Intent
It is our intention, at Downfield to develop in all young people a lifelong curiosity and interest in the sciences. When planning for the science curriculum, we intend for children to have the opportunity, wherever possible, to learn through varied systematic investigations, leading to them being equipped to ask and answer scientific questions about the world around them. As children progress through the year groups, they continue to build on their skills in working scientifically, as well as on their scientific knowledge, as they develop greater independence in planning and carrying out fair and comparative tests to answer a range of scientific questions. We aim to ensure that children have a varied, ambitious progressive and well-mapped-out science curriculum that is broad and balanced for all pupils as well as providing the opportunity for progression across the full breadth of the science National Curriculum for all children across the school.
Implementation
The understanding of key scientific knowledge is an integral part of our science lessons. The progression of skills for working scientifically are developed through the year groups and scientific enquiry skills are of key importance within lessons. Scientific knowledge and enquiry skills are developed with challenge as children move through the year groups. Lessons are delivered with a keen focus on Scientific vocabulary. Children are encouraged to talk about, write about and communicate findings and observations using specific, scientific vocabulary. Children have the opportunity to complete investigations and hands-on activities while gaining scientific knowledge.
The sequence of lessons planned in science helps to embed scientific knowledge and skills, with each lesson building on previous learning through the use of learning sequence slides. Lessons are planned and taught within the wider context of our topic-based curriculum. This allows links to be made to learning in other subjects across the curriculum.
There is also the opportunity to regularly review and evaluate children's understanding. Activities are often tailored to meet the needs of the children so that all pupils have an appropriate level of support and challenge. The curriculum is successfully adapted, designed and developed for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Impact
In Science, progress can be measured through a child’s ability to know more, remember more and explain more Through a carefully planned curriculum that is coherent and sequenced, we hope to inspire the children in all areas of their scientific knowledge and enquiry skills. Children who feel confident in their science knowledge and enquiry skills will be excited about science, show that they are actively curious to learn more and will see the relevance of what they learn in science lessons to real-life situations and also the importance of science in the real world.
The impact of developing and delivering a broad, balanced and exciting curriculum can be seen across the school with an increase in the profile of science. The learning environment across the school shows science technical vocabulary, displayed in the classrooms and used by the children within lessons. Children feel confident in their science knowledge and enquiry skills and are excited about science. They show that they are actively curious to learn more and will see the relevance of what they learn in science lessons to real-life situations and also the importance of science in the wider world
Investigating Minibeasts in Reception
Year 6 Have been studying the circulatory system,
