Intent

Our staff agree that we want children to:

• be excited and curious about the physical and natural world around them and to be keen to explore and ask questions; 

• build up a body of scientific knowledge and understanding covering at least the content of EYFS Development Matters and the National Curriculum KS1; 

• investigate and analyse the physical and natural world using both first hand and secondary sources, to begin to develop key investigative skills and to begin to use and appreciate the significance of the 5 types of inquiry as outlined in the KS1 National Curriculum;

• communicate scientific ideas effectively using standard English and simple scientific vocabulary;

• experience science as relevant to their lives and begin to appreciate the importance of science in improving our lives; we also want them to see the need to care for our natural world.

Implementation

All staff have a clear and ambitious vision for providing high quality teaching of science for all children.  Our curriculum is designed to provide: 

• a clear learning progression from Foundation Stage and through KS1, each year building on prior knowledge, understanding and skills, with an important focus in Foundation Stage on vocabulary and experiencing natural processes, and in KS1 on developing scientific skills (investigative skills and the key types of enquiry) alongside knowledge and understanding which is at least as ambitious as the KS1 NC. 

• the knowledge and understanding, taught as a distinct subject, yet often creatively embedding within cross-curricular topics and themes to make it relevant to the children; 

• opportunities for children to specifically be taught each of the scientific investigative skills and to experience the key types of inquiry; importantly these skills are taught within the framework of the teaching of knowledge and understanding to give them meaning and purpose. 

• regular oral and written modelling of the use of scientific vocabulary within standard English with opportunities for children to express themselves both verbally and in writing; also repeated opportunities to revisit knowledge, vocabulary and understanding so as to address misconceptions and practise and consolidate what they have learnt.  

• opportunities to build science capital and to encourage the beginnings of independent discovery and research, through such opportunities as welcoming visitors, running clubs, school trips and offering home challenges.

Impact

Our curriculum is designed to produce children who:

• are inquisitive and ask questions about the physical and natural world around them; 

• are developing their problem solving and thinking skills;

• have scientific skills, knowledge and understanding that at least meets the expectations of the KS1 National Curriculum; 

• are able to communicate their scientific ideas, knowledge and understanding clearly using standard English and simple scientific language;

• who enjoy learning about the world around them through observing, investigating and reading secondary sources, and who desire to continue studying science as they move on to KS2;

• are beginning to understand the importance of science in benefitting wider society and also the need for us to care for our natural world.