Brookvale Primary School

Intent

At Brookvale we believe that high-quality history lessons inspire children to want to know more about the past and to think and act as historians. By linking learning to a range of topics and linking where possible to the local area, children can investigate and interpret about the past. We want the children to understand chronology, build an overview of Britain’s past as well as the wider world, and to be able to communicate historically. Our teaching will equip children with the skills to ask questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments and develop judgements. We will use the National Curriculum History Guidelines as the basis of our planning, and we will make meaningful links with our understanding of the children we teach.

Implementation

• Each class studies 3 specific topics throughout the year. Children practice and develop a range of skills and knowledge within all areas of the curriculum whilst developing historical understanding.
•  Historical vocabulary will be a key factor in all lessons. Children will be taught language related to their given time period and historical vocabulary needed to understand and discuss the subject.
• Through school and class assemblies, history will be taught ensuring that children are continuously developing an understanding of the subject.
• Planning for history will be flexible, allowing children to lead some of their own learning within the area of history studied.
• At the start of every lesson, children will recall their knowledge through discussion and at the end of each unit children will produce a double-page spread to present their knowledge and understanding of the time period studied or complete quiz style questions to show what they have learnt.
• A whole school approach towards chronological historical study is planned for, allowing knowledge, skills and understanding to be developed.
• In EYFS, teachers will provide opportunities to; develop a curiosity and interest in children’s own history as well as those around them through investigating, talking and asking questions about their family and friends.
• EYFS teachers will provide a range of experiences that encourage exploration, observation, problem, critical thinking and discussion. These activities, indoors and outdoors, will attract the children’s interest and curiosity.
• To enhance their learning experiences in History we provide trips and visiting experts. We also deliver history days focussed on a specific topic for classes in KS2 to further develop their knowledge and engage interest.
• English lessons particularly in KS2 will be used effectively as a platform for sharing historical knowledge-reading, speaking and writing lessons.
• ICT, books, primary and secondary sources are used to enhance children’s learning.
• The method of teaching history will involve a combination of mixed ability work, and independent work where children are encouraged to communicate and present their findings in a variety of ways.
• Planned lessons will meet the needs of individual pupils. SEND pupils across the school may work in small groups, with an adult, have differentiated tasks, have simple step by step instructions to follow, and use ICT such as iPads to present and record work. Some activities will be altered to suit their needs when needed , there will be visual aids to help with understanding and they will be encouraged to present their work in different ways.
• Key attitudes and values towards the subject will be developed to encourage a general awareness of social issues both past and present and to allow children to understand how we learn and develop from the past.

Impact

All our children arrive with different starting points and all children will achieve their very best by the time they leave at the end of KS2. History at Brookvale will be inspiring, thought provoking and develop natural curiosity. It will have a strong presence in the ethos of the school through displays, performances, music, drama and assemblies. Children will gain a depth of historical knowledge and the skills needed to develop their own enquiries in history. Teachers will be aware where the learning is at and will strive to improve the children’s level of work within the subject.