Our Geography Subject leader is Miss Smith
At Manor Court Community Primary School we aim to increase our children's knowledge and curiosity of the wider world, expand geographical vocabulary and promote high aspirations amongst all learners in line with our whole school vision. We seek to create a life-long love of the subject, through teaching our children about diverse places, people and resources and engaging children through investigative and fieldwork opportunities. As children continue their journey with Geography, we aim to foster a deep understanding of the subject enabling them to make powerful links and connections between places, spaces and scales. We aim to ensure that children's geographical knowledge develops alongside their geographical skills. Our intention is that our children go onto apply these skills across all subjects, as well as in their futures beyond Manor Court Community Primary.
Geography in the Early Years is learnt via 'Understanding the World' where pupils gain a good understanding of the world around them. Their curiosity is actively encouraged via planned activities and characteristics of effective learning are assessed. The opportunities to explore and discuss similarities, differences, patterns, and change give the children chance to follow their own lines of enquiry also.
Geography lessons continue to develop age-appropriate, accurate knowledge of the location, physical and human characteristics of a wide range of globally significant places. Specific themes and topics are planned to ensure that targetted concepts, places, case studies and skills are addressed. Within our curriculum, careful sequencing ensures that pupils build knowledge, understanding and skills in geography over time. Specific curriculum content has been selected to ensure that children are taught the most appropriate and useful concepts for their onward learning. Existing knowledge is checked at the start of each new topic. This ensures that teaching is informed by the children's starting points and takes account of pupil voice. School trips and fieldwork, including use of the local area are provided to give first hand experiences, which enhance children's understanding of the world within and beyond their locality.
Children will be taught to use geographical vocabulary which is appropriate and accurate, and which develops and evolves from EYFS to KS1 and through KS2 and collect, analyse and present a range of data, gathered through experiences of fieldwork, to deepen understanding of geographical processes. They will be taught to use and interpret a wide range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes and aerial photographs. Children will be able to communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length. Curriculum documentation reflects clear expectations around what pupils will know and be able to do with their geographical knowledge and skills at curriculum 'end points' such as the end of a key stage.
Geography will promote children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development helping them to have a greater understanding of their place in the world, and their rights and responsibilities to other people and the environment. In today's changing world, opportunities are planned for children to explore and analyse relevant matters linked to sustainability and climate change.
Georgraphy is monitored and evidenced through sequential planning and learning recorded in workbooks. Each term, children who have not met the expected standard are identified and opportunities are planned to enable them to review and revisit a particular concept or skill. The statements from the National Curriculum and Early Learning Goals form the success criteria for which the children can be assessed against at the end of the relevant stages. The school's knowledge and skills progression for Geography provides a further breakdown of which the children are expected to achieve at the end of each year group. Children in Early Years are assessed via the EYFS framework in the EYC and Foundation Stage classes.
Our aim at Manor Court Community Primary School is that every child's needs are catered for and every child is given the chance to succeed, wherever their strength lies. It is our aim to give every child the opportunity to experience success in learning and to be the best that they can be. Teachers aim to include all pupils fully in all lessons. All pupils are encouraged to access age-appropriate learning: this is done by careful planning, differentiation, support and use of a range of resources. If pupils are working significantly below that of their year group, teachers will plan for their individual needs, taking from the National Curriculum objectives or other progression documents if appropriate.