Long Clawson Church of England (Controlled) Primary School School Lane, Long Clawson, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 4PB Phone/Fax 01664 822337 [email protected]

Geography Policy Rationale: This policy outlines the learning, teaching, organisation and management of Geography at Long Clawson CE Primary School. The implementation of this policy is the responsibility of all teaching staff. The responsibility for monitoring and review rests with the Geography co-ordinator. Aims: Through our teaching of Geography we aim to:  

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Stimulate pupils' enthusiasm for, and curiosity about their surroundings and the wider world. Increase their knowledge and understanding of the different communities and cultures within Long Clawson, Britain and the world - and how these relate to each other. Increase their knowledge and understanding of the changing world. Encourage pupils to ask questions and propose solutions to environmental problems within our school and the wider world. Develop pupils' competence in specific geographical skills (such as use of maps, secondary sources, ICT, aerial photographs, data logging equipment and considering evidence from a range of sources). Foster a sense of responsibility and respect for our school grounds, the earth and its resources.

Through Geography we can also:    

Improve pupils' skills in Literacy, Numeracy and ICT. Develop pupils' thinking skills. Promote pupils' awareness and understanding of gender, cultural, spiritual and moral issues. Develop pupils as active citizens.

Inclusion and Equal Opportunities: Geography is a foundation subject in the National Curriculum. All pupils are entitled to access the Geography curriculum at a level appropriate to their needs. In line with our 1

Long Clawson Church of England (Controlled) Primary School School Lane, Long Clawson, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 4PB Phone/Fax 01664 822337 [email protected]

Geography Policy Equality Policy we are committed to providing a teaching environment conducive to learning. Each child is valued, respected and challenged regardless of race, gender, religion, social background, culture, ability or disability. Fieldwork may have to be adapted to take into account individual requirements. Geography Curriculum Planning: Topics have been allocated to each year group, organised into a two year cycle for our mixed year group classes. Our Geography curriculum is designed to provide children with learning opportunities that reflect the breadth and balance of contexts outlined in the National Curriculum. Our teaching of Geography is frequently linked to other foundation subjects, particularly History, RE and Science. The mode of working in Geography is a mix of class teaching, cooperative groups and individual work. a) Groups are usually of mixed ability and are encouraged to communicate their findings in a variety of ways. b) Fieldwork is a purposeful and integral part of the curriculum. The Foundation Stage: We teach Geography in our Reception Class as an integral part of the topic work covered during the year. As the Reception group is part of the Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum, the geographical aspects of the children’s work is planned to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals, which underpin the curriculum planning for children aged three to five. Geography makes a significant contribution to the development of each child’s knowledge and understanding of the world, through activities such as collecting postcards from different places, daily weather board, singing songs from around the world or investigating what makes a ‘good’ playground. Teaching and Learning Style: We use a variety of teaching and learning styles as appropriate in Geography lessons. The principal aim is to develop children’s knowledge, skills, and understanding. This may be done through whole-class teaching, through enquiry-based research activities, or through practical fieldwork. Children are encouraged to ask, as well as answer, geographic questions. Opportunities are given to use a variety of data, such as statistics, graphs, pictures, and photographs. ICT is used in Geography where it 2

Long Clawson Church of England (Controlled) Primary School School Lane, Long Clawson, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 4PB Phone/Fax 01664 822337 [email protected]

Geography Policy enhances children’s learning. Wherever possible, we involve the children in real Geographic activities, e.g. investigating a local environmental problem or carrying out a weather survey and analysing the results. We recognise that in all classes, children have a wide range of abilities. Suitable learning opportunities are provided for all children by matching the challenge of the task to the ability of the child. This is achieved in a variety of ways by:    

Setting common tasks which are open-ended and can have a variety of responses. Setting tasks of increasing difficulty. Providing resources of different complexity, matched to the ability of the child. Using classroom assistants to support the work of individual children or groups of children where necessary.

The Contribution of Geography to Other Curriculum Areas: English Geography contributes significantly to the teaching of English by actively promoting the skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Some texts used in Literacy are of a geographical nature. For example, in Key Stage 1 we use books to develop children’s knowledge and understanding of an Island Home. In Key Stage 2 we organise debates on environmental issues which help to develop speaking and listening skills. Reports, letters and recording information all help to develop children’s writing ability. Mathematics Geography contributes to the teaching of Mathematics in a number of ways, e.g. we teach children how to represent objects with maps. The children study space, scale and distance, and they learn how to use four and six figure grid references. They also use graphs to explore, analyse and illustrate a variety of data.

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Long Clawson Church of England (Controlled) Primary School School Lane, Long Clawson, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 4PB Phone/Fax 01664 822337 [email protected]

Geography Policy Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship Geography makes a significant contribution to the teaching of PSHE and Citizenship. This is mainly in two areas. Firstly, the subject matter lends itself to raising matters of citizenship and social welfare. For example, children study the way in which people recycle material and how environments are changed for better or worse. Secondly, the subject gives children numerous opportunities to debate and discuss. They can organise campaigns on matters of concern to them, such as helping poor or homeless people. Geography thus promotes the concept of positive citizenship. Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development In Geography we offer opportunities for the children to examine fundamental questions in life. For example, their work on the changing landscape and environmental issues leads children to ask questions about the evolution of the planet. We encourage the children to reflect upon the impact of mankind on the world, and we introduce the concept of ‘stewardship’ in relation to sustainable development. Through teaching about contrasting localities, we enable the children to learn about inequality and injustice in the world. We help children to develop their knowledge and understanding of different cultures and to acquire a positive attitude towards others. We help contribute to the children’s social development by teaching them about how society works to resolve difficult issues of economic development. Geography contributes to the children’s appreciation of what is right and wrong by raising many moral questions during the programme of study. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ICT enhances our teaching of Geography wherever appropriate, in each Key Stage. This more than meets the statutory requirement for children to use ICT as part of their Geography work in Key Stage 2. Children use ICT to enhance their skills in data handling (mountain, climate, population or river data) and in presenting written work. They research information through the internet, use digital images (such as aerial photographs) and explore a locality using Google Earth. 4

Long Clawson Church of England (Controlled) Primary School School Lane, Long Clawson, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 4PB Phone/Fax 01664 822337 [email protected]

Geography Policy Inclusion and Equal Opportunities: Geography is taught within the guidelines of our school’s Equal-opportunities policy. We ensure that all our children have the opportunity to gain Geography knowledge and understanding regardless of race, gender, religion, social background, culture, physical or intellectual ability.     

Our expectations do not limit pupil achievement and assessment does not involve cultural, social, linguistic or gender bias. We draw examples from other cultures, recognising that simple technology may be superior to complex solutions. We recognise the particular importance of first-hand experience for motivation children with learning difficulties. We recognise that Geography may strongly engage our higher ability children and we aim to challenge and extend them. We exploit the creative element afforded by Geography through asking and encouraging challenging questions and encouraging original thinking.

The Role of the Geography Co-ordinator is to:     

Support colleagues in teaching the subject content and developing their skills in planning, teaching and assessing Geography. Audit current practice. Renew, update and oversee the audit of resources needed to deliver the curriculum. Develop assessment and record keeping, ensuring progression and continuity. Keep abreast of developments in the teaching and learning of geography.

The quality of teaching and learning in Geography is monitored and evaluated by the Head Teacher as part of the school’s cycle of lesson observations. Assessment: Methods of assessment will vary as appropriate to the learning. A portfolio of work from Y1 to Y6 will show examples of geographical work. Reporting to parents occurs annually within a child’s written report to parents. 5

Long Clawson Church of England (Controlled) Primary School School Lane, Long Clawson, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 4PB Phone/Fax 01664 822337 [email protected]

Geography Policy Resources: Geography resources are allocated according to the themes taught in each age group. We have sufficient resources to teach all the Geography units in our scheme of work. Children will have the opportunity to use the following resources: globes, atlases, visual media (including aerial photographs), information books, maps, graphs, compasses, measuring equipment and ICT. Fieldwork: Fieldwork is integral to good Geography teaching, and we include as many opportunities as we can to involve children in practical geographical research and enquiry. At Key Stage 1, the children investigate our local environment, including our school and the surrounding area. At Key Stage 2 we offer the children the opportunity to take part in a residential visit where there are a wide range of opportunities available for study. Health and Safety: Consideration needs to be given to conducting appropriate Risk Assessments and ensuring the safeguarding of children and staff when planning and carrying out Geography activities. Monitoring and Review: The teaching and learning of Geography will be monitored by the co-ordinator through the analysis of medium term planning, pupil interviews, analysis of assessment data, scrutiny of work samples and lesson observations, in line with the School Development Plan. This policy was approved by the Governing Body of Long Clawson CE Primary School at their meeting on.............................................. Signed...................................................................................... Chair of Governors This policy will be reviewed in the Autumn Term 2018, or earlier should there be a change in Government directives.

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Long Clawson Church of England (Controlled) Primary School School Lane, Long Clawson, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 4PB Phone/Fax 01664 822337 [email protected]

Geography Policy

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