MFL: Spanish

Avonwood Spanish Policy: click here

Subject Leader: Danielle Goodwin

Subject Intent 

At Avonwood Primary School, our Spanish curriculum is designed to be broad, vibrant and ambitious, igniting pupils’ curiosity and enthusiasm for language learning while laying strong foundations for future success. We aim to foster a genuine love of language learning, helping pupils appreciate the value of multilingualism and encouraging them to explore the rich diversity of global cultures. Through engaging and age-appropriate topics, including those from the Language Angels scheme, we make learning meaningful, enjoyable, and relevant to pupils’ interests.
 
Our approach develops pupils’ understanding of Spanish culture, traditions, and ways of life, promoting respect and appreciation for cultural differences. We maintain high expectations and excellent standards, ensuring all pupils are challenged to reach their full potential in the four key language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Vocabulary, grammar, and phonics knowledge are structured progressively, enabling pupils to apply their learning confidently in a variety of contexts. Independent learning is encouraged by teaching pupils how to research unfamiliar language and use reference materials to support their spoken and written work.
 
To ensure coherence and progression, content is reviewed annually and mapped in long-term and short-term planning to meet or exceed national DfE requirements. Our curriculum explores the relationship between language and identity, helping pupils develop a deeper understanding of themselves, others and the world around them.

Subject Implementation

All Key Stage 2 classes benefit from a high-quality foreign languages curriculum delivered through the Language Angels scheme of work and resources. This structured and progressive approach ensures that pupils develop their Spanish language skills through regular, well-planned weekly lessons, taught either by class teachers or HLTAs during PPA cover. In Key Stage 1, pupils in Foundation and Year 1 are introduced to Spanish through nursery rhymes, with their formal language-learning journey beginning in Year 2.

The curriculum is designed to help children progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, grammatical knowledge and language skills. These are organised around age-appropriate topics and themes, forming the building blocks of increasingly complex and authentic language use.

Language Angels categorises its units by Teaching Type, which helps teachers select the appropriate level of challenge for their pupils:

• Early Language Units: Entry-level, ideal for Year 2-3 pupils with little or no prior experience.
• Intermediate Units: Suitable for Years 4-5, introducing more complex grammar and vocabulary.
• Progressive Units: Designed for Year 6 pupils, focusing on fluency and advanced grammatical structures.
•  Creative Curriculum Units: Offer additional challenge and thematic depth.

This tiered structure ensures that pupils are taught at a level appropriate to their readiness, with each teaching unit is divided into six fully planned lessons, with each lesson featuring:

• Clearly defined objectives and aims
• Interactive whiteboard materials to support speaking and listening
• Three levels of stretch and differentiation in desk-based activities
• Reading and writing tasks
• A grammar concept that increases in complexity across the unit types

Lessons are designed to be interactive and engaging, incorporating challenge sections and differentiated activities to cater to all learners. Grammar is taught discretely and progressively, starting with basic noun and verb structures and advancing to complex conjugations and opinions.

Pupil progress is monitored through regular assessments aligned with school policy, ensuring that learning is substantial and sustained. Writing tasks are extended to encourage recall and reuse of previously learned language, helping pupils build fluency and confidence.

Avonwood maintains a unit planner that acts as a teaching map for all year groups. This ensures consistency and progression across classes, with each year group having a clear overview of the units to be taught throughout the academic year.

The curriculum is visualised as “language Lego”, where each lesson builds on the previous one, allowing pupils to construct more sophisticated language structures over time.

Ultimately, we aim to inspire lifelong learners who feel confident, capable and motivated to continue studying languages beyond Key Stage 2 and into secondary education. Through this approach, pupils will not only gain essential language skills but also grow into culturally aware, globally minded individuals.

Subject Impact