Intent:

At Holy Cross, we aim to foster a love of languages and promote linguistic diversity through the teaching of Spanish. Our intent is to provide all students with a foundational understanding of the Spanish language, as well as an appreciation of Hispanic cultures. We want to equip our pupils with the skills they need to communicate effectively in Spanish, develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities, and build their confidence in using the language. The primary goal is to ensure that pupils are not only able to understand and speak in Spanish but also able to engage with cultural contexts, enabling them to become global citizens with an awareness of the wider world.

Implementation:

Spanish is introduced to students in Key Stage 2, in alignment with the Primary Languages Network Scheme, which promotes language learning as an integral part of the primary curriculum. The following strategies are used to ensure effective delivery of the Spanish curriculum:

1. Curriculum Structure: The Spanish curriculum is structured around progressive, age-appropriate topics that gradually build upon prior knowledge. Key areas covered include greetings, numbers, family, food, hobbies, school life, and cultural elements such as traditions and festivals from Spanish-speaking countries.
2. Varied Teaching Approaches: A range of engaging methods are used to teach Spanish, including songs, games, role-plays, visual aids, and interactive activities. These approaches allow for active learning and help to reinforce vocabulary and grammatical concepts in a fun and memorable way.
3. Focus on Communication: While grammatical understanding is important, emphasis is placed on practical communication. Students are encouraged to use the language in real-life scenarios, for example, by engaging in simple conversations with peers, teachers, or through storytelling. This helps develop their confidence and conversational skills.
4. Cultural Awareness: In addition to language learning, pupils are exposed to aspects of Hispanic cultures through the exploration of food, music, art, and history. Celebrations such as Día de los Muertos, La Tomatina, and Carnival are integrated into lessons to broaden students' understanding of Spanish-speaking countries.
5. Continuous Assessment: Formative assessment is used regularly to track progress. This includes listening and speaking activities, vocabulary tests, quizzes, and written assignments. Feedback is constructive and helps guide students toward improving their language proficiency.
6. Parental Involvement: We encourage parents to support their child's language learning by engaging in simple activities at home, such as listening to Spanish music or watching Spanish-language cartoons. Communication between teachers and parents is maintained through newsletters and parent meetings, where we share tips on how to support learning outside the classroom.

Impact:

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils will have a basic understanding of the Spanish language and will be able to use simple phrases and sentences for everyday communication. They will develop skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with a solid foundation for learning further languages in the future. Furthermore, pupils will have a greater understanding and appreciation of Hispanic cultures, promoting tolerance, diversity, and global citizenship.

Our success is measured through the continued engagement of students with the subject, positive feedback from parents and staff, and the ability of students to apply their language skills in a variety of contexts. The ultimate impact is that students leave primary school with the confidence and enthusiasm to continue their language learning journey in secondary school and beyond.

Assessment and tracking:
Teachers are required to save evidence of the work that takes place in the classroom, both as video folders, but also in the floor book so that it is clear what the progression of skills are and whether the children are working towards, meeting or exceeding these expectations.