This area helps children make sense of their physical world and community, including exploring nature, culture, and history.

Our aim is to develop the children’s knowledge about their local environment and to also begin to develop their awareness of the wider world. We are fortunate to be able to explore the natural environment and to make observations of animals and plants within our school grounds, engaging the children in first-hand experiences to spark their sense of awe and wonder and to help develop their understanding of various concepts. To develop their knowledge of other countries, habitats and animals, we explore various topics that include this and encourage the children to talk about what they notice, learning new vocabulary and using this in their conversations.

Through the use of stories, non-fiction books and videos, we introduce the children to a variety of celebrations and traditions from different countries and religions, making links to their own experiences and those of others. We aim to develop a sense of respect for all people in the world and to celebrate our similarities and differences. Being a Church of England School, the children are regularly taught the teachings of the bible through whole school collective worship, visits to the local church and focused lessons within the classroom.

We also engage children in learning about the past and use relatable stories, objects and photographs to support them in gaining a sense of how things have changed and the lives of others that came before them.

Early Learning Goals

Past and Present

• Talk about the lives of the people around them and their roles in society.
• Know some similarities and differences between things in the past and now, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class.
• Understand the past through settings, characters and events encountered in books read in class and storytelling.

People, Culture and Communities

• Describe their immediate environment using knowledge from observation, discussion, stories, non-fiction texts and maps.
•  Know some similarities and differences between different religious and cultural communities in this country, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class.
•  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.

The Natural World

• Explore the natural world around them, making observations and drawing pictures of animals and plants.
• 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 and changing states of matter.