Geography

Geography at Fishburn and Subject Policy

In Geography, we learn about land, water, weather and people. Children explore their surroundings and develop an understanding of places, environments and the connections between people and the natural world.

Intent, Impact and Implementation

Intent

We want children to be curious about the world and understand their place within it. Our curriculum builds knowledge of Fishburn and the surrounding area, the United Kingdom and places beyond it.

Pupils learn about physical features and processes, such as rivers, weather and landscapes, alongside human geography, including settlements, land use and energy. They explore similarities and differences between places and consider how environments change.

Children develop geographical vocabulary and learn to ask questions, use maps, gather information and explain their findings. We encourage respect for different communities and thoughtful consideration of how people affect the environment.

Implementation

Geography is organised through a two-year curriculum cycle that supports our mixed-age classes. We are following Cycle A in 2026/27.

Learning is structured around enquiry questions. Topics revisit and extend earlier knowledge, helping children connect their local experiences with a growing understanding of the wider world.

Pupils use maps, atlases, globes, photographs and digital mapping to locate places and investigate their characteristics. They develop map-reading skills progressively, including directional language, compass points, symbols and grid references.

Discussion, practical activities and geographical enquiries help children explain ideas and use subject vocabulary accurately. Regular retrieval activities revisit important knowledge and address misconceptions.

Geography in Early Years

In Nursery and Reception, geographical understanding develops through Understanding the World. Children explore their surroundings, notice weather and seasonal changes, and talk about places familiar to them.

Stories, photographs, play and outdoor exploration help children describe environments and begin to recognise similarities and differences between places. These experiences provide foundations for Geography in Key Stage 1.

Fieldwork and local learning

Our school grounds and local area provide opportunities to observe geography first-hand. Children develop skills in observing, asking questions, recording information and presenting findings.

As pupils progress, fieldwork can involve maps, sketches, measurements, surveys and simple data analysis. Activities are selected to support the geographical knowledge and questions being taught.

Local learning helps children understand how people use places and how human and physical features interact.

Inclusion and support

All pupils have access to an ambitious Geography curriculum, including children with special educational needs or disabilities.

Teachers adapt explanations, resources and activities to support participation. Scaffolds may include visual resources, vocabulary banks, simplified maps, practical equipment and opportunities to rehearse explanations orally.

Support enables children to develop geographical understanding and communicate their ideas while building independence.

Impact

Teachers assess learning through questions, discussion, observation, children’s work and low-stakes quizzes. Assessment identifies gaps and misconceptions so that teaching and retrieval activities can respond to pupils’ needs.

Leaders review planning, pupils’ work and classroom learning, alongside discussions with children, to evaluate the curriculum.

As pupils progress, we expect them to remember important geographical knowledge, use vocabulary accurately, interpret maps with increasing confidence and draw conclusions from geographical evidence.

Curriculum documents

Our long-term plan shows the topics taught across both curriculum cycles.

For further information about Geography or to discuss your child’s learning, please contact the subject lead through the school office.

Telephone: 01740 620 162
Email: fishburnadmin@edenacademytrust.co.uk

National Curriculum

Geography National Curriculum

Long Term Plan 2026/27