Our Spanish curriculum
Spanish is our chosen modern foreign language. We have many Spanish speaking families across the school, from a range of origins and heritages. We use Kapow Primary Spanish as the main resource for statutory language teaching in Years 3 to 6. Teachers adapt lessons and resources to meet the needs of their class while maintaining the intended language knowledge and progression. The scheme follows a spiral approach so key vocabulary, phonics and grammar are revisited and extended over time.
Lessons are practical and engaging. Pupils listen, speak, read and write in Spanish through songs, stories, games, role play, short texts and purposeful conversations. They also learn about Spain and Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, helping them understand that languages are connected with people, places, history and culture.
What pupils learn to do
- listen carefully and respond to familiar words, phrases and sentences;
- speak with increasing confidence, fluency and accurate pronunciation;
- take part in conversations, ask questions and express simple opinions;
- read and understand words, phrases and short texts;
- write phrases and increasingly accurate sentences for different purposes;
- recognise key Spanish sound and spelling patterns;
- understand basic grammar, including gender, agreement and verb patterns;
- use dictionaries and other appropriate reference materials;
- develop curiosity and respect for Spanish-speaking cultures.
Nursery to Year 2 language awareness
The National Curriculum requirement to teach a foreign language begins in Key Stage 2. Nursery, Reception and Key Stage 1 therefore do not follow the formal Kapow Spanish sequence. Children may encounter greetings, counting, songs, stories, celebrations and languages represented within the school community. These experiences build confidence, listening and cultural awareness without replacing the statutory English, phonics and wider curriculum entitlement.
|
Year |
Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
|
N and R |
Welcome and greetings; listening to languages spoken by families. |
Songs, stories and celebrations from different cultures. |
Counting, rhythm and playful use of familiar words. |
|
1 and 2 |
Simple greetings and classroom routines where appropriate. |
Songs, numbers, colours and cultural links. |
Enjoying short spoken phrases, stories and performances. |
Spanish curriculum overview Years 3 to 6
The overview below shows the standard Kapow Primary sequence used by All Saints. Each term contains two units. Teachers may adjust timing when this improves curriculum links or responds to pupils’ prior learning, while ensuring progression and National Curriculum coverage.
|
Year |
Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
|
3 |
Spanish greetings with puppets; Spanish numbers and ages |
Shapes and colours in Spanish; classroom objects in Spanish |
Where do you live in Spain; journey around Latin America |
|
4 |
Dates in Spanish; pets in Spanish |
Weather in Spain; in a Spanish cafe |
Spanish celebrations; the Amazon rainforest |
|
5 |
Describing family and friends in Spanish; Spanish portraits |
Sports in Spanish; Spanish food and drink |
A trip across Spain; saving South America |
|
6 |
Clothes in Spanish; school life in Spanish |
Household tasks in Spanish; shopping in Spain |
Free time in Spain; Maya city treasure hunt |
Progression in language knowledge
In Year 3, pupils build confidence with greetings, numbers, colours, familiar objects and short patterned sentences. In Year 4, they broaden vocabulary and begin using language for dates, descriptions, weather, food and cultural events. In Year 5, pupils speak and write in greater detail, express preferences, use grammatical patterns more independently and apply Spanish to wider cultural and geographical contexts. In Year 6, they combine familiar language with new vocabulary to communicate about school, clothing, daily life, shopping and leisure, preparing them for language learning at secondary school.
Spanish phonics grammar and vocabulary
Teachers explicitly teach Spanish sound and spelling patterns so pupils can pronounce unfamiliar words and read aloud with confidence. Grammar is introduced in meaningful contexts and revisited regularly. Knowledge organisers, classroom displays, speaking frames and retrieval activities support pupils in remembering and applying vocabulary rather than learning disconnected word lists.
Inclusion and equality
Spanish is ambitious and accessible for all pupils, including pupils with SEND, pupils learning English as an additional language and disadvantaged pupils. Teachers adapt the amount of language, pace, visual support, modelling, repetition, recording method and level of adult support while preserving the intended learning. Pupils may demonstrate understanding through speaking, matching, sequencing, gesture, supported reading or writing. Home languages are valued as an asset and pupils are encouraged to make thoughtful comparisons between languages.
Assessment
Assessment is woven through lessons. Teachers use listening and speaking activities, questioning, short reading and writing tasks, vocabulary recall and end of unit outcomes to identify what pupils know and can do. Misconceptions in pronunciation, vocabulary or grammar are addressed promptly. The subject leader reviews coverage, pupil work, teaching and pupil voice to evaluate progression and curriculum impact.
Finding out more
Parents, carers and members of the public can find out more by contacting the school office and asking to speak with the MFL Leader or Headteacher. This overview should be read alongside the whole school Curriculum Policy, Curriculum Map, Accessibility Plan, Equality Policy and Objectives, and SEND Information Report.
Kapow Primary is a commercial teaching resource used by the school. Detailed lesson plans, teaching slides and assessment materials are available to staff through the school subscription and are not reproduced on the public website.