Modern Foreign Languages

What are we trying to achieve through our curriculum? (Intent)

At Westrop Primary and Nursery School all we do is underpinned by our strong vision and values. Our vision and values support our ‘Curriculum Drivers’ which offer golden threads throughout our curriculum and ensure we have clear drivers for all that we want to achieve for our children.

In Modern Foreign Languages, we develop children’s confidence in speaking skills predominantly. We give our children opportunities to perform their skills in front of the class and gain recognition for their efforts with celebration from their peers. It is our intent that Modern Foreign languages give confidence to all children regardless of their special educational need. Children will gain self-confidence by feeling proud of their achievements and being praised for effort.

In Modern Foreign Languages, children will develop their sense of wellbeing by achieving in a different language. Learning something new is an integral part to wellbeing. We foster curiosity in our children that learn Spanish through questioning and exposing them to new topics. Children will be enthusiastic about learning another language.

In Spanish, children will be faced with challenges within in their reach. They will be guided through how to approach challenges such as understanding unknown words. They will gain a sense of achievement by successfully overcoming challenges individually and in partners.

In MFL, it is our intent that our pupils develop a sensitive awareness of, and the ability to respond constructively to the culture of different Spanish speaking countries. Children will learn how to communicate within different communities. They will be exposed to different Spanish accents.

This will ensure that our pupils are aware of the wider world; have a sense of their own role as a world citizen and respect and value diversity.

Communication will be at the forefront of our MFL learning. Children will communicate with a range of people about a range of topics. Their confidence in their communication skills will increase and they will improve their listening skills as part of their learning. We learn that is it okay to make mistakes and that everyone is learning at their own pace.

How is the Modern Foreign Language Curriculum delivered? (Implementation)

Spanish is delivered to all KS2 classes and covers the range of skills for second language learning acquisition. The teaching should provide an appropriate balance of spoken and written language and should lay the foundations for further foreign language teaching at key stage 3. It should enable pupils to understand and communicate ideas, facts and feelings in speech and writing, focused on familiar and routine matters, using their knowledge of phonology, grammatical structures and vocabulary.
The small steps are revisited each lesson and applied in a new context to aid the knowledge to become “sticky” and children retain the language week on week.
There is a wide coverage of topics taught in Spanish lessons.
Planning for units is done termly and reviewed each lesson where more support and practice may be needed. Planning is drawn from a range of sources and uses native speakers where possible.
SEND children make up a high proportion of our KS2 classes so their needs are met by the use of visual cues. Flashcard games with lots or repetition and practice at pronouncing the sounds helps all learners to become confident in the vocabulary. Challenges can be set by extending the sentences that children produce and giving them ownership if they wish to find out a word, they can use a Spanish dictionary.
Cross curricular approach: Children learn vocabulary linked to their Topic in Year 5 and 6. Children learn about Spanish rivers and mountains and Spanish Kings and Queens.
Children have real Spanish books read to them and have native speakers visit.
Written work is recorded formally once every half term. Children in Year 5/6 write letters to Spanish speaking children. Year ¾ children send a postcard to Spanish speaking children.
Children are taught transferable skills for learning any language. They learn from early on to look for cognates with English and learn how Spanish phonics are different to English phonics.
Children learn about one Spanish speaking country every year in depth.

What difference is the Modern Foreign Language Curriculum making? (Impact)

Confidence in this subject will enable children to become competent and independent in key life skills, including logical thinking and evaluation.
From their different starting points, all children will make at least good progress and achieve their potential academically, emotionally, creatively, socially and physically. Knowledge, understanding and skills will be secured and embedded so that children attain highly.
Pupils will have strong communication skills and will listen respectfully and with tolerance to the views of others.
Pupils will take pride in all that they do, always striving to do their best.
Pupils will demonstrate emotional resilience and the ability to persevere when they encounter challenge.
Pupils will develop a sense of self-awareness and become confident in their own abilities.
The learning challenges used, to plan and teach MFL, ensure that children are accessing work at age related expectations, with regular opportunities to be challenged through higher-level objectives.
Children are assessed according to age related expectations in line with curriculum requirements. This is done in line with the school assessment calendar. This information is recorded and monitored by the coordinator.
Children write one written piece per term as well as the work that is sent to our Spanish link school. By Year 6 children will all be able to have a conversation with several questions in Spanish. They will be able to recall vocabulary from several themes and use these in written work and conversation correctly.

What British values and SMSC look like in Spanish

How To Help Your Child At Home With Spanish

You can visit these websites below and your child can learn about the Spanish culture and revise vocabulary.

www.bbc.co.uk/teach/ks2-spanish

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics Spanish culture crafts and cooking

rockalingua.com Some games, teaching videos songs on here are free.

www.lightbulblanguages.co.uk/estrellas-spanish Spanish games on a variety of topics.