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“The important thing is to never stop questioning.”

– Albert Einstein

At Kinsale Infant School, we believe that science should spark curiosity, excitement, and a love of learning about the world. Our aim is to help children become confident young explorers who enjoy asking questions, investigating, and discovering how things work.

Science at Kinsale is designed to:

• Ignite curiosity about the natural world.
• Build children’s confidence in exploring, investigating, and problem-solving.
• Teach important scientific knowledge, skills, and vocabulary in a clear, sequenced way.
• Encourage children to become independent thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and reflective learners.
• Help children make connections between science in school and the world around them.

From the very beginning of their school journey, children learn about The Natural World in the Early Years, and this forms the foundation for more structured science learning in Key Stage 1. We build on what children already know and carefully sequence new learning so that they can deepen their understanding step by step.

We want all children to see themselves as scientists, and we support their diverse needs through scaffolding, tailored resources, and high expectations.

Throughout the year, children explore five key science units:

• Living Things and Their Habitats
• Everyday Materials and Their Uses
• Animals Including Humans
• Plants
• Seasonal Changes

Across these units, children learn scientific skills such as

• Ask questions
• Make observations
• Carry out simple tests
• Sort, identify, and classify
• Gather and record information

These early enquiry skills lay the foundations for all future scientific learning.

We use the Developing Experts scheme, which provides clear and carefully sequenced units. Lessons build on children’s previous knowledge and prepare them for what comes next.  Each unit includes key vocabulary, high-quality texts, practical experiences, and opportunities to clear up misconceptions. We make adaptations so that all children, including those with additional needs, can achieve success and work independently.

We make use of research about how children learn best, chunking information and using regular retrieval activities to help children remember more overtime.

“If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree.”

— Michael Crichton

At Kinsale Infant School, our history curriculum aims to ignite curiosity and develop a love of learning about the past. We want children to understand people, places and events, and how life has changed over time. Our knowledge-rich curriculum builds key vocabulary, historical concepts and essential disciplinary skills from EYFS through to the end of Key Stage 1. We have high aspirations for all learners. By providing a clear progression of knowledge and skills, and by teaching from children’s prior understanding, we support every child to think and act like a young historian.

Through their history learning, we want children to:

• Understand why history matters and how it shapes the world today
• Develop a secure sense of chronology
• Ask thoughtful questions and make meaningful connections
• Show empathy towards people from different times and cultures
• Build identity, belonging and an appreciation of their own personal history
• Develop independence, curiosity, creativity and critical thinking

We want children to see how their learning connects to the wider, diverse world and to deepen their understanding of what it means to be human.

History is taught as a termly project, covering:

• Changes within living memory and significant events, people and places in the local area
• Changes beyond living memory, both nationally and globally
• Significant individuals who have contributed to important achievements

Each project begins with a philosophical enquiry question that sparks curiosity and encourages deeper investigation. Societal concepts such as fairness, equality and belonging help children see the bigger picture and make links across their learning.

We teach through the “big ideas” of history:

• Continuity and Change
• Causation
• Significance
• Similarity and Difference
• Perspective
• Sources
• Chronology
• Empathy

Carefully sequenced planning ensures knowledge and skills build progressively. Cognitive science principles—such as chunking and regular retrieval practice—help children know more, remember more, and apply their learning over time. Adaptations are made so that all pupils, including those with additional needs, can achieve success and develop independence.

Learning is celebrated through authentic outcomes such as exhibitions, debates and presentations to parents and subject experts.

“Geography is the study of Earth as the home of people.”

– Yi‑Fu Tuan

At Kinsale Infant School, we want every child to feel curious, confident and excited about the world they live in. Geography helps children make sense of their surroundings—near and far—by exploring places, people, and the natural features that shape our planet.

We want children to

• Inspire curiosity about the world and the people who live in it.
• Build strong knowledge of places, environments, and geographical concepts.
• Develop the skills of a geographer, such as observing, questioning, comparing, mapping, and analysing.
• Encourage global citizenship, helping children understand diversity, fairness, belonging and how we all play a part in looking after our world.
• Celebrate our local area, so children can connect what they learn to the place they live.

Our curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage and National Curriculum expectations. We are proud of our high standards and believe all children have the potential to become confident, thoughtful young geographers.

Geography is delivered as a termly project. Each project begins with a big question that encourages children to think deeply, wonder, and explore. These questions often lead to further investigations as children follow their natural curiosity. This approach helps us link geography to wider societal ideas such as sustainability, and belonging. It gives children a bigger-picture understanding of the world and the people in it.

Our geography learning is organised around seven “big ideas” that help children see connections and understand the world more deeply:

• Environment
• Location
• Scale
• Distribution
• Processes
• Change
• Interaction

We carefully plan both for knowledge and skills development.

Substantive Knowledge (what children learn)

• A clear progression of geographical knowledge and skills across the school
• Prior learning, built upon year after year.
• Key vocabulary, high-quality texts and rich experiences
• Misconceptions identified and addressed
• Learning linked to the wider world and children’s interests

Procedural Knowledge (how children think and work like geographers)

These are the practical and critical skills geographers use, such as:

• Observing and describing
• Asking questions
• Using maps, photos and data
• Making comparisons
• Understanding patterns and change

Our curriculum is designed so that children revisit, practise and deepen these skills as they move through school. We use principles from cognitive science—such as breaking learning into manageable steps and revisiting key ideas—to help children remember more over time.

We want every child to:

• Be curious, confident and independent thinkers
• Make meaningful connections between their learning and the real world
• Be reflective, creative and collaborative
• Understand the diversity of people and places
• Recognise what it means to be human and how we influence our world

Through geography, children learn not only about places—but about themselves and their place in our global community.

“Every child is an artist.”

– Pablo Picasso

At Kinsale Infant School, we believe that every child has the potential to be creative, imaginative and expressive. Our Art & Design curriculum is designed to spark curiosity, nurture confidence and help children develop a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

Art is an important part of human culture—shaping history, telling stories and helping us understand ourselves and the world around us. At Kinsale, we provide rich and varied opportunities for children to explore, experiment and create within a supportive and stimulating environment.

Rooted in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the National Curriculum, our Art & Design provision develops both disciplinary skills and substantive knowledge. Children discover a range of media, techniques and artistic concepts while building a strong and meaningful art vocabulary.

We recognise that every child is unique. By setting high expectations and providing the right tools, scaffolds and encouragement, we ensure all children can thrive and see themselves as artists.

We want children to:

• Use a wide range of materials creatively
• Explore drawing, painting and sculpture
• Develop a variety of art and design techniques
• Learn about artists, craft makers and designers from different times and cultures

Ultimately, we aim for every child to enjoy art in all its forms and to feel inspired to discover the artist within themselves.

Art & Design is taught as part of a termly project, beginning with a philosophical enquiry question. This approach encourages curiosity, deeper thinking and meaningful discussion. Themes such as belonging, identity, fairness and equality help children see the “bigger picture” and understand what makes art a powerful and expressive discipline.

To support clear and consistent learning, we use six “Big Ideas” that underpin our disciplinary knowledge:

• Line
• Shape
• Colour
• Texture
• Space
• Form

Carefully planned progression ensures that children revisit, refine and deepen their understanding each year. Our curriculum sequencing and “chunking” of learning are informed by cognitive science, helping children know more and remember more.

Retrieval opportunities—often linked to other curriculum areas—support strong knowledge retention. Adaptations are made where needed so that all children, including those with additional needs, can succeed and develop growing independence.

“There are three responses to a piece of design—yes, no and WOW!
WOW is the one to aim for.”

– Milton Glaser

At Kinsale Infant School, we want children to be inspired by the world around them and develop the skills to design, make and evaluate their own creations. Design and Technology (DT) encourages imagination, problem-solving and resilience, helping children understand how products are made and how good design can improve everyday life.

We want children to

• Be creative, curious and confident designers
• Learn about a range of designers and products
• Develop practical skills using tools and materials
• Follow the process of design → make → evaluate
• Tackle real and meaningful problems
• Work collaboratively and think critically

Learning begins in the Early Years, where children explore materials, structures and simple mechanisms through play. This foundation is strengthened further in Key Stage One, where skills and knowledge are developed step by step.

Our curriculum aims to:

• Inspire children
• Ensure inclusivity
• Develop empathy
• Encourage exploration
• Build technical understanding
• Promote reflection and evaluation

DT is taught as a termly project, each beginning with an exciting enquiry question that encourages children to think deeply and make connections. Throughout the year, children also enjoy planned opportunities for cooking and nutrition, helping them learn about food, health and basic cooking skills.

Lessons follow a clear structure:

1. Design – exploring ideas, evaluating existing products, planning
2. Make – using tools, materials and techniques safely
3. Evaluate – reflecting on what worked well and what could improve

Children are encouraged to aim high through supportive, specific “warm feedback” that motivates them to do their best.

• Skills build progressively from Early Years to Year 2
• Tasks are broken into manageable steps.
• Prior learning is revisited to help children remember more.
• Key vocabulary is taught clearly
• Lessons link to real contexts and children’s interests.
• Activities are adapted, so all learners can succeed.

Children also learn to evaluate their own work against clear success criteria, helping them become reflective and independent learners.

DT learning is often celebrated through exhibitions, showcases and sharing work with real audiences—such as parents or visiting experts.

Music education opens doors that help children pass from school into the world around them – a world of work, culture, intellectual activity, and human involvement.”
— Gerald Ford

At Kinsale Infant School, we believe music is for everyone. Our aim is to spark children’s curiosity, build their confidence and creativity. We want the children to become a Listener, a Performer and a composer. We want to help them develop a lifelong love of music.

Our curriculum builds musical knowledge step by step, from Early Years through to the national curriculum objectives for Year 2, so children understand key vocabulary and develop important skills over time.

We want children to:

• enjoy exploring a wide variety of music
• understand how music works
• express themselves creatively
• make connections between what they learn in school and the wider world
• feel proud of themselves as growing musicians

Music is taught throughout the year through a music scheme called Charanga.

We teach through seven key musical disciplines:

1. Listen and Appraise – enjoying and talking about music
2. Musical Activities – learning about pulse, pitch, and rhythm
3. Singing – using their voice expressively and learning new songs
4. Playing – exploring and naming a range of instruments
5. Improvisation – making up music on the spot
6. Composition – creating simple pieces of music
7. Performance – sharing music with an audience

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced, so children build on what they already know.

Teachers give clear, warm, and supportive feedback to encourage confidence and high-quality work. Children’s learning is often celebrated through performances, exhibitions and opportunities to share work with parents and visitors.

Music development Plan

Responsibility and respect for others and their religious beliefs are also part of freedom.”
— Horst Köhler

At Kinsale Infant School, Religious Education (RE) helps children learn about different people, their beliefs, and the ways they live. We aim to spark curiosity, support children in understanding the world around them, and help them develop respect for others.

Our RE curriculum is underpinned by the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Norfolk Agreed Syllabus. It is designed to build children’s knowledge step by step, introducing key vocabulary, concepts and ideas in a thoughtful and age‑appropriate way.

We want every child to:

• Become religiously literate
• Be free thinkers
• . Be critical thinkers

As children learn about different traditions and viewpoints, they begin to make thoughtful, informed judgements about their own beliefs.

Across all learning, children are encouraged to make connections between what they learn in school and the diverse world around them. Through RE, we hope children develop empathy, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be human.

RE is taught throughout the year, with each half-term focusing on a different theme from the Norfolk RE syllabus.

We follow a clear progression from Early Years through Key Stage 1, so children build knowledge over time.

We teach RE through three key disciplinary lenses:

1. Theology – Thinking through believing

2. Philosophy – Thinking through thinking

3. Human and Social Sciences – Thinking through living

We adapt lessons when needed to ensure all children can participate successfully, including those with additional needs. Children take part in authentic and engaging outcomes.

Our approach is informed by cognitive science, meaning learning is broken into manageable steps and revisited regularly so children “know more and remember more” over time.

“Whether you want to uncover the secrets of the universe, or you want to pursue a career in the 21^st century, basic computing programming is an essential skill to learn.”

Professor Stephen Hawkin

Computing at Kinsale Infant school aims to foster a love of learning and equip children with the essential skills and knowledge to thrive in an ever-changing technological world.

Our high expectations and aspirations for each child create the possibility for all children to become computing scientists. Underpinned by the expectations of the National Curriculum, the Computing curriculum is knowledge rich, develops disciplinary skills and ensures children build key vocabulary and computing concepts at every stage. Understanding the needs of all our children, we aim to provide them with learning tools and scaffolds to achieve and succeed.

We want children to:

• Enjoy learning about technology
• Develop curiosity, problem-solving and creativity
• Build confidence when using digital tools
• Stay safe online
• Make links between what they learn in school and real life

We teach Computing throughout the year, focusing on three key areas:

1. Computer Science

2. Information Technology

3. Digital Literacy

Children begin exploring technology in the Early Years, and this learning develops further in Key Stage One with carefully sequenced lessons that build skills step by step.

• Lessons build on what children already know
• Learning is broken into manageable steps.
• Key vocabulary is taught clearly
• Teachers include retrieval opportunities to help children remember more over time.
• Activities are adapted to ensure all children can succeed.

Teachers continually assess children through their work and the skills they show in lessons. We look at how well children understand computing concepts, how independently they can use technology, and how safely they behave online.

Intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong.”
— John F. Kennedy

At Kinsale Infant School, we believe that being active is essential for children’s health, happiness, and development. Our PE curriculum aims to help every child enjoy physical activity, build confidence, and develop the skills they need for a healthy, active life.

PE at Kinsale helps children to:

• Value being active
• Develop strong fundamental movement skills
• Work cooperatively and competitively
• Master basic movements
• Perform dances

PE is taught throughout the year, with a variety of engaging units such as ball skills, Cardio fitness, Dance, Gymnastics, Athletics and Tennis.

PE lessons are designed to be inclusive, fun, and appropriately challenging for all learners. Children receive “warm feedback”—supportive, specific guidance that helps them improve while keeping their confidence high.

We have a clear progression of knowledge and skills from Early Years to Year 2, ensuring children receive a broad and balanced PE education.

Key concepts taught throughout PE

• Agility – moving and changing direction with control
• Balance – staying steady during movement
• Coordination – using different body parts together
• Healthy, active lifestyles – understanding the benefits of being active
• Challenge – developing determination and resilience
• Teamwork – working well with others
• Equipment/Apparatus – using equipment safely and appropriately
• Personal Best – striving to improve their own performance

Many children choose to spend their playtimes being active, showing that PE at Kinsale inspires lifelong enjoyment of movement.

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