Languages – curriculum information

Intent

Our aim is to develop the confidence and competence of each child in the foreign language they are learning. Our goal is for them to be passionate, curious and confident about their own foreign language learning abilities when they finish the primary school phase of their education.

We will help them develop and demonstrate substantial progress in the 3 key language skills necessary for learning Spanish

  • Phonics
  • Vocabulary
  • Grammar

To develop these key areas, children in Key Stage 2 will learn through Speaking, Reading, Writing, Listening to Spanish.

We aim to ensure that pupils of all abilities develop solid foundations in these key language learning skills – properly preparing them for the next stage of their language learning journey. These skills will develop children’s ability to understand what they hear and read and enable them to express themselves in speech and writing. We will extend their knowledge of how language works and explore the similarities and differences between the foreign language they are learning and English. We will also help strengthen their sense of identity through learning about culture in other countries and comparing it with their own.

Implementation

Spanish is taught in a whole-class setting by the class teacher or HLTA and is therefore not reliant on one key member of staff. Teachers plan their lessons using the Language Angels scheme of work and can supplement this with their own ideas and experience and those of their colleagues.

The lessons are designed to motivate, captivate and interest children from the first moment. They have clear, achievable objectives and incorporate different learning styles. SEN children have access to the curriculum through variation of task, grouping or support from an adult.

Each class has a timetabled lesson of at least thirty minutes per week.

Spanish can also be revisited in short sessions throughout the week to consolidate knowledge and ensure new language is retained.

Spanish lessons include:

  • PowerPoints and interactive whiteboard materials
  • Interactive games (which pupils can access from home to consolidate their learning)
  • Songs & raps
  • Differentiated desk-based consolidation activities
  • Worksheets at different levels of challenge are provided throughout each teaching unit and can be used in class or can be sent home to be completed as a homework exercise

Each lesson will focus on a combination of the 3 key language learning skills.

As Spanish is being taught for the first time in 2021-22, all children will begin at similar starting points and will progress through the year focusing on similar units. Progression and expectation will be higher for older children. Cycle 1 will be taught in 2021-22.

Impact

Where appropriate worksheets completed by the children and kept in their wider curriculum book, which will be passed through the years and become a portfolio of their learning. Teachers can also upload scans of pupil written work along with audio and video recordings of pupils speaking and presenting Spanish to a centralised secure file store (Seesaw).

 

 

Assessment of Pupil Learning & Progression

Two forms of assessment are available at the end of every Language Angels unit:

  1. Peer and self-assessment ‘I can do…’ grids. A quick and easy way for all pupils in the class to record which units they have completed and the progress they are making.
  2. More detailed skills based assessments using bespoke skills assessment worksheets. This form of assessment enables us to determine the learning and progression of all pupils in the key language learning skills as well as monitoring their progress against the 12 attainment targets stipulated in the DfE Languages Programme of Study for Key Stage 2.

Monitoring and evaluation

The Subject Leader monitors the effectiveness of the language teaching provided throughout the school via regular informal observations with feedback given to teachers delivering foreign language lessons. The Subject Leader and class teacher will together monitor the learning and progression made by pupils across the key stage.

The Subject Leader will encourage, where appropriate, class assemblies and presentations in Spanish.

Further information

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