Intent

At St Mary’s C of E Primary School, we believe that a high-quality language education fosters curiosity, cultural understanding, and a global outlook. Through the teaching of Spanish, we aim to equip pupils with the knowledge and skills to express themselves confidently in another language—both in spoken and written forms.

We recognise that learning a language provides more than just linguistic ability—it enables children to interpret, create, and exchange meaning within and across cultures. Our curriculum is designed to develop the four key language learning skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, alongside age-appropriate grammar. We aim to lay a strong foundation for further language study and future opportunities in an increasingly interconnected world.

Implementation

At St Mary’s, Spanish is taught through weekly 45-minute lessons using the Language Angels Scheme of Work, which provides a clear and progressive framework. The curriculum is carefully sequenced to build vocabulary, grammar, and language skills around engaging and age-appropriate topics and themes.

Children are actively involved in their learning through:

• Songs, rhymes, and stories

• Grammar games and focused teaching

• Sentence building and structured conversations

• Visuals and interactive video clips

• Creative tasks including dictionary work and role-play

Lessons are differentiated to offer appropriate challenge for all learners and to ensure high levels of engagement and retention. SEND and disadvantaged pupils are supported through the use of scaffolded activities, visual aids, and the presence of an advanced learner in the classroom where appropriate. Teachers adapt resources and lesson plans to meet individual needs, ensuring accessibility for all.

Impact

As pupils progress through the curriculum, they encounter increasingly complex topics—from basic noun and phrase construction in Early Learning units to more challenging Progressive topics that require longer, more personalised spoken and written responses. Children expand their vocabulary, apply grammatical rules, and use a wider range of linguistic structures, including adjectives, conjunctions, adverbs, opinions, and justifications.

Language knowledge is continually revisited and reinforced, ensuring long-term retention and confidence. Each unit includes a pupil-friendly self-assessment tool, enabling learners to reflect on their progress, set goals, and take ownership of their learning journey.

By the end of KS2, pupils will:

• Speak and write in full sentences using a broad vocabulary

• Listen with understanding and respond appropriately

• Show confidence in using grammatical structures

• Demonstrate awareness of cultural similarities and differences

Learning Spanish allows children to explore the relationship between language and identity, develop greater cultural empathy, and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. Our goal is to foster a love of languages and inspire pupils to continue language learning throughout secondary school and beyond.