Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent 

‘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 writing.’ (National Curriculum 2014 – Appendix A) 

Learning a language enriches the curriculum helping to create enthusiastic learners and to develop positive attitudes to language learning throughout life. The knowledge and understanding gained contribute to the development of children’s oratory and literacy and to their understanding of their own culture and those of others. 

Through learning a new language not only are we teaching students valuable knowledge which, if cultivated and continued, could lead to unexpected opportunities both personally and in their further academic and career life, but we are also opening the door to the wider world. 

At Eastgate Academy, we feel that the earlier a child is exposed to another language, the faster the language in question is acquired. We believe that the early acquisition of Spanish will facilitate the learning another language later in life. We aim to prepare children for the KS3 language curriculum to enable them to transfer confidently and successfully. 

Implementation

Children are introduced to Spanish from EYFS  and practise throughout their time at Eastgate Academy.  The vocabulary taught is used within the school environment as much as possible to ensure retention e.g. answering the school register in Spanish. This enables the children to develop early language acquisition skills that facilitate their understanding of the patterns of language and how these differ from, or are similar to, English.

Using Primary Language Network for inspiration and resources, lessons across the Key Stages support the skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Children are taught to listen attentively to spoken language and respond, joining in with songs, rhymes and games. Through this, children develop an appreciation of a variety of stories, songs, poems and rhymes in Spanish that are delivered through the curriculum content from both native Spanish Speakers (through primary language network) and through class teachers. Cross curricular links are provided in many other sessions such as Geography, History and Computing. As well as language learning lessons, cultural lessons are taught throughout the year to ensure the children have an understanding of the cultures which speak Spanish as their primary language. This is taught as a weekly lesson and sometimes a whole school focus week – e.g. Day of the dead.

Impact

Our MFL curriculum ensures that children develop their knowledge of where different languages, including the range of home languages spoken by the families of the school, as well as Spanish, are spoken in the world. Varied learning experiences ensure that languages are celebrated throughout the school community whilst providing a context for language learning and thus develop an understanding and celebration of different cultures.