History

The study of history ignites children’s curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world. Through finding out about how and why the world, our country, culture and local community have developed over time, children will begin to understand how the past influences the present. History enables children to develop a context for their growing sense of identity and a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people.  At Hyde Heath Infant School our intent, when teaching history, is to stimulate the children’s curiosity in order for them to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding.

In Reception the children are encouraged to begin to make sense of their own life-story and their family’s history and to talk about the lives of people around them and their roles in society. They are also given opportunities to compare and contrast characters from stories, including figures from the past. They will be supported in recognising some similarities and differences between things in the past and now, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class. They will also investigate the past through settings, characters and events encountered in books read in class and storytelling.

Building on their learning in Reception in KS1 children will learn how to compare historical events and understand their position on timelines. The children will be given a wide range of opportunities to begin to look closely and critically to explore History, including educational visits, experts visiting the school, artefacts and photographs. This supports the children’s ability to understand how we can use evidence to find answers to questions about the past and to ask questions to develop their understanding of key events and how significant people have influenced society. The children will also be encouraged to communicate using historical vocabulary, using words and phrases to indicate the passage of time e.g. recently, when my parents were young, a long time ago, ancient, centuries…

The Hyde Heath History Skills Progression Matrix is used to assess the impact of the teaching and to see where further revisiting of skills and experiences need to be given. Ongoing assessments take place though the year. Teachers use this information to inform future lessons, supporting and challenging the children as they develop.