MFL Purpose of study

Learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures. A high-quality languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original language. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils to study and work in other countries.

Source: National Curriculum, 2014

Intent

At Ilchester Community Primary School, we aim to ensure that our children have access to a high-quality Spanish curriculum that is both challenging and enjoyable. We celebrate diversity and different cultures, promoting positive attitudes, values and community cohesion. Learning a language is an essential part of this. At our school, we want pupils to develop the confidence to communicate in Spanish for practical purposes, using both written and spoken Spanish. The children at Ilchester Community Primary School learn Spanish, progressing in knowledge and skills as they move through KS2. Although formal Spanish lessons begin in Year 3, language teaching is embedded through the curriculum as continuous provision in EYFS and KS1, enabling children at all ages to develop a love for languages and lay a foundation for future language learning.

We want our children to develop confidence when speaking, reading and writing Spanish and the scheme of work followed supports children to meet the National Curriculum end of KS2 attainment targets.

There are three key building blocks of a language system, in which knowledge and skills are mapped carefully to ensure progression:

• Phonics

• Vocabulary

• Grammar

Pupils connect these building blocks of knowledge to create meaning in a variety of contexts, allowing them to develop their skills in the following strands:

• Language comprehension – listening and reading

• Language production – speaking and writing

We hope that learning a new language will open doors and give opportunities to the pupils at Ilchester Community Primary School by developing a love of language and giving them skills to work or study in other countries one day, as well as equipping them with valuable, transferable skills which can be applied in many areas of life.

In order to achieve the above intent, the school utilises the National curriculum and the Kapow scheme of learning as a basis which is adapted to meet the needs of our children through a rolling platform which has been carefully developed across KS2.