INTENT
At Skyswood Primary and Nursery school our aim is to instil a love of history in all of our children. We provide a history curriculum which focusses on the development of appropriate skills, subject knowledge, and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum History Programmes of Study. Our aim is to provide an inspiring curriculum that triggers our children’s curiosity for the subject whilst addressing the needs of all backgrounds, cultures and abilities.
From the EYFS right up to the end of KS2, children will be taught about various historical events and consider where these take place within a historical timeline. Children will learn about historical figures and events that have shaped the world today. Thoughtful links are made, where appropriate, to our local area. The history curriculum is further enriched through purposeful and well selected cross-curricular links. Our History Co-ordinator, Mr Grant Jones, works closely with staff to monitor the quality of the curriculum through learning walks, lesson observations, work scrutiny, teacher assessment and pupil voice.
IMPLEMENTATION
As a school, we use the framework of the National Curriculum to ensure that the appropriate skills are being taught across all year groups. Progression grids are used to ensure that there is an appropriate progression of skills, knowledge and vocabulary as the children move up through the school. Where appropriate, we use historical artefacts, visitors, workshops and visits to excite and intrigue our children, encouraging a deeper level of enquiry around events and people from the past. Practical, enquiry-based lessons enable our children to embed their understanding, make relevant connections and remember what they have learned.
IMPACT
High quality teaching in history equips children with the skills and confidence to articulate their learning and talk enthusiastically about the skills and knowledge that they have acquired. Children engage positively with their history lessons and are eager to find out more. Children often enrich their learning through their independent research and will look at historical evidence from a range of perspectives. Our school environment is history rich through its displays, resources, and through our commitment to an enquiry-based approach. As historians, children will learn lessons from history to influence the decisions they make in their future lives.
The National Curriculum identifies five key areas within the primary history curriculum;
* HISTORICAL ENQUIRY
* HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
* KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF EVENTS, PEOPLE AND CHANGES IN THE PAST
* CHRONOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING
* ORGANISATION AND COMMUNICATION OF HISTORICAL LEARNING
History and Geography units are taught as blocked units over the course of a term. Therefore, classes will cover at least one historical or geographical unit per term. Our cross-curricular approach ensures that historical learning is supported through literacy, art, music, and other curricular areas. Classes often present the children’s historical learning through special events, such as class assemblies.