Science

Why do we teach it?

At Smallwood C of E Primary Academy, we recognise the importance of a high-quality science education.  Nurturing scientific knowledge and understanding is essential for children to understand the world around them.  The aim of our science curriculum is to enable pupils to experience a progressive, enquiry-led curriculum which broadens their scientific understanding of the world and develops a wide range of transferable scientific skills. We promote scientific curiosity, encouraging pupils to question the world around them and inspire them to find out how and why things work.  We want children to leave our school with an understanding of the importance of science and innovation to every aspect of life.

INTENT

What do we teach?

We follow the 2014 National Curriculum and the 2021 Statutory Framework for Early Years Foundation Stage, where children develop knowledge, skills and vocabulary that are progressive and build on prior learning. Our children begin exploring science in EYFS with informal investigations within the setting. Teachers facilitate children’s curiosity with open-ended questions and learning experiences, which are both child led and adult led. In Years 1-6, science knowledge is taught through an enquiry-led curriculum.  Working scientifically is clearly related and taught through explicit key skills of asking questions, making predictions, setting up experiments, making observations and measurements, communicating and interpreting results and evaluating. Children will reflect on previous learning and cross-curricular links are made in a meaningful way where it enhances the science curriculum and promotes science capital.

IMPLEMENTATION

How do we teach it?

We deliver a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Planning has been developed to ensure that the school gives full coverage of, ‘The National Curriculum programmes of study for Science 2014’ and, ‘Understanding of the World’ in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Science teaching at Smallwood is organic and dynamic.  Teachers adapt and extend the curriculum to match all pupils’ needs. Where a meaningful, science is linked to class topics. Science is taught as progressive, sequenced units throughout the school.  Prior learning from previous key stages, year groups and terms is revisited through each academic year to make learning ‘stick’.

We ensure that all children are provided with rich learning experiences that aim to:

·         Help them understand the importance of science and innovation for world prosperity.

·         Inspire them to be life-long learners

·         Nurture our children’s natural curiosity and develop a scientific approach to problems.

·         Encourage open-mindedness, self-assessment, perseverance and develop the skills of investigations – including: observing, measuring, predicting, experimenting, communicating, interpreting, explaining and evaluating.

·         Give them aspirations and inspiration for careers in STEM

• Develop the use of scientific language, recording and techniques.
• Develop the use of computing in investigating and recording.
• Make meaningful links between science and other subjects, and its importance to all aspects of daily life.

IMPACT

What will be the result?

The impact and measure of this is to ensure children not only acquire the appropriate age related knowledge linked to the science curriculum, but also skills which equip them to progress.

All children will have:

·         A wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific    enquiry/investigative skills.

·         Children will be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge.

·         Children will work collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment.

·         A richer vocabulary which will enable to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.

·         High aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life