History

​Our teaching of history will help pupils gain a secure knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. We aim for children to be curious to know more about the past and to have the skills required to explore their own interests. Children will be given the chance to experience historical artefacts. We aim to enrich and develop children’s historical language and introduce history across the curriculum at every opportunity through a topic-based approach.  

Every learner will have access to and can handle artefacts and have the opportunity to go on visits to museums or places of interest. They will have access to secondary sources such as books and photographs while learning about local history and significant figures. When learning about history learners will listen to and interact with stories from the past and use non-fiction books for research. Children will use drama and dance to act out historical events. They will be given opportunities to answer historical questions. In the EYFS children will learn through discussion, play and practical application so that our children can demonstrate that they can talk about past events in their lives and lives of family members. In Key Stage One History is taught through a topic-based approach. For our children meaningful historical links are made through personal and significant events, plus wider community and global historical events are marked throughout the year.  

EYFS History is very cross curricular where children can develop their understanding of, application of and development in all of the areas of learning. In Early Years they will know about the lives of the people around them and their roles in society; Know some similarities and differences between things in the past and now, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class; Understand the past through settings, characters and events encountered in books read in class and storytelling. 

By the end of KS1 children will  

• Develop an awareness of the past, using common words and phrases relating to the passing of time.  
• have acquired the age-appropriate related knowledge linked to the history curriculum 
• Know where the people and events they study fit within a chronological framework and identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different periods. 
• Be able to use history vocabulary accurately and to be able to talk confidently and fluently about their history work. 
• Be able to ask and answer questions, choosing and using parts of stories and other sources to show that they know and understand key features of events.  
• Be able to understand some of the ways in which we find out about the past and identify different ways in which it is represented. 
• To have the historical skills and knowledge which prepares them for Year Three. 
• We aim for History to be a subject which is enjoyed by the children in our school.