Milnthorpe Primary School

Intent
History has always been held in high regard at Milnthorpe Primary School. We pride ourselves on our creative learning environment and classroom displays. The history curriculum at Milnthorpe makes full use of resources within the immediate and wider local area enabling children to develop a deep understanding of the history of their locality.
Topics are informed by the national curriculum and are sensitive to children’s interests, as well as the context of the local area. The history curriculum at Milnthorpe is carefully planned and structured to ensure that current learning is linked to previous learning and that the school’s approaches are informed by current pedagogy. In line with the national curriculum 2014, the curriculum at Milnthorpe aims to ensure that all pupils:

Gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world which helps to stimulate pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past;

Are encouraged to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement;

Begin to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.

Implementation
History is taught in termly or half-termly blocks throughout the year, so that children achieve depth in their learning. Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each topic and consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group across the school. By the end of year 6, children will have a chronological understanding of British history from the Stone Age to the present day. They are able to draw comparisons and make connections between different time periods and their own lives. Interlinked with this are studies of world history, such as the ancient civilisations of the Maya and the Egyptians.
Cross curricular outcomes in history are specifically planned for, with strong links between the history curriculum and writing in English, enabling further contextual learning. The local area is also fully utilised to achieve the desired outcomes, with extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice. Planning is informed by and aligned with the national curriculum. Consideration is given to how greater depth will be taught, learnt and demonstrated within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion. Outcomes of work are monitored to ensure that they reflect a sound understanding of the key identified knowledge. Within our knowledge-rich approach, there is a strong emphasis on people and the community of our local area.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) follows the ‘Development Matters in the EYFS’ guidance which aims for all children in Foundation Stage to have an ‘Understanding of the World; people and communities, the world and technology’ by the end of the academic year.  This begins an ability to make sense of their own life-story and that of their family; recognising similarities and differences between the past and now and exploring the past through story.

Impact
Outcomes in topic and English books, evidence a broad and balanced history curriculum and demonstrate the children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge. Children regularly review their successes and are actively encouraged to identify their own target areas, with support from their teachers. As a topic ends, children are also asked what they have learned comparative to their starting points.
Emphasis is placed on analytical thinking and questioning (particularly when investigation primary and secondary sources) which helps pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world and are curious to know more about the past. Through this study, pupils learn to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. Regular school trips (such as the Y5 residential to York for the Viking project and the Y3 Stone Age camp) provide further relevant and contextual learning.

The study of history at Milnthorpe Primary School gives pupils a sense of identity and heritage. Children's interest about the past is stimulated by the study of local, national and worldwide events and civilizations.

A range of topics embed chronological understanding and knowledge through historical enquiry and interpretation. The curriculum is brought to life through residential visits, including a stoneage camp and historical visit to York.