History

At Willow Tree, we believe that children should learn about history in a way that inspires their curiosity to know more about the past. Through a chronological study of British, European and World history, our curriculum supports pupils to understand how key events, people and civilisations have shaped society and how these different periods of time are connected.

We feel it is important that our children develop a sense of identity through learning about the past and we want them to know how history has shaped their own lives.

This is why the local area is fully utilised to achieve the curriculum outcomes. We aim to enable children to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement to become young historians. By the time children leave Willow Tree, they should have a good knowledge and understanding about the history of Britain and the wider world and have a coherent understanding of historical concepts and historical enquiry.

Implementation

Our curriculum embraces the key aims of the National Curriculum with the support of Oak National Academy through a focus on knowledge, vocabulary and diversity. Teachers use a variety of teaching and learning styles in their lessons to develop pupils’ knowledge, skills and understanding. Lessons mainly use resources and videos from the internet and the children are given opportunities to work independently and collaboratively. Wherever possible, teachers give the children opportunities to handle artefacts and secondary sources such as non-fiction books and photographs, listen to and interact with stories from the past as well as use drama and role play to act out key historical events. Teachers also organise visits to museums and places of interest including places in our local area allowing our history curriculum to come to life. 

In the Early Years, history is taught discreetly using stories, songs, role play and discussions. Children are encouraged to talk about their family and people who are important to them in the community. They are exposed to stories and pictures that show familiar situations in the past such as homes, school and transport.  Adults offer opportunities for children to begin to organise events using basic chronology, recognising that things happened before they were born.