MfL
Ashton Hayes Primary School – Spanish Curriculum Overview
Vision for MFL (Spanish):
At Ashton Hayes we believe that learning a foreign language opens doors to new cultures, ideas and ways of thinking. Through our Spanish curriculum, we aim to foster curiosity, respect and a love of language learning. Spanish is spoken by over 500 million people worldwide, and by learning it, pupils gain access to a rich and diverse global culture.
We are committed to providing a language curriculum that is inclusive, engaging and builds confidence in all learners. We recognise that language learning plays an important role in broadening pupils’ horizons, helping them to understand and appreciate the world beyond their immediate environment.
Our vision is for pupils to see themselves as global citizens, equipped with the skills and awareness needed to communicate across cultures. We aim to nurture resilience and independence in language learning, encouraging pupils to take risks, practise new skills and develop confidence in expressing themselves.
We want Spanish to be more than just a subject; we aim to inspire pupils to develop a lifelong interest in languages and an appreciation of their value in an increasingly connected world.
We aim for all pupils to:
We aim for all pupils to develop confidence in communicating in Spanish across the four key skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Through regular exposure and practice, pupils build a secure foundation in vocabulary and grammar, enabling them to express their ideas with increasing accuracy and independence as they progress through the school.
We aim for pupils to understand how language works, developing their knowledge of grammar, sentence structure and linguistic patterns. By making connections between Spanish and English, pupils deepen their overall understanding of language, which supports their literacy skills more broadly.
We aim for all pupils to become curious and open-minded learners who show respect for different cultures and traditions. Through learning Spanish, pupils gain insight into the lives, celebrations and perspectives of people in Spanish-speaking countries, helping them to develop intercultural awareness and empathy.
We aim to foster pupils’ problem-solving and critical thinking skills through language learning. As they encounter new vocabulary and structures, pupils are encouraged to identify patterns, make connections and apply their knowledge in new contexts, supporting their wider cognitive development.
Ultimately, we aim for all pupils to leave Ashton Hayes Primary School with a positive attitude towards language learning, feeling confident and motivated to continue their study of Spanish at secondary school and beyond.
Implementation
Our Spanish curriculum is designed to be engaging, progressive and accessible to all learners, ensuring that knowledge and skills build over time. Lessons are carefully sequenced so that pupils revisit and build upon prior learning, allowing vocabulary and grammatical structures to become embedded in their long-term memory.
In Reception and Key Stage 1, pupils are introduced to Spanish through the use of Rockalingua, an interactive programme that uses songs, games, stories and videos to make language learning fun and memorable. At this stage, the focus is on developing listening skills, pronunciation and confidence in speaking through repetition and enjoyment.
In Key Stage 2, pupils build on this foundation through a combination of Rockalingua resources and a bespoke curriculum developed within the school. This allows us to tailor learning to pupils’ interests and needs, while ensuring clear progression across the key language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Pupils are increasingly exposed to written language and are encouraged to construct their own sentences using taught vocabulary and grammatical structures.
Spanish is delivered by a specialist teacher who is a native speaker, providing pupils with an authentic model of pronunciation and language use. The teacher uses a range of strategies to support all learners, including clear modelling, visuals and actions to aid understanding, as well as regular opportunities for repetition and retrieval practice. This ensures that pupils retain key vocabulary and can apply it with increasing confidence.
Spanish is also embedded into daily classroom routines. Pupils are encouraged to use simple phrases such as greetings, responding to the register and asking for basic needs. This consistent exposure helps to reinforce learning and normalise the use of a second language beyond discrete lessons.
We enrich our curriculum by providing meaningful, real-life opportunities to use Spanish. Pupils take part in a pen-pal scheme with a school in Spain, exchanging letters and digital messages to develop their communication skills and cultural understanding. This gives learning a real purpose and audience.
We also celebrate key cultural events such as European Day of Languages and El Día de los Muertos, alongside other engaging activities including themed art, storytelling and cultural experiences. These opportunities help pupils to make deeper connections between language and culture.
Impact
By the time pupils leave Ashton Hayes Primary School, they will have developed a secure foundation in Spanish. They will be able to communicate at an age-appropriate level across speaking, reading and writing, and will understand key grammatical concepts.
Pupils will leave with increased confidence, improved problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of how language works. They will also have gained valuable intercultural awareness, showing respect and appreciation for different cultures and communities.
Ultimately, our pupils will be well-prepared to continue their language learning journey at secondary school, equipped not only with knowledge and skills, but also with enthusiasm and a global perspective.