Spanish
Intent
At St. Margaret’s Anfield Primary School, we believe that learning a language is part of a broader curriculum, encompassing language and culture. We believe that the skills, knowledge and understanding gained through our Spanish curriculum play a major contribution to the development of children’s oracy and literacy and to their understanding and tolerance of their own culture and those of others. This includes the importance of respect and understanding, which is crucial in today’s world.
All Key Stage 2 pupils are taught the Spanish curriculum and as they progress through school, they build on their knowledge and prior learning through a carefully planned and sequenced curriculum becoming proficient in speaking, reading, listening and writing. We ensure we allow opportunities for children to express their ideas and thoughts in Spanish and to understand and respond, both in speech and in writing. Children are encouraged to speak in sentences using familiar phrases and basic language structures. As part of our MFL teaching, we incorporate songs, rhymes, poems and stories in Spanish to enhance understanding. By developing a rich curriculum, it provides the pupils the opportunity to develop a love of learning languages and recognise their benefit in our multi-cultural society.
At St. Margaret’s Anfield Primary School, we feel that the earlier a child is exposed to a foreign language, the faster the language is acquired. We believe that the early acquisition of Spanish will prepare children when continuing to learn Spanish or any other foreign languages in Key Stage 3 and later life.
Implementation
The teaching and implementation of the MFL curriculum at St. Margaret’s Anfield is based on the National Curriculum. We teach Spanish as our chosen foreign language as it is in the top four most spoken languages in the world and it is an identified language in all neighbouring secondary schools. It is taught throughout Key Stage 2 weekly by a specialised MFL teacher from SIL or our MFL subject leader and is designed to progressively develop skills in Spanish as children move through Key Stage 2.
A variety of language teaching methods are used to match groups and individuals with different learning styles. These include games, role-play and the use of a range of media and songs. Resources and materials are all conducive to positive learning. An appreciation of varying cultures is encouraged, leading to children recognising the part they play in becoming global citizens.
Impact
As a result of delivering an innovative language curriculum, all children will develop the key skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing allowing them to be confident in Spanish and ready for their transition to Key Stage 3. The children will build upon these skills year after year and apply them to the new topics they are taught. They will further demonstrate their language development through communicating with one another and reading and writing in Spanish. Children at St. Margaret’s Anfield will enrich their language learning by developing an understanding of how cultures differ both in our local community and beyond and be able to discuss these readily. The teaching of MFL is assessed and monitored through learning walks and the monitoring of children’s work as well as pupil voice questionnaires.
