History at Elloughton Primary School
Inspired to learn about the past
At Elloughton Primary School, our history curriculum reflects our moral compass and our vision of being inspired to learn. Through the study of the past, pupils develop curiosity, critical thinking and a deep understanding of the world around them.
We aim to develop historically engaged pupils who are confident in asking questions, analysing sources and evidence and forming thoughtful conclusions. By the time they leave Elloughton Primary School, children are knowledgeable about the past and proficient in historical enquiry.
Through history, pupils also develop the values that guide life at Elloughton, including respect, empathy, integrity and ambition, as they explore the experiences of people and societies from different times and cultures.
We aim to develop historically engaged pupils who are confident in asking questions, analysing sources and evidence and forming thoughtful conclusions. By the time they leave Elloughton Primary School, children are knowledgeable about the past and proficient in historical enquiry.
Through history, pupils also develop the values that guide life at Elloughton, including respect, empathy, integrity and ambition, as they explore the experiences of people and societies from different times and cultures.
Our History Curriculum
Our History curriculum is carefully sequenced from Early Years through to Year 6 so that pupils develop secure chronological understanding and see how historical periods connect across time.
Children study a broad range of British, local and world history including:
Chronology underpins all learning so that pupils can place events and civilisations within a clear historical narrative.
Please click here to see our History Long-Term Plan for a detailed overview of what is taught in each year group.
Our History curriculum is carefully sequenced from Early Years through to Year 6 so that pupils develop secure chronological understanding and see how historical periods connect across time.
Children study a broad range of British, local and world history including:
- changes within living memory
- significant individuals
- events beyond living memory
- Changes to Britain during the Stone Age to Iron Age
- Ancient Egypt and Ancient Maya
- Ancient Greece
- Roman Britain
- Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
- World War II
- local history, including Elloughton’s aviation heritage
Chronology underpins all learning so that pupils can place events and civilisations within a clear historical narrative.
Please click here to see our History Long-Term Plan for a detailed overview of what is taught in each year group.
What Children Learn
Our curriculum is built around clearly identified substantive knowledge – the important historical knowledge pupils need to understand the past.
Pupils learn about:
Across the curriculum, pupils revisit themes such as society and community, belief systems, leadership and power, invasion and legacy and achievement. Revisiting these ideas helps pupils develop cumulative knowledge and make meaningful connections between different periods of history.
Our curriculum is built around clearly identified substantive knowledge – the important historical knowledge pupils need to understand the past.
Pupils learn about:
- key historical periods
- significant events
- influential individuals
- important places
- civilisations and societies
Across the curriculum, pupils revisit themes such as society and community, belief systems, leadership and power, invasion and legacy and achievement. Revisiting these ideas helps pupils develop cumulative knowledge and make meaningful connections between different periods of history.
Working as Historians
Alongside historical knowledge, pupils develop the skills required to think and work as historians.
They learn to:
Pupils are encouraged to ask historically valid questions and use evidence to build their understanding of the past. As they progress through school, they become increasingly confident in discussing historical interpretations and communicating their ideas clearly.
Alongside historical knowledge, pupils develop the skills required to think and work as historians.
They learn to:
- place events within a chronological framework
- explore cause and consequence
- identify continuity and change
- compare similarities and differences
- evaluate historical significance
- analyse sources and evidence
Pupils are encouraged to ask historically valid questions and use evidence to build their understanding of the past. As they progress through school, they become increasingly confident in discussing historical interpretations and communicating their ideas clearly.
Revisiting and Remembering Learning
Our curriculum is designed so that key historical knowledge and vocabulary are revisited regularly.
In Key Stage 1, floor books support discussion and reflection, helping pupils revisit previous learning and consolidate their understanding of historical events and individuals.
In Key Stage 2, teachers revisit prior learning through discussion, timelines, multiple choice quizzes and other retrieval activities so that knowledge becomes embedded in pupils’ long-term memory. Teachers deliberately make links between new learning and previously studied periods so that pupils develop a coherent understanding of chronology and historical change.
Our curriculum is designed so that key historical knowledge and vocabulary are revisited regularly.
In Key Stage 1, floor books support discussion and reflection, helping pupils revisit previous learning and consolidate their understanding of historical events and individuals.
In Key Stage 2, teachers revisit prior learning through discussion, timelines, multiple choice quizzes and other retrieval activities so that knowledge becomes embedded in pupils’ long-term memory. Teachers deliberately make links between new learning and previously studied periods so that pupils develop a coherent understanding of chronology and historical change.
Supporting All Learners
At Elloughton Primary School, we believe every child should be able to access and succeed in the History curriculum.
High-quality adaptive teaching supports all learners through:
Additional support may include simplified language, sentence stems, colourful semantics and alternative recording methods or personalised adaptations where required.
At Elloughton Primary School, we believe every child should be able to access and succeed in the History curriculum.
High-quality adaptive teaching supports all learners through:
- clear modelling and explanations
- visual prompts and historical images
- explicit teaching of historical vocabulary
- discussion and verbal rehearsal
- scaffolding to support written responses
- retrieval activities to strengthen memory
Additional support may include simplified language, sentence stems, colourful semantics and alternative recording methods or personalised adaptations where required.
History – Key Vocabulary
In History, pupils develop and use subject-specific vocabulary to help them describe, explain and analyse the past. Teachers explicitly introduce and revisit key historical terms so that pupils can communicate their understanding clearly.
Examples of historical vocabulary include:
chronology
civilisation
empire
monarchy
invasion
settlement
evidence
interpretation
Pupils revisit and apply this vocabulary across different historical enquiries, helping them develop a deeper understanding of the past.
In History, pupils develop and use subject-specific vocabulary to help them describe, explain and analyse the past. Teachers explicitly introduce and revisit key historical terms so that pupils can communicate their understanding clearly.
Examples of historical vocabulary include:
chronology
civilisation
empire
monarchy
invasion
settlement
evidence
interpretation
Pupils revisit and apply this vocabulary across different historical enquiries, helping them develop a deeper understanding of the past.
Enrichment and Local Identity
Educational visits, workshops and local investigations enrich our History curriculum and bring learning to life.
Studying Elloughton’s aviation heritage allows pupils to explore how their local community has contributed to national and global history. These experiences help pupils develop a strong sense of identity and understand how their community connects to the wider world.
Educational visits, workshops and local investigations enrich our History curriculum and bring learning to life.
Studying Elloughton’s aviation heritage allows pupils to explore how their local community has contributed to national and global history. These experiences help pupils develop a strong sense of identity and understand how their community connects to the wider world.
The Impact of Our History Curriculum
By the time pupils leave Elloughton Primary School, they:
Most importantly, they leave inspired to continue exploring the past and confident in their ability to understand how history shapes the world around them.
By the time pupils leave Elloughton Primary School, they:
- possess secure chronological understanding
- understand how historical periods connect across time
- use historical vocabulary confidently
- analyse sources and evidence thoughtfully
- recognise cause and consequence in historical events
- demonstrate curiosity and ambition in their learning
Most importantly, they leave inspired to continue exploring the past and confident in their ability to understand how history shapes the world around them.
