At the start of the new school year, it is a good opportunity to share with you information about the curriculum we deliver at Nash Mills.  This week, we will look at History and Geography.

Although these subjects are both distinctive and have very different aims, we plan them together.  This is because we recognise that our school has a rather unique position in that it has been central to Nash Mills for over 175 years and, as pupils move through the school, they learn how Nash Mills has come to be from a geographical and historical perspective.

Throughout each year, we have a historical focus during the autumn, a geographical one in the spring and, where appropriate, one that uses both sets of skills in the summer.  This term, pupils in Years 2-6 will have a weekly lesson based on a period of ancient or distant history.  As historians, they will explore different sources of evidence and think about how we know about things that happened long before cameras and iPhones!  In Early Years and Year 1, the children will develop the skills needed to be historians, by practicing putting things in order or thinking about things in their lives, for example.

In the spring term, pupils spend time as geographers.  They will consider a specific topic, for example 'Rivers' or 'Mountains' and will also spend time learning mapping skills.  They will then look at our local area and think about how we use it; some classes will look at traffic whilst others may think about how people use the canal.  Again, in Early Years and Year 1, the focus is more on looking at the world around us and thinking about how we look after it.

In the summer term, we spend time revisiting all of these skills as historians and geographers by looking at a  local theme.  For example, one of our classes learn about the Victorians and their impact on the Nash Mills area, including why our school was built.  Pupils will look at the mapping of the area and consider why it was the perfect place for the Victorian paper mills to be built.  This helps the children to really see purpose in the learning they do throughout the year.

To help ensure that the aims of our curriculum are really clear and concise, for each topic in Years 2-6, the children use workbooks which we have developed in school.  This means that we know exactly what the children will learn and how they will progress through their topics.

As with our entire curriculum, more information about what we teach at Nash Mills can be found on the curriculum pages of our website.  Please do have a look if you would like to learn a little more! 

A gentle reminder that you are all invited to our Macmillan Coffee Afternoon from 2.30pm on Friday 27th September. The event is being organised by our Year 6 pupils who would be very grateful for donations of cake (home made or shop bought) if you are able. Please bring any cake donations to the back of the school hall on Friday at drop-off.

Any remaining cakes will continue to be on sale for pupils from 3.15pm.

Please note that the event will be cash-only, and entrance will be via the West Gate at the front of school.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you in advance for your support,