History

Intent

At Balfour Infant School we believe that History is about developing children’s knowledge of the world, ourselves and different places and people. We teach history for children to be inquisitive and curious historians. We fire pupils' curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world. We encourage thinking about how the past influences the present. We help children develop a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people 

The national curriculum for history aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day: how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world
• Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations; the expansion and dissolution of empires; characteristic features of past non-European societies; achievements and follies of mankind
• Gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of abstract terms
• Understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make connections, draw contrasts, analyse trends, frame historically-valid questions and create their own structured accounts, including written narratives and analyses
• Understand the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used rigorously to make historical claims, and discern how and why contrasting arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed
• Gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts, understanding the connections.

Implementation

We use the National Curriculum as the basis for our curriculum planning, and from this, we have tailored our long-term plan to our children. We ensure that there are opportunities for children of all abilities to develop their skills and knowledge in each unit and we build planned progression into the scheme of work so that the children are increasingly challenged as they move up through the school. Our curriculum is enquiry based and builds upon prior learning. Through questioning and challenge to encourage children to develop a deeper understanding. 

EYFS

In EYFS, History skills are taught through the ‘specific area’ of ‘Understanding the World’ with links also made to the prime areas. Children are encouraged to be curious about themselves and others through stories and pictures. They are encouraged to recognise and describe similarities and differences between people and recognise special events in their own lives and the lives of others. Children are encouraged to look at and discuss observations relating to the natural world and cycles of growth and decay over time. They will learn to recognise change and patterns through experiences.

Key Stage One

In Key Stage 1, History is taught through a creative curriculum, themes and cross curricular learning. In Key Stage 1, History is about beginning to understand the concepts of past, present and future and developing an understanding of their own and their families past. We want children to use common words and phrases relating to the passing of time. We want the children 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. The children learn about people’s lives and lifestyles by finding out about significant people and events from the past.

Impact

Our History curriculum is planned so that pupils have a good understanding of historical concepts, knowledge, skills and vocabulary that ensures they achieve age related attainment at the end of each Key Stage. Children will understand this importance of the past and are challenged to think deeper about what they learn and know. This will be seen through adapted lessons so that all children are able to demonstrate the skills they have been taught and talk confidently about their learning. 

What do our children think of History at Balfour Infant School?

Year R child: “On my birthday I was 5, and on my next birthday I’m going to be 5 and 1 more. That’s 6. I used to be a baby but now I’m getting bigger.”

Year One child: “I like finding out things from long ago. I find out about things using books and the screen at home.”

Year Two child: “I liked when we learnt about Queen Victoria’s life and how people lived in Victorian times. It is very a different life for a Victorian child. I am happy that I live now and not in Victorian times.”

History Gallery