Intention

The aim of the high quality rights based Spanish curriculum at Star Primary School is to introduce our pupils to key aspects of learning a foreign language, fostering a broader interest in and understanding of other languages and cultures. 

Our curriculum  is designed to develop pupils’ linguistic knowledge and skills, ensuring that each child can express their ideas and thoughts in another language.  By learning another language, Star pupils will be better prepared for their transition into secondary school, and will have developed valuable skills in an increasingly multinational and multicultural society. 

We aim to provide opportunities for all pupils to learn through practical activities and real-life contexts ensuring they think critically and speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity. We aspire for all pupils to improve their intonation and pronunciation by the time they leave our school.

Implementation

• Spanish Lead Teachers at Star introduce key concepts of Spanish to pupils  across Key Stage 2 whilst classroom teachers observe, with the intention of the latter gaining experience and eventually teaching the language themselves. 
• INSET is also provided half-termly  to ensure that classroom teachers have the disciplinary skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver Spanish lessons.
• Pupils apply their knowledge of English vocabulary, grammar and syntax to learning a foreign language.  Pupils understand basic Spanish grammar and develop their confidence in speaking and understanding Spanish through discussions, songs, poems, rhymes, guided practice and asking questions.
• Pupils listen to their teacher and join in exploring different sounds and patterns of the language
• Pupils have planned opportunities to speak and write in Spanish for different audiences and purposes and write and speak from memory about people, places, things and actions.
• Dual language texts and workbooks ensure pupils learn and make sense of Spanish vocabulary and grammatical structures
• Weekly practice allows pupils and staff to broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words. We encourage pupils to use familiar written material (workbooks) and dictionaries.
• Native Spanish speaking staff and pupils enrich the teaching and learning of Spanish

Impact

At Star Primary School, staff and pupils show enthusiasm, appreciation, curiosity and excitement for our Spanish curriculum. Pupils begin to make connections between Spanish and their native languages and their knowledge of English grammatical structures is also reinforced. By learning Spanish, pupils are initiating a journey that not only allows them to communicate with others, but also to understand and celebrate other cultures as well as develop an awareness of the world around them. It provides pupils with the foundation for learning and enjoying other languages and encourages them to learn and work in industries  in other countries throughout their adult lives.

Enrichment

Children at Star Primary are given many enrichment opportunities as part of the wider MFL curriculum. We run a Spanish Club for children in KS2.