Spanish at Leedon

As the UK is becoming an increasingly multicultural society, we have a duty to provide our children with an understanding of other cultures and languages. The MFL provision at Leedon Lower School is designed to reflect this and also takes into consideration the primary MFL entitlement as set out in the National Curriculum 2013

INTENT

Leedon Lower School’s aim is that all pupils will develop a genuine interest and positive curiosity about foreign languages, predominantly Spanish. Learning a second language will offer pupils the opportunity to explore relationships between language and identity, develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, key individuals and cultural differences. The intention is that pupils will feel able and encouraged to continue studying languages beyond Year 4 and ultimately be working towards becoming life-long language learners.

IMPLEMENTATION

At Leedon, Spanish is taught to whole classes in Key Stage 1 and 2 by the Spanish Lead (KS2) and a the KS1 teachers with the resources provided by the Spanish Lead. Lessons offering appropriate levels of challenge and differentiation will be taught at all times to ensure pupils learn effectively, continuously building their knowledge of and enthusiasm for Spanish. Units, where possible and appropriate, will be linked to class topics and cross curricular themes. Children will build on previous knowledge gradually as their Spanish lessons continue to recycle, revise and consolidate previously learnt language whilst building on all four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing). Spanish lessons provide a variety of sources to model the language, use games and songs to maximise enjoyment and make as many connections to real life situations as possible.

In Key Stage One, teacher is encouraged to teach ‘incidental Spanish’. Towards the end of Year 2, teachers will be expected to teach basics Spanish skills in a standalone lessons. The intent of this is to ensure an efficient transition between key stage one and key stage two.

The National Curriculum (2013) outlines the expectation that at the end of Year 4, all children will:

• listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding,

• explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes, and link the sound and meaning of words,

• engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others,

• speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures,

• develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are using familiar words and phrases,

• appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language,

• describe people, places, things and actions orally.

IMPACT

As a lower school, our aim in Spanish is not to produce fluent speakers, but to prepare children for their language learning journey, no matter what language they study at Year 5 and beyond. Being successful in MFL is more than just learning a language.

Our MFL curriculum will ensure all pupils develop key language learning skills set out by the national curriculum, as well as a love of languages and learning about other cultures.

Children are assessed according to age-related expectations in line with curriculum requirements. Assessments are used to inform planning and complete the evaluation cycle. Lessons are structured with opportunities for Assessment for Learning throughout. This enables teachers to evaluate what has been learned, review success criteria and address misconceptions. The transactional skills the children acquire will also be tracked. Progress will be reported to parents at spring term at parents’ evening and in the end of year written report.  The same assessment process will take place throughout KS1 for Spanish.

Each class at Leedon Lower contains children from a wide range of abilities and we seek to provide suitable learning opportunities for them all by matching the challenge of the task to the ability of the child. This means that, where appropriate, written work will be differentiated according to ability. MFL is, however, a highly inclusive subject and although the principal aim of the teaching is to develop children’s knowledge, skills and understanding, there is also an emphasis on enjoyment. MFL is taught to all KS2 children, whatever their ability and individual needs.

The MFL subject leader will continually monitor the impact MFL teaching is having on the children’s learning, through:

• conduct on-going subject monitoring and work scrutiny to ensure curriculum coverage

• collect evidence of good practice (e.g. photographs and displays),

• support teachers e.g. observations and feedback,

• review resource provision

Our Spanish Learning Keys can be found by clicking the link below: