Intent

At Maltby Manor, our languages curriculum is designed to provide vibrant, engaging learning experiences that meet the needs of every child. We recognise that many pupils begin with little or no prior knowledge of Spanish, making it a perfect opportunity to foster a love of language learning and cultural curiosity. Our aim is to develop confident global citizens who understand and appreciate the diversity of the world around them.

We follow the National Curriculum for Languages, ensuring that our progressive scheme builds language skills systematically from EYFS through Key Stage 2, preparing pupils effectively for further language education at Maltby Academy and beyond. Through learning Spanish, children develop not only their linguistic ability but also their intercultural understanding, supporting the school’s vision and values around respect, inclusion, and community.

In EYFS and Key Stage 1, children explore the world’s cultures and traditions through planned topics and themed experiences, laying a foundation for later language study. From Year 3 onwards, Spanish is taught weekly, with a curriculum that progressively builds on prior learning in line with Language Angels resources, fostering increasing confidence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

Our overall aims are to:

• Enable children to understand and respond to spoken and written Spanish confidently.
• Provide opportunities for fluent and spontaneous speaking.
• Encourage varied writing for different purposes and audiences.
• Develop an appreciation of Spanish language and culture through authentic contexts.
   

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Implementation

 

Languages are taught through a carefully sequenced curriculum that supports progression in the four key language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). From EYFS and KS1, cultural awareness is developed through stories, celebrations, and cross-curricular topics that include Spanish-speaking countries. This approach nurtures curiosity and lays the groundwork for explicit language learning in KS2.

From Year 3 to Year 6, pupils receive weekly Spanish lessons taught by class teachers, with specialist support in Year 6 from Maltby Academy. Staff benefit from ongoing professional development via the Language Angels platform, ensuring consistent, confident delivery aligned with Trust-wide standards.

Practical and engaging approaches such as songs, role play, and cultural activities—including experiencing a traditional Spanish breakfast—make learning relevant and memorable. These activities deepen pupils’ understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures and enhance their linguistic skills.

Assessment is embedded within lessons and through unit-end quizzes and tasks provided by Language Angels. Teachers use formative and summative assessments to track progress, identify gaps, and tailor support, ensuring all pupils, including those with SEND and EAL, make strong progress.

The curriculum also supports pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development by encouraging respect for diversity, open-mindedness, and a global outlook, directly contributing to the school’s broader educational aims.

 

 

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Impact

Our languages curriculum equips pupils with the skills, knowledge, and cultural awareness needed to succeed in their future education and lives in modern Britain. Pupils leave Maltby Manor as confident, independent language learners who can communicate effectively in Spanish and have a broad understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures.

Progress is carefully monitored using Language Angels assessment tools alongside teacher judgment, ensuring pupils meet or exceed year group expectations. This data informs targeted interventions and supports continuous curriculum improvement.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils can confidently understand and respond to spoken and written Spanish, express their ideas fluently, and write for a variety of purposes. They demonstrate curiosity about languages and cultures, showing respect and empathy for people from diverse backgrounds.

The curriculum fosters strong foundations for further language learning at Maltby Academy and prepares pupils to engage thoughtfully and respectfully with the multicultural world around them.