverse and exciting place.”

Intent

At Oak Gardens Primary School, we aspire for every child to leave Key Stage 2 as a confident, curious and capable language learner with a genuine appreciation of different languages, cultures and communities.

As part of the Phoenix Federation, we recognise and celebrate the rich linguistic diversity of our school community. Many of our children speak English as an additional language and bring a wealth of cultural and linguistic experiences to school. We value and celebrate these experiences and seek to foster a culture where all languages and cultures are respected.

Spanish has been carefully selected as our modern foreign language because it reflects the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of our community. Many of our pupils and families have connections to Spanish-speaking countries, including the Dominican Republic, Colombia and other parts of the Spanish-speaking world. Through learning Spanish, pupils are encouraged to celebrate and value both their own cultural heritage and that of others, fostering respect, understanding and curiosity about the wider world.

Our ambitious curriculum develops secure foundations in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Through carefully sequenced learning, pupils develop their understanding of phonics, pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar, enabling them to communicate with increasing confidence and accuracy.

We want pupils to become enthusiastic and resilient language learners who are willing to take risks, embrace challenges and understand that making mistakes is an important part of the learning process. Through language learning, pupils gain valuable cultural capital and develop the confidence and communication skills needed to thrive in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.

Implementation

Spanish is taught weekly throughout Key Stage 2 using the Language Angels Scheme of Learning. The curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure knowledge and skills build progressively from Year 3 to Year 6, enabling pupils to become increasingly confident, fluent and independent language learners.

Our curriculum is built around three key strands:

Phonics and Pronunciation

Pupils learn to recognise, reproduce and apply key Spanish sounds and phonetic patterns. This enables them to read unfamiliar words with increasing accuracy and develop confidence when speaking.

Vocabulary Development

High-frequency and relevant vocabulary is introduced systematically and revisited regularly. Through retrieval practice, pupils learn to recall vocabulary from memory and apply it successfully in new contexts.

Grammar and Sentence Structure

Pupils develop an understanding of how Spanish works. They learn grammatical concepts such as gender, articles, adjective agreement, verb forms and sentence structure, enabling them to move from single-word responses to increasingly complex phrases and sentences.

Across each unit, pupils develop skills in:

• Listening and responding to spoken Spanish.
• Speaking with increasing confidence, fluency and accuracy.
• Reading and understanding words, phrases and short texts.
• Writing words, phrases and sentences for a range of purposes.
• Applying vocabulary and grammar in meaningful contexts.
• Developing pronunciation and intonation through exposure to native-speaker audio.

Lessons include songs, games, role-play, partner discussion, questioning, reading activities and independent writing opportunities. Teachers make meaningful cross-curricular links wherever possible.

Retrieval is central to our curriculum design. Previously taught vocabulary, phonics and grammar are regularly revisited to strengthen long-term memory and build secure foundations for future learning.

Assessment for learning is embedded throughout lessons. Teachers use questioning, observation, pupil discussion, written outcomes and end-of-unit assessments to identify misconceptions and inform future teaching.

Learning about Spain and the wider Spanish-speaking world is woven throughout the curriculum, helping pupils develop intercultural understanding and an appreciation of the rich diversity represented within our school community and beyond.

Impact

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils demonstrate growing confidence, enthusiasm and fluency as language learners. They have secure foundations in Spanish and are able to apply their knowledge with increasing independence.

Pupils are able to:

• Listen attentively to spoken Spanish and demonstrate understanding.
• Participate in conversations, asking and answering questions confidently.
• Express opinions and communicate ideas using familiar vocabulary and structures.
• Speak with increasingly accurate pronunciation and intonation.
• Read and understand familiar vocabulary, phrases and short texts.
• Recall and apply previously taught vocabulary and grammar in new contexts.
• Write words, phrases and increasingly complex sentences from memory.
• Recognise patterns in language and make links to prior learning.
• Demonstrate knowledge and appreciation of Spain and the wider Spanish-speaking world.

Most importantly, pupils leave Oak Gardens as confident, resilient and curious learners who understand the value of communication, cultural understanding and language learning. They are well prepared for the next stage of their education and equipped to continue their language-learning journey successfully.