ABSTRACT
A glance through the post-Dearing National Curriculum Geography Orders for Key Stages 1 and 2 may encourage the reader to ask why a chapter called ‘The European Dimension in Primary Education’ has been included in this book. There appear to be few direct references to it in the Orders. Although they have been simplified and the content reduced, primary teachers still have many decisions to make about the design, content and teaching of the curriculum they provide for their children. Their time is limited and there are still numerous demands which have to be accommodated within each school day. This chapter has been written to help busy primary teachers involved in the development of their school curriculum consider current issues and opportunities in order to make informed decisions for planning a European dimension within their teaching. It has three aims: • to offer a clear introduction to, and discussion of, key concepts related to
this aspect of education; • to stimulate staff discussion of ways forward for the school by giving
some examples of activities already successfully developed by practising teachers;
• to provide initial access to up-to-date ideas and information in other publications, and suggest contacts and links with various agencies to help teachers and their colleagues develop work appropriate for the children.
