Languages

At St Charles, our Languages curriculum aims to foster children’s curiosity about languages and help deepen their understanding of the world. Our curriculum allows children to express their ideas and thoughts in Spanish and provides opportunities for them to interact and communicate for practical purposes with others, both in speech and in writing.

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What Our Languages Curriculum Looks Like at St Charles

At St Charles Catholic Primary School, Spanish is taught in an engaging and interactive way, helping pupils to build confidence in communication.

Our pupils:

Develop confidence in speaking, listening, reading and writing in Spanish

Practise pronunciation and intonation through songs, games and conversations

Take part in role-play, storytelling and practical language activities

Build a growing vocabulary and understanding of simple grammatical structures

Use language in meaningful, real-life contexts

Learn about Spanish-speaking countries and cultures

Develop curiosity and enjoyment in learning a foreign language

Through engaging, practical lessons, pupils develop confidence in communicating in Spanish and a positive attitude towards language learning.

Intent

At St Charles Catholic Primary School, our Languages curriculum aims to inspire curiosity and enthusiasm for language learning through active, practical and engaging experiences.

We aim to develop pupils’ ability to communicate in another language with increasing confidence, both orally and in writing.

Pupils are provided with real-life contexts for language use, helping them understand the purpose and joy of communication beyond the classroom.

We believe that learning a language broadens pupils’ horizons and fosters cultural awareness. Pupils explore traditions, stories, songs and everyday life in Spanish-speaking countries, developing respect and appreciation for different cultures. Rooted in our Catholic ethos, we encourage pupils to recognise and celebrate diversity and to understand their role in a global community.

Our curriculum also equips pupils with transferable language-learning strategies, such as recognising patterns, using memory techniques and applying prior knowledge.

We aim to provide a fun, inclusive and memorable language-learning experience that lays secure foundations for future language study at Key Stage 3.

Implementation

Spanish is taught across Key Stage 1 and 2 through a progressive and structured programme delivered by specialist teachers from PPA Cover Ltd, ensuring consistency and high-quality language teaching.

The curriculum prioritises speaking and listening as key skills, which support the development of reading and writing.

Lessons focus on:

Speaking

Listening

Reading

Writing

Teaching approaches include:

Oral activities such as role-play, dialogues and storytelling to build confidence

Songs and rhymes to reinforce vocabulary, rhythm and pronunciation

Practical tasks such as following instructions and real-life simulations (e.g. café role-play)

Active learning through games, movement and collaborative activities

Cultural exploration including traditions, festivals and everyday life in Spanish-speaking countries

Use of technology such as videos and digital platforms to support pronunciation and engagement

Progression is ensured through:

Revisiting core vocabulary such as numbers, colours, greetings and classroom language

Gradually introducing sentence structures, verbs and grammar in context

Opportunities to create and present work such as presentations, posters and performances

Encouraging resilience through trial, error and risk-taking in speaking

Assessment is ongoing throughout lessons. Teachers monitor pupils’ confidence, participation and understanding through observation, practical activities and informal assessment of vocabulary and language use.

Inclusion and Adaptive Teaching

At St Charles Catholic Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that all pupils can access and succeed in Spanish.

Lessons are designed to be inclusive and engaging for all learners through:

The use of visual prompts, gestures and repetition

Opportunities for collaborative learning to reduce pressure on individuals

Practical and interactive activities that support different learning styles

Adaptable tasks to support a range of abilities

Encouragement of confidence through supportive and low-risk speaking opportunities

Through adaptive teaching, all pupils are supported to develop confidence, enjoyment and success in language learning.

Impact

As a result of our Spanish curriculum, pupils at St Charles develop confidence in communicating in a foreign language and a growing understanding of different cultures.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils will:

Engage in short conversations, asking and answering questions with increasing confidence

Understand and use a growing range of vocabulary and simple grammatical structures

Enjoy singing, role-playing and performing in another language

Apply strategies to remember and decode unfamiliar words

Demonstrate curiosity and appreciation for different cultures

Feel confident and prepared to continue language learning at Key Stage 3

Impact is measured through pupils’ participation, confidence and ability to apply their learning in speaking, listening, reading and writing activities, alongside pupil voice and ongoing teacher assessment.

How You Can Help at Home

Parents and carers can support their child’s language learning in a variety of ways:

Encourage your child to practise speaking Spanish words and phrases at home

Listen to Spanish songs or watch simple Spanish videos together

Practise vocabulary through games or flashcards

Encourage your child to teach you new words they have learned

Explore Spanish culture through food, music and traditions

By encouraging regular practice and curiosity, you can help your child develop confidence and enjoyment in learning Spanish.