Intent

What are we aiming for?

• To instil a sense of curiosity to find out about the world and the people who live in it.

• To develop knowledge of where places are and what they are like

• An understanding that places and people are interconnected and interdependent.

• To develop the skills of geographical enquiry, questioning and fieldwork

• To develop and use a subject specific vocabulary.

• To use their knowledge and understanding to express and justify opinions. 

Implementation

What do we do?

We teach the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and National Curriculum for key stage 1 and lower key stage 2.

In the early years geography is a part of ‘understanding the world’. Opportunities to focus on and learn about the places are planned into topic activities. Assessment is recorded on development matters and at the end of reception a judgement for ‘understanding the world’ is made. 

In years 1 to 4 geography is mostly taught in topics, though not necessarily every term. Some aspects e.g weather  are visited more regularly in key stage 1 during weekly ‘welly walks’. Our curriculum is planned so that key concepts are revisited in different contexts in each year group. This enables the children to ‘master’ them. The topics we have chosen enable children to learn about local, national and world geography. The carefully planned activities are enhanced by opportunities for visits and outdoor activities.

Intent

What are we aiming for?

• To develop a love of history and to arouse curiosity about the past.

• For children to develop knowledge and understanding of the past including significant people and events.

• To develop the skills of a historian e.g. to consider the origin of information and its reliability, to research, to question.

• To develop and use a subject specific vocabulary.

• For children to develop a chronology beginning with events in their lives and leading to events in significant periods of history both in the UK and abroad.

• To compare and contrast some events, people and historical periods as their knowledge and understanding increases.

Implementation

What do we do?

We teach the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and National Curriculum for key stage 1 and lower key stage 2.

In the early years history is a part of ‘understanding the world’. Opportunities to focus on and learn about the past are embedded into daily activities, weekly routines and topics for example celebrating birthdays, a personal time line, transport in the past. Assessment is recorded on development matters and at the end of reception a judgement for ‘understanding the world’ is made. 

In years 1 to 4 history is taught in topics, though not necessarily every term. Our curriculum is planned so that key concepts are revisited in different contexts in each year group. This enables the children to ‘master’ them. The topics we have chosen are relevant to local, national and world history. The carefully planned activities are enhanced by opportunities for visits, visitors and themed days.

Intent

What are we aiming for?

Children who:

• have a knowledge and understanding of a wide range of religions and beliefs

• ask significant and reflective questions about what they have learned and what they understand

• are curious about and respectful of the beliefs and religious practices of others

• can begin to identify commonalities between different religions

Implementation

What do we do?

We teach the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and National Curriculum for key stage 1 and lower key stage 2.

In the early years religious education is a part of ‘understanding the world’. Children are given opportunities to share their own experiences and culture with others. Festivals are used throughout the year as a means to broaden children’s awareness and understanding of the diversity of cultures within the world. Role play that reflects diversity is resourced and encouraged. Assessment is recorded on development matters and at the end of reception a judgement for ‘understanding the world’ is made. 

In years 1 to 4 RE is taught according to the agreed syllabus for Bedfordshire. Children’s understanding of key concepts and major religions is developed throughout key stage 1 and lower key stage 2. Where possible visits and visitors enhance the children’s growing understanding e.g the local vicar, visiting the church and gudwara.