We provide extensive opportunities to explore and understand the world that we live in.
At every stage of learning, we intend for our children to understand the importance of science in their current lives and future careers. Children will develop their intellectual curiosity through a collaborative and passionate enjoyment of science. Scientific enquiry enables children to develop an understanding of nature, skills and processes and our curriculum is both progressive and exciting. We want children to believe that science could be for them in the future.
Through outstanding teaching and learning experiences, we will develop each child’s scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding of biology, chemistry and physics. Pupils will be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation, and deepen their scientific understanding through planned investigations. They will also make careful observations, analyse data and communicate their findings.
In science lessons, they will develop a deep understanding of scientific vocabulary ensuring that children leave our school with an extended specialist language.
We want to inspire children to be excited and eager to talk about science: to each other, to their parents and to their teachers about what they are learning. They will develop a sense of wonder that will propel their learning forward: ‘I wonder if…? I wonder what will happen when…?’
Children will be given opportunities to engage in extra-curricular science activities such as exploring our outdoor learning environments; visiting a science event/ museum; presenting investigations to their peers; an after-school STEM club and our 2 whole school science days. Through these things, we endeavour to instil a lifelong love of science.
Within EYFS, science is evident within ‘Understanding the World – The Natural World’. We provide opportunities for children to meet the early learning goals and this is achieved through planned activities, such as STEM activities, and continuous provision which plays a vital part in exploration, learning and play.
The teaching of Science at East-the-Water Primary School is delivered through weekly lessons. There are some units which are taught for 2+ lessons weekly. Teachers follow a whole school long term plan (based on the National Curriculum) and plan half-termly units of work that build on prior knowledge and understanding. We have embedded the use of Rosenshine’s principles which allows children to continually retrieve prior learning. This alongside questioning, modelling and practising enables our children to know more and remember more. High-quality teaching and learning resources are provided by the school alongside online CPD for each unit of work. Regular whole school science CPD is also provided by the science leader. Teachers create a positive learning environment and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards in science. Teaching assistants also take part in online CPD linked to the science topics taught in class. They also receive half-termly training within their year groups looking at planning, vocabulary and common misconceptions.
Through our progressive curriculum, pupils have extensive opportunities to extend and develop their scientific understanding. Our pupils are exposed to excellent teaching, workshops, trips and professionals who use science in their roles to talk to the children, for example, dentists, opticians and nurses. Alongside this, we have two dedicated ‘Science Days’ where children have the opportunity to be immersed in scientific enquiry whilst practising working scientifically skills.
We celebrate and promote the use of oracy within science. Every session includes an opportunity to use scientific vocabulary and demonstrate understanding in ‘Let’s talk science’. Teachers create and use engaging stimuli to encourage and develop meaningful scientific discussion between peers and teaching adults.
Working scientifically skills are taught and developed through ‘Let’s do science’ in every lesson. Children know how they are working as a scientist using their disciplinary skills. These skills are assessed using TAPS assessment tasks during each unit of work.
Teachers use questioning to assess conceptual knowledge and skills throughout each unit. We use a range of assessment materials to formatively assess and identify children with gaps in their learning to enable all children to reach their full potential. Here, at East-the-Water Primary School, we want to foster curiosity. Children are encouraged to ask questions based on their understanding. As children move through KS2, they will have the opportunity to develop and design their own investigations based on the questions that they would like to answer. As their understanding increases, they become increasingly confident when selecting scientific equipment and recording and interpreting results. Their in-depth spoken scientific vocabulary will enable them to present their findings to their peers in a variety of different ways.
Children have access to a number of outdoor learning environments including the school’s garden, forest area and ‘a wildlife corridor’. All of which are within walking distance of the school grounds. This will enable children to make connections with their science learning and the local environment.
We believe our children will:
- Develop a love of science and build on their sense of awe and wonder of the natural world.
- Want to talk about science to their adults and peers.
- Appreciate and understand the contribution science makes to everyday life.
- Be able to ask and answer questions using a deep and technical scientific vocabulary.
- Develop their scientific and conceptual understanding in order to think, act and work scientifically.
- Recognise the importance of science in their future working life.
- Know more and remember more.
