MFL at Boston Pioneers

Our MFL Intent

What we are teaching in Spanish and why it is important

At Pioneers Academy, we believe that learning a foreign language is an essential part of being a member of a multicultural society and provides a window into other cultures. We believe all learners should have access to a high-quality languages education that nurtures their curiosity and deepens their understanding of the wider world.

Our chosen Modern Foreign Language (MFL) is Spanish because it is one of the easiest languages for pupils to learn, it is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world: and it is the predominant language taught in our local secondary schools.

Through well sequenced and progressive lessons, pupils learn:

Core Spanish vocabulary and high frequency phrases

Accurate pronunciation and intonation

Key grammatical structures appropriate to each year group

Listening, speaking, reading and writing skills

Cultural knowledge of Spanish speaking countries

How we teach Spanish

Our MFL curriculum provides a clear path of progress in language and grammatical learning through weekly lessons lasting 30–40 minutes. We use the Language Angels scheme of work and resources to support the delivery of Spanish across Key Stage 2.

As learners move through KS2, they progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, language skills and grammatical knowledge organised around age-appropriate topics and themes. This content is revisited regularly through recall and recharge activities to ensure secure foundations.

Learning includes speaking, listening, reading and writing activities, supported by songs, games, phonics work, picture books and familiar stories, enabling pupils to learn Spanish in an engaging and meaningful way.

What we want the children to have learnt in Spanish

By the end of Key Stage 2

We want learners to feel confident, curious, and able to use some everyday Spanish. Here’s what that looks like:

Listening

Learners should be able to:

Understand simple spoken Spanish.

Pick out the main points from short phrases, songs or stories.

Speaking

Learners should be able to:

Take part in short Spanish conversations.

Ask and answer simple questions.

Say their likes and dislikes.

Pronounce familiar words clearly.

Reading

Learners should be able to:

Read short texts, fact files and simple stories in Spanish.

Spot familiar words and use clues to work out new ones.

Use a simple Spanish–English dictionary.

Writing

Learners should be able to:

Write short sentences and paragraphs using vocabulary they know.

Give basic information about themselves, their family, school or hobbies.

Use simple connectives like “and” or “because.”

Grammar

Learners should:

Know that Spanish nouns are masculine or feminine.

Use basic verbs like “I have,” “I am,” and “I live.”

Match adjectives correctly (e.g., a red house → una casa roja).

Culture

Learners should:

Understand that Spanish is spoken in many countries, not just Spain

Understand some of the traditions and celebrations of Spanish-speaking countries with those of their own.

Our Long-Term Plan for Spanish from 2026:

	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6
Autumn 1	Phonetics 1 (XT) & I Am Learning Sp (E)	Phonetics 1-2 (XT) & Seasons (E)	Phonetics 1-3 (XT) & Clothes (I)	Phonetics 1-4 (XT) & My Home (I)
Autumn 2	Animals (E)	Vegetables (E)	The Date (I)	Habitats (I)
Spring 1	Instruments (E)	In the Classroom (IN)	What is the Weather? (I)	At School (P)
Spring 2	I Know How To… (E)	Presenting Myself (I)	Do You Have a Pet? (I)	At the Weekend (P)
Summer 1	Fruits (E)	My Family (I)	At the Café (I)	Me in the World (P)
Summer 2	Recap of all units plus Spanish Culture - La Tomatina (CV)	Recap of all units plus Spanish Culture - Las Fallas de Valencia	Recap of all units plus Spanish Culture - La Fiesta San Fermin	Recap of all units plus Spanish Culture - El Dia de los Muerto.

E	Early language teaching
I	Intermediate language teaching
P	Progressive language teaching