History

Intent

At Pickhurst Infant School, we aim to deliver a history curriculum that is accessible to all, designed to ensure every child achieves their full potential by knowing more, remembering more, and understanding more. Our curriculum provides children with a secure knowledge of Britain’s past, as well as an understanding of significant events and people from the wider world, fostering an appreciation of how history shapes our present and future.

Our curriculum is carefully structured to build knowledge progressively and enable children to make meaningful links between new and prior learning. This approach helps children develop a deeper understanding of historical concepts such as chronology, cause and effect, and change over time.  History lessons are designed to immerse children in the role of historians, developing skills such as asking perceptive questions, analysing sources, and evaluating evidence. Through these experiences, children learn to think critically, weigh evidence, and form balanced conclusions.

To enrich the curriculum, we provide first-hand experiences through historical visits, engaging with guest speakers, and participating in school-based events that bring the past to life. This helps deepen understanding and makes learning memorable and exciting.  In addition to studying historical events and figures, children are encouraged to explore diverse perspectives, fostering empathy and an understanding of how different cultures and communities contribute to our shared history.

By the end of their time at Pickhurst Infant School, children will have developed a strong foundation in historical knowledge and skills, a curiosity about the past, and a deeper understanding of how history connects to their own lives and the wider world. They will leave us equipped with critical thinking skills and a sense of identity rooted in a broad historical context.

History Implementation

At Pickhurst Infants, teachers develop bespoke lesson plans tailored to our children’s needs, interests, and abilities.  In EYFS, children learn about their own history, linking it to their knowledge and understanding of the world.  In KS1, History is taught each term for half a term in a rotation with Geography. Lessons are blocked for a half term to enable children to build their knowledge and understanding sequentially each week.  

Local history is integrated into the curriculum, allowing children to explore significant events, people, and places that have shaped their community.  Our lessons are designed to develop key historical skills, such as chronology, questioning, critical thinking, and evidence analysis.  We encourage children to act as historians by exploring artefacts, analysing sources, and participating in hands-on activities.

Where appropriate, History lessons are enriched by making connections with other subjects, such as English, geography, and art, ensuring that learning is broad and interdisciplinary.  Our curriculum is brought to life through visits to local historical sites, interactions with visitors who share their expertise, and themed events such as Victorian day.  These experiences provide children with opportunities to explore history in a tangible and memorable way.

Differentiated activities and scaffolded support ensure all children can access and engage with the curriculum.  Visual aids, storytelling, and hands-on resources are used to meet the needs of diverse learners.   Regular sharing of plans and progression frameworks with the junior school ensures that children build on prior knowledge and enter the next stage of their education with confidence.