Intent

At Instow Community Primary and Pre-School, our aim is to provide a high-quality Geography curriculum that is inclusive for all. As geographers, children will be inspired and curious about the world in which they live. We believe that all children are geographers; we teach this using our main curriculum drivers alongside a progressive geography curriculum that develops children’s understanding and knowledge of diverse people, places, resources and human and natural environments at local, national and international levels. We utilise our unique locality to learn more about our heritage and allow the children to develop a strong sense of self. Our curriculum at Instow teaches skills and fieldwork utilising our rich local environment. The knowledge taught is vast and varied, enabling children to become global citizens. Children are helped to understand diverse places, people and environments together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. We aim to provide opportunities to inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world that will remain with them throughout their lives. We strive to enable them to understand how geography closely links to history, maths and many other curriculum areas.

Implementation

As a foundation subject, the geography curriculum will be taught weekly for half a term. In Class 1, the children are taught through the key areas of learning set out in the EYFS statutory framework. Through a broad range of teacher-led, child-initiated and continuous provision, children will be taught to:

• Describe their immediate environment using knowledge from observation, discussion, stories, non-fiction texts and maps.

• Explain some similarities and differences between life in this country and life in other countries, drawing on knowledge from stories, non-fiction texts and (when appropriate) maps.

• Know some similarities and differences between the natural world around them and contrasting environments, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class.

• Understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons.

In Key Stage 1 and 2, geography is taught by class teachers. It is taught on a weekly basis for half of each term; this enables the children to revisit and build upon concepts and understanding throughout their learning journey. Teaching focusses on enabling and encouraging children to think as geographers. Teachers model and demonstrate how to utilise equipment such as compasses and ordinance survey maps with accuracy and children are then given opportunities within their learning to apply and embed those skills. We provide a variety of opportunities for geography learning inside and outside the classroom. Educational visits are another opportunity for teachers to plan for additional geography learning outside the classroom. The children have many opportunities to experience geography on educational visits, including exploring the local environment and a contrasting urban environment in KS2. Our local area also provides an opportunity for further geography learning, as well as trips to the beach, the burrows, woods, castles and using map reading skills during residential trips. Progression As a school, we encourage children to be curious about the world around them - our geography curriculum is at the heart of this. Throughout the programmes of study, the children will acquire skills and develop the key knowledge that has been identified within each unit. Key skills and knowledge are mapped and are progressive throughout the school. This ensures a systematic progression to identify end points which are in accordance with the expectations of the National Curriculum. More information can be found in our progression document and statements.

Resources: At Instow School we have a range of geography equipment for teachers to use. Geography books are requested termly from the Schools Library Service so that children have high-quality geography books to engage with. We subscribe to First News – a weekly children’s newspaper which contains a diverse range of news articles including national and international news stories. We have a set of class I-Pads that can be used within lesson. Purple Mash and the Seesaw learning platform are also used to support our geography curriculum.

Impact

Assessment: The purpose of assessment in geography is to monitor children’s understanding of geographical language, concepts and skills, and to see how they make connections with their learning. Teachers need accurate information about what the children know so that they can support them in their progression. Assessment is based on a wide range of evidence, which includes formative assessment in the class where children receive verbal feedback on how they progress. Outcomes: The approach to geography at Instow strives to develop children’s natural curiosity for the world around them. We provide children with the foundations and knowledge to understand and value the world and its people. Children will see themselves as geographers. They will know more, remember more and understand more about the geography curriculum. All children will have

• A wide variety of geographical skills, knowledge and understanding;

• A richer vocabulary that enables them to articulate their understanding of taught concepts;

• A greater understanding of the natural processes in the world around them, and their place in the world.

• A continued curiosity and love for geography.