EYFS History Knowledge and Skills 

In Early Years we aim to provide children with the foundation skills for History which can then be built upon as they move into KS1. Teaching through the Early Years Framework, all children are provided with a wide variety of opportunities to explore their own lives and the lives of people important to them. The most relevant EYFS statements for history are taken from the following areas of learning: 

• Understanding the World 

History

National Curriculum Expectations 

Pupils should develop an awareness of the past, using common words and phrase relating to the passing of time. They should know where the people and events they study fit within a chronological framework and identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different periods. They should use a wide vocabulary of everyday historical terms. They should ask and answer questions, choosing and using parts of stories and other sources to show that they know and understand key features of events. They should understand some of the ways in which we find out about the past and identify different ways in which it is represented. 

Changes within living memory 

Events beyond living memory 

The lives of significant individuals in the past 

Significant historical events, people and places  

I can explain how life has changed.  I understand the term ‘living memory’ and can sequence key events. 

I can learn about events that are significant nationally or globally  

I can learn about the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements.  

I can learn about significant historical events, people and places in my own locality.