Science

In Science, children learn through a practical and investigative approach. As they study a variety of topics, children will develop skills that will enable them to become increasingly independent in their approach to practical work. 

They will choose and use equipment safely, make predictions and observations, plan experiments, record results using a variety of methods, and draw conclusions. Where possible, class teachers incorporate the Science curriculum into cross-curricular topics and aim to develop children’s skills in other curriculum areas such as Maths, English, Design and Technology, and Computing.

EYFS: Pupils begin to make sense of the world around them.

In the Early Years and Foundation Stage, children study science through the overarching concept, 'Understanding the World': The Natural World. In Nursery, children's pre phonics work incorporates sounds and sights in the environment through weekly Forest School sessions.

Seasonal change is linked to relevant activities including observing the life cycles of chick and duck eggs as they hatch and develop. We follow the principle of child led learning, so if children show interest in finding minibeasts, we provide magnifying glasses, small pots, hold discussions with the group and expand play etc. By exposing children to a range of frequent experiences, that they have not experienced before, we aim to help them make sense of the world around them whilst increasing knowledge and understanding of various concepts, such as: using all their senses in hands-on exploration of natural materials and exploring collections of materials with similar and/or different properties, such as the topic 'Melting and Freezing'. Children are also encouraged to talk about what they see, using a wide vocabulary. We have a range of resources to facilitate this in school, such as our extensive outdoor area in EYFS and our nature garden. Children's vocabulary is enriched through careful, progressive planning, including a wide range of texts, fiction and nonfiction, stories, poetry and rhymes and songs, such as the book Stick Man.

KS1: Pupils study the nature, processes and methods of science related to: plants; animals and humans; living things and their habitats; materials: and seasonal change.

In Key Stage One, children begin to develop an understanding of scientific enquiry. This includes observing over time; such as how different factors affect the growth of a plant in year 2 and classifying and grouping animals in year 5. Children in KS1 are introduced to the concept of investigations and apply this to the three strands of science: biology, chemistry, and physics. Children will begin to develop an understanding. There is a consistent focus on linking science learning to the children's real-life experiences, such as the rocks that are used to build familiar items such as their homes, as well as how their daily lives are affected by physics such as pushes and pulls.

KS2: Pupils study and investigate: plants; animals and humans; living things and their habitats; materials; and seasonal change in greater detail.

In Key Stage Two, children are able to digest and make sense of more abstract concepts, enabling a deeper exploration of the concept of 'fair testing’. Children will continue to expand upon their established bank of scientific vocabulary and make connections between how words are related (such as the more in-depth vocabulary of the parts of a plant which are studied in year 5.) In Key Stage Two, children are offered the opportunity to pose their own scientific questions and given more freedom in how best to investigate the answers. An example of this is in year 6 where children investigate the length of shadows in relation to how we see things.