Science
Science is a core subject in the school curriculum. At All Saints C of E Infant School, we follow the National Curriculum for Science. The aims of the Science National Curriculum are to ensure that all pupils:
- 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 knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
Intent
Our intent at All Saints if for all children to receive and have access to a high-quality Science education, which provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Science has changed all of our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Through building up a body of key foundational knowledge and concepts, pupils should be encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They should be encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.
Implementation
At All Saints, we use White Rose Science to ensure full coverage of the Science National Curriculum and ensure that all compulsory Science topics are covered. White Rose Science uses a “small steps” approach to the teaching of Science and follows the National Curriculum for Science for years 1 - 6. The scheme of learning helps children to develop their scientific understanding and grasp scientific ideas. The Reception Science scheme of learning covers the DfE statutory framework of the EYFS and the Educational Programme for Understanding the World, specifically looking at The Natural World. The scheme of learning is called Reception Science because not all Understanding the World and The Natural World contains scientific content.
In Reception in the specific area of ‘Understanding the World’, the children learn:
- To explore the natural world around them by making observations and drawing pictures of animals and plants.
- To know some similarities and differences between the natural world around them and contrasting environments, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class.
- To understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons and changing states of matter.
At All Saints Infant School we study the following topics in Years 1 and 2:
- Plants
- Animals Including Humans
- Materials
- Seasonal changes
Science is taught in weekly hour long lessons over six half terms. During each of the topics above, children are also taught to work scientifically by asking simple 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 and gathering and recording data to help in answering questions.
Impact
At the end of each half term, through formative assessment, staff measure the impact that the curriculum is having on the pupils’ learning. Staff use the information gathered to identify gaps in children’s learning and then plan sessions to fill these. In each Science lesson, the children are involved in evaluating their work through purposeful dialogue, analysing one another’s work and making decisions about the quality of their outcomes and the improvements they need to make. By taking part in regular discussions about Science, children will not only know facts and key information about Science, but they will be able to talk confidently about their own learning journey, have higher metacognitive skills and have a growing understanding of how to improve their scientific understanding.
Science Progression of Skills and Knowledge by Topic
Science Progression of Skills and Knowledge in Chronological Order
EYFS Science Progression of Skills and Knowledge in Chronological Order
