Spanish

Nursery

Spanish is not formally introduced in Nursery, but children begin to develop an awareness of different languages and cultures through songs, stories, and celebrations from around the world. They may hear simple greetings or words in Spanish during play or group time, helping to build curiosity and familiarity with the sounds of another language. These early experiences lay the groundwork for more structured language learning in Reception.

Understanding the World

Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community. The frequency and range of children’s personal experiences increases their knowledge and sense of the world around them – from visiting parks, libraries and museums to meeting important members of society such as police officers, nurses and firefighters. In addition, listening to a broad selection of stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems will foster their understanding of our culturally, socially, technologically and ecologically diverse world. As well as building important knowledge, this extends their familiarity with words that support understanding across domains. Enriching and widening children’s vocabulary will support later reading comprehension.

Reception

In Reception, pupils are introduced to Spanish in a fun and engaging way during the Summer Term. They begin by learning simple greetings, numbers, colours and everyday vocabulary through songs, games, and interactive activities. Children enjoy practising new words in playful contexts, such as role play and storytelling. The focus is on listening and speaking, helping pupils to build confidence and enthusiasm for learning a new language. These early experiences support their understanding of different cultures and prepare them for further language learning in Key Stage 1.

Understanding the World

Year 1

In Year 1, children are introduced to the Spanish language through fun, interactive activities that build confidence and curiosity. They begin with basic greetings and learn how to talk about pets, colours, and numbers to 10. As the year progresses, they explore seasonal topics like Navidad (Christmas) and learn to name farm animals, family members, and hobbies. Children also discover the months of the year and practise combining vocabulary in simple phrases. Towards the end of the year, they take part in a recap and begin some early Spanish writing, helping them build a strong foundation in language learning through songs, games, and storytelling.

Year 2

In Year 2, children continue to grow their confidence in Spanish through lively and meaningful topics. They use greetings and numbers to 20 to communicate in simple ways, and explore everyday vocabulary such as pets, common foods, and my home. As their language skills develop, they learn to talk about hobbies, days of the week, and family members, using songs, games, and role-play to bring the language to life. Seasonal learning includes Navidad (Christmas), and children also explore the world of animals—naming zoo and wild animals, and using colours to describe them. The topic of the body helps them connect language to themselves, supporting both vocabulary and confidence in speaking.