How is primary History organised?

The Social and Environmental Education Specification for Primary and Special Schools (2025) has 3 strands: My locality, The island of Ireland, Europe and the wider world. Learning outcomes are written for the end of each stage.

History planning for primary

The new Social and Environmental Education specification is being introduced from September 2026, one area at a time. If your school hasn't started this area yet, you're still teaching the 1999 curriculum. Tell Heapso which one you're using and it plans to that.

Strands

My locality
IE-P-HIST.LOC
Identity and heritage, Environment and sustainable living, People and places
- Stage 3: 3 outcomes
- Stage 4: 3 outcomes
The island of Ireland
IE-P-HIST.IRL
Identity and heritage, Environment and sustainable living, People and places
- Stage 3: 2 outcomes
- Stage 4: 3 outcomes
Europe and the wider world
IE-P-HIST.EUW
Identity and heritage, Environment and sustainable living, People and places
- Stage 3: 2 outcomes
- Stage 4: 2 outcomes

Read the official specification on curriculumonline.ie The 1999 History curriculum

Other primary subjects

Questions teachers ask

How is primary History organised?: The Social and Environmental Education Specification for Primary and Special Schools (2025) has 3 strands: My locality, The island of Ireland, Europe and the wider world. Learning outcomes are written for the end of each stage.
Should I plan to the new History specification or the 1999 curriculum?: Schools start the new specifications one curriculum area at a time from September 2026. If your school hasn't started this area yet, you're still teaching the 1999 curriculum. Tell Heapso which one you're using in Settings and it plans to that.

Plan your next History unit

Heapso opens a unit plan set to the right stage. Add the learning outcomes you're teaching and Pip cites only those.

Plan this unit free