At Dinnington First School we aim for all of our pupils to be open to new experiences. Every pupil should enjoy learning Spanish and be confident engaging with basic Spanish in a variety of situations.  

Intent

Our vision for our children as budding linguists 

The 2014 National Curriculum for MFL aims to ensure that all children:  

• understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources 

• speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation 

• discover and develop an appreciation of a range of writing in the language studied 

The intent of the Spanish curriculum within Dinnington First School is to explore language and culture through communication, curiosity, and vocabulary acquisition. As a school, we view Spanish as a discipline that helps children understand and appreciate the wider world around them. Our Spanish Curriculum is planned to provide learning through practical use of language. The learning is designed so that children can make links to prior knowledge, make connections across the curriculum, understand key Spanish vocabulary, and develop skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing that will continue to support their progress in other core subjects. 

Implementation

Spanish at Dinnington First School 

The school’s long-term planning and structured coverage of key Spanish skills provide a clear framework to support high-quality teaching and learning across Key Stage 2. This planning ensures consistency, progression, and breadth, enabling teachers to: 

• Promote engagement and accessibility: Deliver Spanish lessons that are inclusive and engaging for all pupils in Years 3 and 4, ensuring that every child is supported to access the curriculum regardless of starting point. 

• Contextualise learning for real-life application: Embed Spanish within meaningful contexts, helping pupils understand its practical relevance and how language skills can be applied beyond the classroom. 

• Ensure progression in knowledge and skills: Build systematically on prior learning, consolidating understanding while extending pupils’ knowledge of core vocabulary, grammar, and key language structures. 

• Foster enjoyment and motivation: Create a positive learning environment where interactive activities, songs, games, and opportunities for communication cultivate curiosity, confidence, and enthusiasm for language learning. 

• Develop core communication skills: Provide pupils with practical opportunities to acquire and practise speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Spanish, ensuring a well-rounded approach to language acquisition. 

• Broaden cultural awareness: Highlight the importance of learning another language for personal development, cultural understanding, and global citizenship, while drawing links across the wider curriculum to reinforce learning in other subject areas. 

Through this carefully sequenced and purposeful approach, the school ensures that Spanish teaching not only equips pupils with valuable communication skills but also instils an appreciation of language learning as an essential life skill. 

Impact

We know our children are achieving because…  

Pupil progress in Spanish is closely monitored and assessed on a regular basis. This process incorporates low-stakes assessments within lessons as well as termly assessments. High levels of engagement and enthusiasm across Years 3 and 4, alongside pupil feedback, demonstrate that learners find Spanish lessons highly enjoyable. Furthermore, Spanish plays a vital role in fostering cultural awareness and broadening pupils’ understanding of the wider world. Our ambitious curriculum inspires curiosity, develop essential communication skills for both life and work, and empower pupils to make informed and confident choices as global citizens. Through this provision, pupils are equipped to connect meaningfully with others and embrace future opportunities.