At St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that learning a Modern Foreign Language opens doors to new cultures, broadens horizons and develops children’s curiosity about the wider world. Spanish is taught across Key Stage 2 using the Kapow Primary Spanish scheme of learning, which provides a clear, progressive and engaging approach to language acquisition. Units are carefully sequenced so that pupils build their knowledge and skills over time, developing increasing confidence in listening, speaking, reading and writing in Spanish.

Our Spanish curriculum reflects our wider curriculum philosophy: we want children to remember more, understand more and be able to apply what they have learned. Through Kapow, pupils revisit and build upon previously taught vocabulary, grammatical structures and pronunciation, enabling them to develop a secure foundation in Spanish. Learning is purposeful and connected, with children given regular opportunities to use Spanish in meaningful contexts rather than simply memorising isolated words.

Spanish also provides an excellent opportunity for children to develop our School Learning Powers. Pupils are encouraged to be SMART learners who are curious, resilient and willing to take risks with their learning. They develop confidence by having a go at speaking unfamiliar words, resilience when pronunciation or vocabulary is challenging, and independence as they recall and apply language they have previously learned. Through repeated practice and reflection, children learn that mistakes are a valuable part of becoming a successful language learner.

Our Spanish curriculum is closely connected to our SMART Values. It encourages children to be respectful and open-minded as they learn about Spanish-speaking communities, cultures and traditions. It develops their understanding that people may communicate, celebrate and live in different ways, while recognising the dignity and value of every person. In this way, language learning contributes to our Catholic vision of educating children who understand their responsibility to others and who are prepared to contribute positively to an increasingly diverse world.

Children develop their spoken Spanish through regular opportunities to listen, repeat, respond and participate in conversations. They develop their reading and writing through the introduction of vocabulary, sentence structures and grammatical concepts that become progressively more challenging throughout Key Stage 2. Songs, games, stories, rhymes and practical activities help to make learning memorable, while regular retrieval opportunities support children in retaining and applying their growing knowledge.

Cultural understanding is an important part of our approach. Through Spanish, pupils encounter different countries, communities, traditions and perspectives, helping them to develop a genuine appreciation of the Spanish-speaking world. This supports our ambition for children to become curious, respectful and globally minded learners who recognise both the diversity of the world and the things that connect us.

By the time pupils leave St. Joseph’s, they will have developed a strong foundation in Spanish and the confidence to continue their language learning at secondary school. More importantly, they will have experienced the joy of communicating in another language and developed a greater appreciation of people and cultures beyond their immediate experience.

At St. Joseph’s, we see language learning as an opportunity to be SMART, live out our values, broaden our horizons and achieve our best. Through Spanish, children are inspired to communicate, explore, question and connect with others, supporting our mission that everybody thrives.