History
Intent
Our history curriculum is designed to spark curiosity and a love of learning about the past. We want children to see history as the story of real people, places, and events that have shaped the world they live in today.
From the earliest years in EYFS, pupils begin to ask questions about their own lives and the lives of others, gradually building a sense of chronology and understanding of change over time. Each year group explores history through a key question and a set of substantive concepts, helping them make meaningful connections across different periods.
Our aim is to develop historians who think critically, use evidence to form judgements, and understand that history is not just about facts but about interpreting the past. For pupils with SEND, learning is adapted and supported so that every child can access and succeed in history.
Implementation
Learning begins in EYFS with opportunities to talk about personal experiences and family traditions, laying the foundations for historical thinking. In Key Stage 1, children explore significant individuals and events, using stories, artefacts, and images to bring the past to life. In Key Stage 2, pupils deepen their understanding through carefully sequenced units that cover British, local, and world history.
Each unit is driven by a key question, encouraging enquiry and discussion, and is underpinned by substantive concepts that recur throughout the curriculum. Children use a wide range of sources—artefacts, photographs, written accounts, and digital resources—to investigate the past, learning to question reliability and consider different perspectives.
Enrichment opportunities such as museum visits, historical sites, and themed workshops provide real-world experiences that make history exciting and memorable. For SEND learners, tasks are differentiated, visual supports are provided, and additional adult guidance ensures full participation.
Impact
By the end of EYFS, children will begin to recognise and talk about events in their own lives and those of others. By the end of primary school, pupils will have a secure chronological understanding, know how key events and periods connect, and confidently use historical vocabulary. They will understand that history is constructed from evidence and interpretation and will be able to ask and answer thoughtful questions about the past. Most importantly, all children—including those with SEND—will leave primary school with curiosity, respect for different cultures and perspectives, and the ability to think critically about how history shapes the present and future.
