Spanish
What is our vision for Spanish?
According to the National Curriculum, a Modern Foreign Language is a compulsory subject for children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7 – 11 years). At the Growth Learning Collective, we begin Spanish earlier than this, right from Nursery, during the highly receptive early years. This early start maximises our children’s potential for native-like pronunciation and intuitive grammar acquisition.
Weekly lessons are social and collaborative, drawing on the principles of first and second language learning from birth through to the end of primary school.
By Year 6, our learners are confident, reflective, and resilient linguists, prepared for secondary success and independent travel. With Spanish alongside English, they can communicate in the official languages of nearly half the world’s nations. Active listeners, problem-solvers, and confident and relaxed communicators, they are ready to communicate politely and clearly with the people they meet.
Our curriculum is both engaging and rigorous, surpassing National Curriculum standards. Topics channel children’s interests while reinforcing knowledge from the wider curriculum. Lessons planned, delivered, and continually refined by a specialist with extensive secondary-level experience lay strong foundations for enjoyment and achievement at GCSE and beyond.
What do Spanish lessons look like in our school and how do we plan lessons?
Weekly lessons are organised into six topics per year. Each session immerses pupils in a Spanish-speaking environment through listening, speaking, reading, and increasingly writing, with minimal English interjections. Lessons prioritise active discussion and pupil talk, while cultural references to the Hispanic world deepen understanding of cultural diversity alongside language learning.
Lessons begin with an introduction or review of core vocabulary, gradually reducing support so that by mid-unit, learners use language independently in speech and writing. Developmental tasks such as surveys, video or photo studies, and information-gathering activities are modelled and completed usually exclusively in Spanish, with scaffolding and task choice to maximise progress.
Learners then share and refine ideas through discussion, fostering resilience and self-reflection, followed by self-assessment to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Each lesson concludes with a competitive team game or a role-play set in a real-life context such as a party, phone call or gallery visit, building confidence in speaking and performing. Many half-termly units culminate in extended scenarios set in cafés, pharmacies, hair salons, or business meetings, harnessing the cognitive benefits of play.
The curriculum is systematically sequenced, embedding and revisiting vocabulary and grammar to strengthen long-term memory.
What can you do to help your child at home?
Joining the Spanish Club is a great way for your child to take part in fun activities like role plays and games while reinforcing their learning and exploring Hispanic culture. At home, ask your child about what they’ve been learning and doing in Spanish classes. Over time, they’ll be able to share words and sentences they’ve learnt and practised in school. When they bring Spanish work home, show interest and ask them to explain the task; this helps reinforce their understanding. If you have visited any Spanish-speaking countries, please share your experiences with your child as it makes learning more meaningful to them.