Intent
We have a strong understanding of the world around us whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help us to think scientifically, to gain an understanding of scientific process and also an understanding of the uses and implications of Science, today and for the future.
Scientific enquiry skills are embedded in each topic we study and these topics are revisited and redeveloped throughout our time at school. We build upon our prior knowledge and increase our enthusiasm for the topics, whilst embedding this knowledge into the long-term memory.
We are encouraged to develop and use a range of skills including observations, planning and investigations, as well as being encouraged to question the world around us and become independent learnings in exploring possible answers for our scientific based questions.
We communicate using specialist vocabularly for each topic taught. We use effective questioning to communicate ideas. Concepts taught are reinforced by focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry, so that we learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions.
Implementation
In ensuring high standards of teaching and learning in science, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school.
Planning for science is a process in which all teachers are involved to ensure that the school gives full coverage of, ‘The National Curriculum programme of study for Science 2014’ and, ‘The Natural World’ in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2021. Science teaching at Dinton C of E Primary School involves adapting and extending the curriculum to match all pupils’ needs. We aim to stretch and challenge the most able and develop the independence and confidence for the less able learners too all meet their full potential and beyond. Since January 2024, science lessons have been based on the White Rose Science scheme. This scheme breaks down the science curriculum into topics with children progressing through the curriculum covering topics and skills on a 2 year cycle. This scheme is supplemented by trips such as a bienial visit to Winchester Science museum for children in KS2.
Science is taught as discrete blocks of lessons to ensure coverage and depth to a specific area. Each year group accesses a block of science each term and is fully immersed in the concept for the duration of that block. We ensure progression between our year groups by focussing on what has been previously taught and focussing on what the children are working towards through a carefully planned progressive curriculum. Where possible, teachers plan to suit their children’s interests, current events and teaching style and we endeavour to continuously develop our resources to provide the best quality.
We ensure that all children are provided with rich learning experiences that aim to:
- Prepare our children for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world today and in the future.
- Help our children acquire a growing understanding of the nature, processes and methods of scientific ideas.
- Help develop and extend our children’s scientific concept of their world.
- Build on our children’s natural curiosity and developing a scientific approach to problems.
- Encouraging open-mindedness, self-assessment, perseverance and developing the skills investigating.
- Develop the use of scientific language, recording and techniques.
- Develop the use of computing in investigating and recording.
- Make links between science and other subjects.
At Dinton C of E we aspire to promote children’s independence and for all children to take responsibility in their own learning, therefore we have implemented pre-learning and post-learning tasks for an area to show clear progression and demonstrate children’s new found knowledge and understanding. Throughout the year, we ensure that children conduct a variety of investigations to develop their language and understanding of the concepts taught.
Impact
The impact and measure of this is to ensure children not only acquire the appropriate age related knowledge linked to the science curriculum, but also skills which equip them to progress from their starting points, and within their everyday lives.
All children will have:
- A wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific enquiry/investigative skills.
- A richer vocabulary which will enable to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.
- High aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life.
- A curiosity for the world around them which will enable them to be inquisitive and question new concepts which come their way.
