Learning Enquiries

An overarching line of enquiry is presented to the children. This is in the form of a question Which is the longest River in the UK? What is Windrush? Is Japan really the land of the rising sun?  Children will discuss any prior knowledge they have at the start of the Learning Enquiry and they will be exposed to language they will learn throughout. Our Learning Enquiries are planned around a four year cycle in Key Stage 2 and a two year cycle in Key Stage 1. Our Foundation Stage Learning Enquiries link to the EYFS Curriculum.

Teachers provide an initial hook experience that helps children connect with the content and skills of the unit of work. These can take many forms, e.g. a visit, finding a message in a bottle, a video diary, a book etc. It aims to ignite their imagination and open their minds to a new and exciting learning journey. 

A main subject drives the planning for a series of questions that the children will be able to discover the answers to. There will usually be two other curriculum drivers linked to the main Learning Enquiry.  There will be opportunities to gain knowledge and from different curriculum areas. These opportunities are all linked to the enquiry question and give children the background knowledge they need to develop their learning. We ensure that the relevant objectives from the National Curriculum are covered and each child's progress is assessed against these objectives.  Lessons also ensure that children understand the different social, moral and cultural contexts that exist both within their direct experience and also in the wider world. Some subjects will be taught discretely if they do not link to the main Learning Enquiry e.g. Science, Religious Education, Modern Foreign Languages etc.

At this stage, children are immersed in the skills and knowledge they will need to reach a conclusion. This will involve building on their prior knowledge by the teacher modelling certain skills and then teaching the specific knowledge the children need. Once children have developed their background knowledge and skills. Children are encouraged to gain further knowledge and complete their own research outside of school as well. Knowledge organisers also support the knowledge and learning that will be shared across the Learning Enquiry. Children take copies of these home to share with their parents and carers.

Throughout the Learning Enquiry children are then given the opportunity to put their skills and knowledge into practice. They are encouraged to make mistakes, ask questions and use a range of resources to find out what they want to know. Teachers explicitly teach and model to the children how to plan and monitor their line of enquiry so they can consider what appropriate strategies they will use to approach and conclude the task. They will be encouraged to think about how to effectively organise and manage their learning independently and in groups whilst assessing their progress throughout. The activities in this phase should challenge, motivate and build on skills to ensure the final concluding activity is a successful as the children are equipped with all the knowledge and skills that they need.

The culmination of the enquiry has an agreed outcome that is shared with the children and may be negotiated with the children. e.g. exhibition, PowerPoint presentation, class debate etc It looks at what the children have been working towards for the duration. It provides the children with the opportunity to use all the skills and knowledge they have acquired to achieve something real and rewarding. This phase must ensure the children are able to answer the original Enquiry question and the questions from their Knowledge Organiser.

At the end of each enquiry there is a reflection, evaluation and celebration of learning alongside a quiz to support children knowing more and remembering more. This focuses on what has been learnt, how it has been learnt and what their next steps in learning could be; we want the children to become reflective learners.  This can be seen on the Knowledge Organiser which children can revisit.

A whole class floor book contains the knowledge that the children have gained over time and opportunities are provided to revisit prior knowledge and make links throughout our Learning Enquires.   Children share learning with the school and community or make the outcome available online for others to access. We feel it is very important that the children have their hard work acknowledged and also used as inspiration for others end points are displayed in our corridors for everyone to see. Our Learning Week Newsletter, Website, Displays and Social Media pages provide opportunities to see our Learning Enquiry curriculum in action.

Lemon IKB Nov 2020            Term 2 learning enquiry            Silver Learning Enquiry July 2021            Reception pond dipping June 2021  

Learning Enquiry Curriculum Overview 2021-2022

Learning Enquiry Curriculum Overview 2021- 2022
Year Groups Term 1 Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Term 5 Term 6
Reception

It’s good

to be me!

Once upon

a time

Wonderful

World

Who are our

superheroes?

What the

ladybird heard?

Water, Water
Everywhere!
Year 1

Does my city

have a river?

Who are Floella,

Rosa and Elizabeth?

Who are Explorers?
Amelia Earhart,
Robert Falcon Scott,
Neil Armstrong,
Bessie Coleman?
Reading Matters and
STEM Learning Enquiry's
Where is Africa? How do we save
our environment?
Year 2

Does my city

have a river?

Who are Floella,

Rosa and Elizabeth?

Who are Explorers?

Amelia Earhart,
Robert Falcon Scott,

Neil Armstrong,
Bessie Coleman?
Reading Matters and

STEM Learning Enquiry's

Where is Africa? How do we save
our environment?
Year 3

Which is the

longest River,
The Avon,

Thames or Severn?

What was

Windrush?

Were the Anglo Saxons

always angry?
Reading Matters and

STEM Learning Enquiry's

What are the Americas?
Were the Mayans really

Marvellous?

Is plastic really
fantastic in our

Oceans?

Year 4

Which is the

longest River,
The Avon,

Thames or Severn?

What was

Windrush?

Were the Anglo Saxons

always angry?
Reading Matters and

STEM Learning Enquiry's

What are the Americas?
Were the Mayans really

Marvellous?

Is plastic really
fantastic in our

Oceans?

Year 5

Which is the

longest River,
The Avon,

Thames or Severn?

What was

Windrush?

Were the Anglo Saxons

always angry?
Reading Matters and

STEM Learning Enquiry's

What are the Americas?
Were the Mayans really

Marvellous?

Is plastic really
fantastic in our

Oceans?

Year 6

Which is the

longest River,
The Avon,

Thames or Severn?

What was

Windrush?

Were the Anglo Saxons

always angry?
Reading Matters and

STEM Learning Enquiry's

What are the Americas?
Were the Mayans really

Marvellous?

Is plastic really
fantastic in our

Oceans?

 

Learning Enquiry Curriculum Overview 2022-2023

Learning Enquiry Curriculum Overview 2022-2023
Year Groups Term 1 Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Term 5 Term 6
Reception It's good to be me! Once upon a time Wonderful World Who are our Superheroes? What the Labybird heard? Water, Water Everywhere!
Year 1 Where do I live? Who are these people? Where was the fire? Where is Mexico? What is an archiect, designer and engineer?
Year 2 Where do I live? Who are these people? Where was the fire? Where is Mexico? What is an archiect, designer and engineer?
Year 3 Did the Stone Age Rock? What is democracy? British Values and Parliament. Were the Romans radicals? Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's What is special about India? What is STEM?
Year 4 Did the Stone Age Rock? What is democracy? British Values and Parliament. Were the Romans radicals? Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's What is special about India? What is STEM?
Year 5 Did the Stone Age Rock? What is democracy? British Values and Parliament. Were the Romans radicals? Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's What is special about India? What is STEM?
Year 6 Did the Stone Age Rock? What is democracy? British Values and Parliament. Were the Romans radicals? Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's What is special about India? What is STEM?

 

Learning Enquiry Curriculum Overview 2023-2024

Learning Enquiry Curriculum Overview 2023-2024
Year Groups Term 1 Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Term 5 Term 6
Reception It's good to be me! Once upon a time Wonderful World Who are our superheroes? What the Ladybird heard? Water, Water Everywhere!
Year 1 Where do I live? How are we the same, different, diverse and tolerant?

Who are Explorers? Amelia Earhart, Robert Falcon Scott, Neil Armstrong, Bessie Coleman? 

Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's

What could I be in the future?

Where is France?

Olympics

Year 2 Where do I live? How are we the same, different, diverse and tolerant?

Who are Explorers? Amelia Earhart, Robert Falcon Scott, Neil Armstrong, Bessie Coleman? 

Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's

What could I be in the future?

Where is France?

Olympics

Year 3 A Tale of Two Cities How are we the same, different, diverse and tolerant?

Were the Greeks great?

Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's 

What could I be in the future?

Where is France?

Olympics

Year 4 A Tale of Two Cities How are we the same, different, diverse and tolerant?

Were the Greeks great?

Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's

What could I be in the future?

Where is France?

Olympics

Year 5 A Tale of Two Cities How are we the same, different, diverse and tolerant?

Were the Greeks great?

Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's

What could I be in the future?

Where is France?

Olympics

Year 6 A Tale of Two Cities How are we the same, different, diverse and tolerant?

Were the Greeks great?

Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's

What could I be in the future?

Where is France?

Olympics

 

Learning Enquiry Curriculum Overview 2024-2025

Learning Enquiry Curriculum Overview 2024-2025
Year Groups Term 1 Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Term 5 Term 6
Reception It's good to be me! Once upon a time Wonderful World Who are our superheroes? What the Ladybird heard? Water, Water Everywhere!
Year 1 Where do I live? How are we the same different, diverse and tolerant?

Who are Explorers? Amelia Earhart, Robert Falcon Scott, Neil Armstrong, Bessie Coleman?

Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's

What is an architect, designer and engineer? Where is Africa?
Year 2 Where do I live? How are we the same different, diverse and tolerant?

Who are Explorers? Amelia Earhart, Robert Falcon Scott, Neil Armstrong, Bessie Coleman?

Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's

What is an architect, designer and engineer? Where is Africa?
Year 3 A Tale of Two Cities How are we the same different, diverse and tolerant?

Were the Egyptians awesome?

Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's

Who were the greatest inventors? Where are the Americas?
Year 4 A Tale of Two Cities How are we the same different, diverse and tolerant?

Were the Egyptians awesome?

Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's

Who were the greatest inventors? Where are the Americas?
Year 5 A Tale of Two Cities How are we the same different, diverse and tolerant?

Were the Egyptians awesome?

Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's

Who were the greatest inventors? Where are the Americas?
Year 6 A Tale of Two Cities How are we the same different, diverse and tolerant?

Were the Egyptians awesome?

Reading Matters and STEM Learning Enquiry's

Who were the greatest inventors? Where are the Americas?

 

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