Science

Intent

‘Primary Science isn’t just about nurturing the scientist of the future. It’s about ensuring ensuring every child develops a natural curiosity about the world around them and starts to think analytically about situations.’
Professor Robert Winston

The Science curriculum at Bader Primary school is designed to ensure that all children develop scientific knowledge, skills and conceptual understanding through the teaching of biology, physics and chemistry. At Bader Primary school we believe that a high quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world. We understand that children are naturally curious and we encourage this inquisitive nature through our Science lessons. We encourage children to focus on the work of great scientists, to use and apply a growing bank of scientific vocabulary and to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes. All children are exposed to high quality teaching and learning experiences, which allow them to explore their outdoor environment and locality, thus developing their scientific enquiry and investigative skills.

Implementation

Science in the Early Years Foundation Stage

In the Foundation Stage, children are taught Science through the key area 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 and answer questions about why things happen and why things work
• Develop their communication and cooperation 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.

Science in Key stage 1 and 2

Science is taught, in topics, discreetly throughout Key stage 1 and 2. We follow the National Curriculum statutory requirements and children develop their scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Teachers are familiar with previous and subsequent year groups’ content which enables them to link to prior learning and build on previous knowledge. They are aware of where a unit of work fits in across the curriculum – we believe this is essential in ensuring key knowledge is taught and assessed to maintain progression through the curriculum. Science is taught every week for 2 hours with additional sessions being taught where and when possible.

At the start of each topic teachers take time to find out what the children already understand. Children develop an understanding of Science within the wider world through exploring and investigating within the local community. They are taught to use the following practical scientific methods, processes and skills:

• asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
• observing closely, using simple equipment; performing simple tests
• identifying and classifying
• using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
• gathering and recording data to help in answering questions

Children will be able to build on prior knowledge and link ideas together, enabling them to question and become enquiry based learners. Teachers find opportunities to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by accessing outdoor learning. We are committed to providing exciting, hands-on and practical experiences for all children. In turn this will help promote independent learning, curiosity and a love for enquiry and knowledge. Teachers are also encouraged to plan trips and visitors to enhance our children’s learning experience when possible.

Impact

• Children enjoy and are enthusiastic about science.
• Children are confident to use and explain scientific vocabulary.
• Children can ask questions about their science learning and reflect on their knowledge.
• Children develop their understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries.
• There is a clear progression of children’s work and teachers’ expectations.
• Children are becoming increasingly independent in science, and completing pupil lead investigations.