Science

Intent

At Sacred Heart RC Primary and Nursery School we want our children to be naturally curious about the world around them. Children naturally wonder – ‘Why?’ Science provides many of the answers to questions that the children ask. Our aim is to provide the children with first hand experiences to develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about the world around them. The children will develop their own investigatory, predictive and analytical skills to answer questions raised not only by the teacher, but by themselves. Science should also be a collaborative exercise with opportunities for the children to work together to answer a question, solve a problem, use technical language in a group setting to not only making their own thinking clear both to themselves and others, but also to build sound foundations of using discussion to question and correct their own thinking. We are committed to providing a stimulating, engaging and challenging learning environment. Throughout our school children are encouraged to develop and use a range of working scientifically skills including questioning, researching and observing for ourselves. We promote and celebrate these skills. We want our children to have a broad vocabulary. Scientific language is to be taught and built upon as topics are revisited in different year groups and across key stages. We intend to provide all children regardless of ethnic origin, gender, class, aptitude or disability with a broad and balanced science curriculum.

Implementation

We use 'Plymouth Science' Planning to ensure high standards of teaching and learning in science, a curriculum that is progressive throughout the school. Planning for gives full coverage of The 2014 National Curriculum programmes of study for science and understanding of the world in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Wherever possible, science is linked to class topics. At the start of each topic teachers take time to find out what our children already understand and want to find out. Our teachers use this to adapt and extend the curriculum to match children’s interests and needs, current events, the use of any support staff and the resources available. We include the use of technology, wherever appropriate, to aid teaching and learning. Through teacher modelling and planned questioning we want our children to wonder about and be amazed and surprised by the world around them as we recognise that our children sometimes lack experiences. Key scientific language is modelled throughout lessons enabling our children to be familiar with and use vocabulary accurately. Teachers are also encouraged to plan in trips and visitors to enhance our children’s learning experience. We aspire to promote children’s independence and for all children to take responsibility in their own learning.