Intent and implementation

Intent 

Chestnut Street Primary School recognises and values the importance of science and scientific enquiry. Teachers will ensure that all children are exposed to high quality teaching and learning experiences. These will hook the children’s interest, enabling them to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They will be encouraged to ask questions about the world around them and work scientifically to further their conceptual understanding and scientific knowledge. At the heart of our progressive science curriculum is scientific investigation. Wherever possible we intend to deliver lessons where children learn through researching, investigating and evaluating experiences. All children will be provided with a broad and balanced science curriculum which reflects the equality and diversity policies and practice in school. As our children develop as scientists, their respect for living organisms and for the physical environment will deepen. 

Implementation 

Teachers create a positive attitude to science learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all pupils are capable of achieving high standards in science. Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of science involves the following; 

Early Years Foundation Stage 

• In the Foundation Stage, children are taught Science through the key areas of learning set out within the EYFS Statutory Framework. 

• Through a broad range of teacher-led, child-initiated and continuous learning 

• opportunities, children will be taught to: 

• Use their senses to investigate a range of objects and materials 

• Find out about, identify and observe the different features of living things, objects and worldly events. 

• Look closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change. 

• Ask questions about why things happen and why things work. 

• Develop their communication and co-operation skills. 

• Talk about their findings, sometimes recording them. 

Identify and find out about features of the place they live and in the natural world around them. 

Key Stage 1 and 2  

• The subject leader will annually update and amend the long-term plan to ensure all children receive the full science curriculum by the time they move on to their secondary education, this is particularly pertinent due to COVID school closures and recent changes in class group organisation. 

• Teachers will be supported by the subject leader to ensure there is a balanced coverage of the five different types of scientific enquiry over the course of the year. 

• The progression of skills for working scientifically are developed through the year groups and scientific enquiry skills are of key importance within lessons. 

• Children will be encouraged and supported to raise their own scientific questions to explore and we want our children to develop into independent learners when planning and carrying out investigations. 

• Every year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups, therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.  

• Cross-curricular links are planned for, with other subjects such as Maths and Computing (Data loggers, recording and presenting data, finding things out using secondary sources). 

• Vocabulary will be taught thoroughly, building upon previous lessons’ learning including regularly revisiting words and having words displayed in the classroom. 

• Opportunities for reading will be weaved into our science lessons, this will include: learning about famous scientists; reading and understanding key vocabulary; as well as learning and gaining scientific knowledge.  

Impact 

The successful approach to the teaching of science at Chestnut Street Primary School will result in a fun, engaging, high quality science education, that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world that they can take with them once they complete their primary education. Children at Chestnut Street Primary School will: 

• Demonstrate a love of science work and an interest in further study and work in this field. 

• Retain knowledge that is pertinent to science with a real-life context. 

• Be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge. 

• Be able to articulate their understanding of scientific concepts and be able to reason scientifically using rich language linked to science. 

• Use equipment confidently and with purpose. 

• Demonstrate mathematical skills and understanding through their work, organising, recording and interpreting results. 

• Work collaboratively and practically to investigate and experiment. 

• Achieve age related expectations in science at the end of their cohort year.