Intent

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The 2014 National Curriculum for Science aims to ensure that all children:

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• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics

• develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them

• are equipped with the scientific skills required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
   

At Chad Vale we plan and support our science teaching with Developing Experts and Explorify. 

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• We encourage children to be inquisitive throughout their time at school and beyond.

• We promote wonder and ask those big questions and support the children in finding out more.

• The Science curriculum fosters a healthy curiosity in children about our universe and promotes respect for the living and non-living.

• We believe science encompasses the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, skills and positive attitudes.

• Throughout the programmes of study, the children will acquire and develop the key knowledge that has been identified within each unit and across each year group, as well as the application of scientific skills.

• We ensure that the Working Scientifically skills are built-on and developed throughout children’s time at the school so that they can apply their knowledge of science when using equipment, conducting experiments, building arguments and explaining concepts confidently, using scientific vocabulary and continue to ask questions and be curious about their surroundings. 

Implementation

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

• Science will be taught in planned and arranged topic blocks by the class teacher, to have a project-based approach. This is a strategy to enable the achievement of a greater depth of knowledge.
   

• Through our planning, we involve problem solving opportunities that allow children to find out for themselves. Children are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. This curiosity is celebrated within the classroom. Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, often involving high-quality resources to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. Teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual knowledge and skills and assess children regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning, so that any gaps or misconceptions can be addressed and all children keep up.
   

• We build upon the learning and skill development of the previous years. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, and they become more proficient in selecting, using scientific equipment, collating and interpreting results, they become increasingly confident in their growing ability to come to conclusions based on real evidence.
   

• Working Scientifically skills are embedded into lessons to ensure these skills are being developed throughout the children’s school career and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. This is developed through the years, in-keeping with the topics.
   

• Teachers demonstrate how to use scientific equipment, and the various Working Scientifically skills in order to embed scientific understanding. Teachers find opportunities to develop children’s understanding of their surroundings by accessing the school grounds and the range of habitats it provides for local wildlife.
   

• Where possible children are offered a wide range of extra-curricular activities, visits, trips and visitors to complement and broaden the curriculum. These are purposeful and link with the knowledge being taught in class.
   

• Events, such as Science Week or project days, such as Nature Day, allow all pupils to come off-timetable, to provide broader provision and the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills. These events often involve families and the wider community.

Impact

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• The use of Explorify and Developing Experts along with warm and dynamic teachers results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education, that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world.
   

• Our engagement with the school environment and community support provided by the school PPTA ensures that children learn through varied and first hand experiences of the world around them.
   

• Through various work and careers in which the parents of many of the children are engaged the children have an understanding that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s health and future prosperity.
   

• Children learn the possibilities for careers in science, due to the use of lesson links, many children have access to positive role models within the local community in the field of science from a range of science disciplines and Stem related industries. 
   

• At Chad Vale we endeavour to ensure that the children feel they are scientists and capable of achieving.
   

• It is our aim to ensure every child enjoys science, which results in motivated learners with sound scientific understanding, a curiosity and drive to discover and find out more.

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