In EYFS we teach geography in reception classes as an integral part of the topic work covered during the year. Geography makes a significant contribution to the development a child’s knowledge and understanding of the world. At this stage children engage through activities such as local walks, visiting the local shops (post office, flower shop, chemist, green grocers), exploring our school grounds, map making and looking at other countries and cultures.

During Key Stage 1, pupils investigate their local area and a contrasting area in the United Kingdom or abroad (seaside), finding out about the environment in both areas and the people who live there. They also begin to learn about the wider world. They carry out geographical enquiry inside and outside the classroom. In doing this they ask geographical questions about people, places and environments, and use geographical skills and resources such as maps, globes and photographs.

During Key Stage 2 pupils investigate a variety of people, places and environments at different scales, in the United Kingdom and abroad. They start to make links between different places in the world. They find out how people affect the environment and how they are affected by it. They carry out geographical enquiry inside and outside the classroom. In doing this they ask geographical questions, and use geographical skills and resources such as maps, atlases, aerial photographs and ICT.

Fieldwork adds meaning to the geography curriculum and provides and first-hand experiences for the children. We provide children with opportunities to explore geographical aspects of the local area, so they can compare their life in this area with that in other regions in the United Kingdom and in the rest of the world. Visits that will enable pupils to extend their knowledge of the world around them include; the seaside and local walkways, local farms, local parks, local rivers, The Museum of childhood, the Geffrye museum, London Zoo, and touring of the city of London.

There are meaningful and relevant links between geography and many other areas of the curriculum, which provides opportunities for children to connect different learning experiences and therefore make better sense of a wide range of concepts. Throughout the school year, children will learn about various celebrations and cultural traditions from around the world, including; Chinese New Year, VE Day, Saints Days, Dia de los Muertos, Holi Festival of colour, carnival. During Black History Month, children engage in the learning of languages, dance and music through workshops, from Carribean and African cultures. Parents of children also come to school to share with the class information about their culture, including their language, traditions, food, dance, clothing, homes and farming.