Modern Foreign Languages

At St John’s Stonefold, we believe that learning a modern foreign language opens doors to new opportunities and helps children understand and appreciate the wider world. Through our Spanish curriculum, we aim to develop curious, confident and enthusiastic learners who are willing to communicate, take risks and embrace new cultures.

Rooted in our Christian values and our commitment to providing an ambitious curriculum for every child, Spanish lessons encourage pupils to develop speaking, listening, reading and writing skills whilst building confidence and resilience. We want children to leave St John’s with a positive attitude towards language learning and a strong foundation for future study.

Our Spanish curriculum is designed to:

• Develop confidence and enjoyment in learning another language.
• Build secure foundations in speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar.
• Introduce pupils to the sounds and structures of a different language.
• Foster curiosity about other countries, cultures and traditions.
• Promote respect, diversity and global awareness.
• Equip pupils with the knowledge and skills needed for future language learning.

Pupils learn through:

• Speaking and listening activities
• Songs, rhymes and games
• Interactive presentations and digital resources
• Reading and writing tasks
• Opportunities to practise and revisit vocabulary regularly
• Cultural learning linked to Spanish-speaking countries

Spanish is taught weekly and revisited through shorter activities throughout the week to help children retain new language and build fluency.

Children are introduced to Spanish through greetings, songs, rhymes and topic-based vocabulary. Learning focuses on enjoyment, listening and repeating simple words and phrases. Pupils begin to develop an awareness of different languages and cultures.

Lower Key Stage 2

Pupils build confidence in speaking and understanding Spanish. They develop vocabulary linked to familiar topics such as transport, animals, colours and everyday conversation whilst beginning to read and write simple words and phrases.

Upper Key Stage 2

Children develop greater fluency and accuracy. They learn to communicate using longer sentences, understand grammatical patterns and apply their knowledge in a range of contexts. Units such as dates, homes, habitats, school and history-themed topics enable pupils to broaden their vocabulary and deepen their understanding of Spanish language and culture.

• Understand and respond to spoken Spanish.
• Speak with increasing confidence and accuracy.
• Read and understand simple texts.
• Write simple phrases and sentences.
• Recognise key grammatical features of Spanish.
• Demonstrate curiosity and respect for different cultures.
• Be well prepared for language learning at secondary school.

Assessment takes place through Language Angels’ assessment tools and end-of-unit evaluations, allowing teachers to monitor progress and ensure children are building knowledge, skills and understanding over time.