MFL (Spanish) at Eastcroft Park

Our MFL subject lead is Craig Youngman (Cover & Y3 Teacher)

BA (Hons) Business Economics PGCE Primary 

Rationale for Teaching Spanish

At our school, we believe every child should have the chance to explore the world through language. Our aim is to make learning Spanish fun, exciting, and meaningful for all pupils, no matter their background or ability. Spanish opens the door to other countries, cultures, and ways of life, helping children to become more confident, curious, and understanding of the world around them.

Our Spanish lessons are carefully planned to build knowledge step by step. From Year 3 onwards, children develop their skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish, in ways that are active, engaging, and relevant to their everyday lives. Pupils learn how to greet others, talk about themselves, ask questions, and share ideas — all in a new language.

We believe that every child can succeed in language learning. That’s why we make sure our lessons are inclusive, with plenty of support and challenge to help everyone make progress. Learning Spanish also supports children’s thinking skills, memory, and creativity — and encourages them to see things from different perspectives.

By learning Spanish, our pupils are getting ready for the future. They’re not only preparing for secondary school but also learning how to be part of a global community. We want our children to leave primary school as confident communicators who are excited to explore the world and respectful of the many languages and cultures it holds.

At Eastcroft Park we use Language Angels to teach the breadth of the MFL curriculum. Language Angels provides us with phonetics, core vocabulary and sentence work to ensure that the children are getting a well-rounded view of the Spanish language. Language Angels also provide sound clips of a fluent, Spanish speaker, which enables them to be able to hone in on their pronunciation of certain words. 

Frequency and range of lessons/activities:

At Eastcroft Park pupils learn Spanish in KS2 during weekly Spanish lessons. These lessons are between 20-40 minutes, depending on the activity and the timetable of the class.  Pupils begin in KS2 studying units at the ‘Early language stage’ progressing to the ‘Intermediate stage’ and finally progress to the ‘Progressive stage’ units by the end of KS2. Activities start off (At the early language stage) with the acquisition of simple vocabulary starting with on single nouns (with article/determiner), building up memory skills and formulating very short simple sentences by the end of a unit, from memory. Lessons at the intermediate stage build on Early Learning and work at phrase level. More grammar is incorporated into the lessons and starts to be more explicit in the terminology and explanations. Longer reading and listening exercises and more is expected in their oral responses and written work. Pupils will know more and learn more. At the Progressive stage the lessons contain more content and the pace is faster as there is more language presented to the children. This teaching type encourages the children to produce written paragraphs and speak more fluently and accurately from memory. Recalling and recycling the language learnt in the previous teaching types. Progression within each unit is gradual but tasks do gain complexity throughout each. For example a unit may start with completing missing letters to form simple vocabulary at the start but may progress to completing a transcript of a full conversation by the end of a unit. 

Inclusion:

Tasks and activities in Spanish lessons are designed to be accessible to all. Spanish lessons are verbal in their nature, so all children at Eastcroft are able to practice the language. Tasks throughout each unit are sequential and progressive allowing all children to build up their knowledge as the unit progresses. There are lots of interactive games and karaoke videos for children to play, listen to and sing along to and this enables a multisensory approach to learning. 

Recording:

Pupils at Eastcroft Park each have a Spanish book, and written activities are recorded in these as and when necessary. Sound bites of children speaking are uploaded to Seesaw and are able to be accessed by the class teacher and subject lead to aid in assessment. 

Assessment:

Pupils are assessed after each unit, with assessment activities built into the lesson sequence. once the children have completed each unit there is a short assessment, where the children complete a listening, reading, writing and speaking task. These are recorded on the Language Angels website assessment tracker section. 

Communication & language

Learning Spanish helps children build strong communication and language skills. As they practise speaking, listening, reading, and writing in a new language, they become more aware of how language works, which can also improve their understanding and use of English. Speaking Spanish encourages pupils to listen carefully, think about what they want to say, and express themselves clearly and confidently. It also helps them understand different ways of communicating and seeing the world, which supports their confidence, creativity, and ability to connect with others—both in the classroom and beyond.

Vocabulary

Learning Spanish helps to strengthen children’s vocabulary skills and word knowledge, both in Spanish and in English. As pupils learn new Spanish words, they often notice patterns, word roots, and similarities with English vocabulary—especially with words that have Latin origins. This builds their understanding of how words are formed and helps them make connections between languages. Learning and using new vocabulary in context also supports memory, comprehension, and confidence in using language. These skills are useful not just in Spanish lessons but across the whole curriculum.

Aspirations

Learning Spanish can help raise children’s aspirations by opening their eyes to a wider world beyond their immediate community. It shows them that they can communicate with people from different countries and cultures, and it introduces the idea that languages can be useful in many future careers, such as travel, business, education, and international work. As children gain confidence in using Spanish, they begin to see themselves as global citizens with the potential to explore, connect, and succeed beyond borders. This can inspire them to aim higher, embrace new challenges, and develop a positive attitude towards learning and their future goals.

Mental health

Learning Spanish can have a positive impact on children’s mental health by boosting their confidence and sense of achievement. Mastering a new language gives children a sense of pride and accomplishment, which can improve their self-esteem and reduce anxiety. It also encourages them to step outside their comfort zones and embrace challenges in a supportive environment. Additionally, learning Spanish exposes children to different cultures and perspectives, which can foster empathy and understanding, helping them feel more connected to the world around them. This can create a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation, supporting their overall well-being.

Cultural tolerance and diversity

Learning Spanish helps to build children’s cultural capital by broadening their understanding of the world and exposing them to diverse cultures, traditions, and ways of life. Through language learning, children explore the customs, festivals, food, music, and daily life of Spanish-speaking countries, helping them appreciate cultural diversity and develop a more global outlook. This rich cultural knowledge enhances their ability to relate to others, fosters respect and curiosity, and prepares them to engage confidently in an increasingly interconnected world. These experiences contribute to their personal growth and enrich their learning across the wider curriculum.