History

At Plaistow we aim to arouse children’s interest and enthusiasm in looking at the past, and promote enquiry and curiosity.

In Key Stage One pupils develop an awareness of the past, using common words and phrases relating to the passing of time. They will learn where the people and events they study fit within a chronological framework and identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different periods. They use a wide vocabulary of everyday historical terms. They ask and answer questions, choosing and using parts of stories and other sources to show that they know and understand key features of events. They understand some of the ways in which we find out about the past and identify different ways in which it is represented.

In Key Stage Two pupils continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study. They note connections, contrasts and trends over time and develop the appropriate use of historical terms. They regularly address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance. They construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information. They understand how our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources.

In the Early Years (Reception and Nursery) children are guided to make sense of their physical world and their community. Through whole-class teaching and guided play, children talk about the lives of the people around them and their roles in society, and know some similarities and differences between things in the past and now. They are encouraged to understand the past through settings, characters and events encountered in books read in class and storytelling.

Plaistow Primary School Progression in History

Our subject progressions are bespoke to Plaistow. They have been compiled with reference to national and international bodies and organisations.