At Belvedere Infant and Junior Schools, we aim to inspire curiosity and excitement about the world around us and those within it through our chosen ‘International Primary Curriculum’ (IPC) topics. We aim to engage our pupils and build memorable experiences that enhance their learning and understanding by providing them with additional opportunities to experience history through exciting educational visits and visitors.

With close links to the expectations of the National Curriculum in geography, we aim to develop an understanding of the world we live in. Providing children with opportunities to experience geography through primary and secondary evidence, and particularly by using our local area and knowledge to bring the thrill of exploring. Children learn to communicate their geographical knowledge and understanding using subject specific vocabulary, maps as well as fieldwork skills, and wherever possible ensuring that cross curricular links are made with other subjects.

In Early years, geography is about people, places and the world around us. Children see geography each day as they learn to make sense of the world and move about within it. Aspects of geography appear within the area of learning called Understanding the World in the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, which is the curriculum for our Nursery and Reception children.

Throughout our geography curriculum, we encourage deeper thinking in all our children. We aim for them to understand basic subject-specific vocabulary relating to human and physical geography and begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their locational awareness.

Overall, we endeavour to create lifelong memories of experiences linked with the understanding of the world we live in, stimulate children into vocabulary rich questioning and discussions, give awareness of what lessons we can learn about geographical events and human actions and how these shape the present day.

At Belvedere Infant and Junior Schools, we carefully choose topics from The International Primary Curriculum IPC to implement and develop the pupil’s knowledge, skills and understanding in geography and across other subject areas.   We looked carefully at both prior and future learning to ensure that we are providing a broad and balanced curriculum, that will enable the pupils to progress their learning throughout their time at Belvedere.

The IPC is a comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum which provides our pupils with many exciting learning opportunities. The aim of this approach is for children to understand how the different curriculum areas interlink, and for them to make connections across subjects to form a stronger understanding of the learning.

At Belvedere, we want to immerse the pupils into their learning so they remain motivated and engaged. The International Primary Curriculum allows our children to make purposeful links and connections throughout their learning and to see how their subject learning is related to the world they live in.

Teaching is based on themes which connect all areas of the curriculum in a way that makes learning not only interesting but also extremely relevant.  The theme enables young children to remain motivated through the learning of geography. It also allows them to make purposeful links and connections throughout their learning and to see how their subject learning is related to the world they live in. Children will develop a sense of their own nationality and culture at the same time as developing a profound respect for the nationalities and cultures of others.

How do we ensure that children are learning the curriculum?

At Belvedere Infants and Junior schools we strive for all our learners to make rapid progress from their starting points.  We use assessment for learning to see where children may have gaps in their learning so we can quickly address this through quality first teaching.  Teachers are aware of the knowledge, understanding and skills needed for the next stage of the children’s education and so make sure that they are secure and fully embedded in the skills they need in their current year.  We ensure disadvantaged pupils and SEND pupils are monitored carefully and ensure every child is able to access the curriculum through differentiation and an individualised approach. We want to ensure that all children have equal opportunities. Many of our pupils have English as an additional language and so we seek ways to support them also.