Our History scheme of learning will bring a sense of wonder, awareness and understanding of both Britain through the ages as well as a number of significant ancient civilisations from around the world. The scheme fulfils the statutory requirements set out in the aims of the current National Curriculum. From these aims, the following four strands have been identified as the key focal points: Disciplinary Concepts, Historical Enquiry and Substantive Concepts (KS2 only). The fourth strand, Chronological Awareness, stretches across all of the other strands and is the base for all of our learning in this subject.

Disciplinary Concepts are simply the way in which historians investigate the past and how they put together their historical understanding. Examples of these concepts include: Changes and Continuity, Similarities and Differences, Cause and Consequence, Historical Significance, Sources of Evidence and Historical Interpretation.

Substantive Concepts relate to the knowledge of the past and focus on different themes related to people, events and ideas such as Power, Invasion and Settlement, Civilisation, Tax and Trade, Beliefs and Achievements of Mankind.

Historical Enquiry relates to the skills that the children will learn and hone over their time at Kilmersdon and echoes the real-life methods that historians use to explore and build their understanding of history. Examples of these skills include posing historical questions, gathering and evaluating evidence and communicating their findings.

History at Kilmersdon follows a spiral curriculum so that children experience the key focal points often within the topics taught. Each time these concepts are revisited, there is more depth and greater complexity to the study. At each stage, the children’s prior knowledge will be assessed and they will be encouraged to make links between their understanding and their new learning.

EYFS

Children in the Early Years learn foundational concepts and vocabulary as part of ‘Understanding the World’ which will help them with History in Key Stage One and beyond. Simple timelines help children to sequence events – starting with daily routines. Children are introduced to past and present starting with key events in the children’s lives - looking at and talking about baby photos of both the children and staff. We learn from living history by inviting grandparents or great grandparents to talk to the class about how life was when they were at school. We stimulate children’s curiosity and build early enquiry to enable future learning. Children experience old buildings and sites through visiting the church and discover the folk-law history of our ‘Jack and Jill’ well. There are opportunities to look at artefacts, photos, pictures, stories and accounts from the past – this evokes curiosity and stimulates conversations. We share a range of texts featuring fictional and non-fictional characters from a range of cultures and times, talking about the similarities and differences between now and in the past. We join the rest of the school to commemorate events like Remembrance Day.