History
Intent
At Walderslade Primary School, we have high expectations for all children to develop their knowledge and apply a deeper understanding of History. We have designed our curriculum to ensure coverage of the National Curriculum content, with progression building on previous knowledge across the Year groups and Key Stages. This intention is shared with the children, parents and carers through the use of ‘Knowledge organisers’. The knowledge requirements for each topic are clearly set out, which show the breadth of study across the whole school and the progression of skills.
These are the key elements of History from the National Curriculum:
Chronological understanding
- Knowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the past
- Historical interpretations
- Historical enquiry
- Organisation and communication
As well as focusing on factors that changed the history of Britain overtime, allowing pupils to experience an interweaving of local national history and utilizing the local treasures of history we have available.
Implementation
In EYFS, History skills are taught through the ‘specific area’ of ‘Understanding the world’ with links continually made to the prime areas. In years 1 and 2, History is covered through a creative curriculum, with a wealth of cross-curricular opportunities. Staff work together to ensure the breadth of study is covered, while allowing the children’s interests and questions to shape the expedition. In years 3, 4, 5 and 6 History is taught through expeditions. Across the school, we also plan visits and visitors to enhance the learning experiences of all the children, making History a multi-sensory and exciting subject for all.
The Curriculum lead ensures the coverage and progression of History across school, monitoring the Knowledge organisers, progression of skills evidenced in books and through pupil voice interviews. Class teachers use our WAT as a tool to assess the knowledge and understanding of their children, as well as the checkpoints throughout the expedition to ensure 'sticky knowledge' is being retained. The Curriculum lead uses this data to track the progression of each class and also to ensure all children have equality of access to the History curriculum, looking at SEN, pupil premium and gender data.
Children also develop their understanding of historic terms and have a variety of artefacts to support with visuals and support them to deepen their understanding. Sticky knowledges is assessed within the subject specific checkpoints used throughout the expedition, informing adaptation of the curriculum needed and pupil progress.
Impact
The Curriculum lead uses the book look sessions, pupil voice, focused lesson observations, teacher assessment and Prior Expedition Review (linking to prior knowledge) and Expedition Review (Exit), Subject specific retrieval checkpoints, to monitor the impact of the teaching and learning of History in school. The aim of our intent and implementation is evidenced in our impact, to equip all children with the historical knowledge and progression of skills as they move through the school. With high expectations for all, we want to fuel their interest and enthusiasm to apply their knowledge, asking their own questions to further develop their understanding of History.
