Modern Foreign Languages (Spanish) at Grenoside Community Primary School

Statement of Intent for Languages:

The intention of the Languages curriculum at Grenoside Primary School is that children are taught to develop an interest in learning other languages in a way that is enjoyable and stimulating. The core language taught is Spanish. We encourage children’s confidence and we strive to stimulate and maintain children’s curiosity about languages. We actively plan links to develop pupils’ awareness of cultural differences in other countries, including Hispanophone countries other than Spain. We strive to embed the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing necessary to enable children to use and apply their Spanish learning in a variety of contexts and lay the foundations for future language learning.

Statement of Implementation for Languages:

Our Languages curriculum is designed to progressively develop children’s skills in languages, through regular taught lessons. Children acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary organised around topics. We follow the ‘Language Angels’ Scheme of work to ensure coverage and progression across school. Whilst Spanish is taught discretely, where possible and relevant, Spanish topics are linked to the wider curriculum topic for that half term e.g. Ancient Britain and Romans in Y3/4 and World War II and The Tudors in Y5/6. All our children in KS2 will have regular language lessons.In some year groups, Spanish is taught as part of a carousel of subjects to allow children access to the best quality Spanish teaching available in school. Children are encouraged and supported to develop their speaking and listening skills through conversational work, singing activities and games. As confidence and skill grows, children record their work through pictures, captions and sentences and finally longer written passages. EYFS and KS1 children will be introduced to MFL through exploring other languages informally when appropriate, e.g. as part of Languages Day, when answering the register. Each Y2 pupil has a Spanish book in which they can begin to record their Spanish lessons. This book follows them through school as they progress in the complexity of their language learning. As a school we value the home languages of our pupils and give opportunities for their peers to find out more about their cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Statement of Impact for Languages:

Spanish is monitored by the subject leader throughout all year groups using a variety of strategies such as book scrutinies, lesson observations, staff discussions and pupil interviews.  Feedback is given to teachers and the leader uses the information to develop future provision.  Assessments are completed at the end of every topic (linked to the Language Angels scheme) and can be tracked for progression to support the key areas to focus on in the next topic. Our aim is for every pupil to leave Grenoside with a solid foundation knowledge of language learning which will support them to further their skills in secondary education and feel confident to achieve in this area, whether they continue with Spanish or begin learning another language.  Many of our pupils go on to attend Yewlands Academy where the main language learnt is Spanish and as such we are supporting their readiness for the next stage of education. We also hope to inspire some pupils to have a lifelong love of language learning, taking this even further into their future lives and careers.