National curriculum alignment for our History scheme

This resource demonstrates how Kapow Primary’s History scheme of work covers the statutory guidance from EYFS (Reception) through to KS1 and KS2.

How does this document support curriculum planning? 

The document maps each unit of the scheme to the specific content and aims of the History National curriculum. This ensures that every lesson contributes to the spiral progression of skills and knowledge, leading to the attainment of end-of-key-stage targets.

For EYFS, it details alignment with Early Learning Goals and Development Matters statements, providing transition and EYFS History guidance.

What core History skills and knowledge are covered? 

Kapow Primary’s History scheme of work is built around the following five key areas:

• Topic knowledge – investigating key figures or events from historical periods; examining how aspects of life have developed over time.
• Chronological awareness – understanding how historical periods interconnect, overlap and impact each other.
• Substantive (abstract) concepts – recurring themes, key concepts and fundamental elements of historical knowledge, such as ’empire’, ‘monarchy’ or ‘invasion and settlement’.
• Disciplinary concepts – learning how historians investigate the past and how they construct historical claims.
• Historical enquiry – experiencing the process that historians use; navigating historical concepts by questioning, investigating, interpreting, evaluating, concluding and communicating.

What are the benefits of this curriculum mapping for teachers? 

This National curriculum mapping document clearly shows which key skills are developed in each unit across the year groups. It ensures a broad and balanced History curriculum, giving children varied experiences with the fundamentals.

Supported by this document, teachers will find clear pathways for History assessment, ensuring consistent tracking of pupil progress. 

What other Kapow Primary resources support primary History teaching? 

• For our standard history scheme, see History: Long-term plan.
• If you follow our Long-term plan – mixed-age, see the corresponding Progression of skills and knowledge – mixed-age version.
• See how children begin their Kapow history journey with our EYFS (Reception) History units. 
• To learn how children develop skills, see our History KS1 units.
• Explore more of Kapow’s History scheme by browsing our Lower KS2, Upper KS2  and Mixed-age units.