History teaching and learning ensures that children gain an understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. History helps pupils understand the lives of other people and how events from the past have shaped the present day. It also allows children to build a timeline, using common words and phrases related to time. History provides children with a number of valuable skills, such as asking perceptive questions, thinking critically, weighing evidence and developing perspective.

At St Saviour’s pupils learn how the past is different to the present and start to develop a timeline. They find out about significant events and people from both the recent and more distant past. They learn about both British events and those from the wider world, in order to understand how such events shaped the present day.

In Reception History forms part of the Knowledge and Understanding of the World module. Children begin to think about their own lives and how they have changed to begin to form an idea of past and present.

History is taught as part of a cross-curricular topic in Years 1 and 2. It is usually taught every other term.

The six units are:

• How people used to live in the recent past – up to 100 years ago.
• Historical people from Britain who have contributed to the nation’s achievements.
• Changes in my own life.
• Historical enquiry.
• How people used to live in the past (beyond living memory).
• Historical events from Britain and the wider world.

We use school trips, artefacts and visitors to school to make the learning meaningful to the children. Children can also take their learning forward in Discovery Time to find out answers to questions they have.