At St Joseph’s Infant School our curriculum is designed to spark curiosity creativity and a lifelong love of learning. A central feature of our History curriculum is a golden thread that runs through every topic—our local area of Chichester. We believe that children learn best when their education is rooted in meaningful real-world experiences that connect them to their community and surroundings.

By celebrating Chichester’s rich heritage, including its Roman historical cathedral coastline and cultural landmarks, we help children develop a strong sense of place and identity. This connection fosters pride in their local area and encourages them to ask questions and explore the world around them, starting with what they see and experience every day.

Our curriculum provides opportunities for local fieldwork visits and community engagement, making learning tangible and memorable. We also build cross-curricular links to deepen understanding, such as exploring local geography in the humanities, studying local artists in art and learning about local wildlife in science.

From the Early Years Foundation Stage through to the end of Key Stage 1 children are supported to become confident, curious learners who understand their role within their community and the wider world. By embedding Chichester into our curriculum, we ensure that learning is relevant, rooted in experience and reflective of the world our children live in.