A member of Dales Academies Trust 
Subject leader: Miss Yarrow
‘Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of all garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.’
Matthew 13 vs.31-32
Our entire curriculum, including Science, is underpinned by the ‘Parable of the Mustard Seed’ and summarised by our motto:
Together may we give our children: roots to grow and wings to fly.
Intent
Our vision is to provide a safe place of learning – a happy sanctuary for children where every unique individual will be nurtured to grow and flourish to achieve their full potential with confidence. Our intent is to give every child a broad and balanced Science curriculum which enables them to confidently explore and discover what is around them, so that they have a deeper understanding of the world we live in. We want our children to love science. We want them to have no limits on their ambitions as adults. We want our children to remember their science lessons in our school, to cherish these memories and embrace the scientific opportunities they are presented with! To achieve this, we provide a variety of practical hands on experiences that encourage curiosity and questioning. We have a coherently planned and sequenced curriculum. We want to equip our children with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the science National Curriculum but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.
Implementation
Science is introduced through the EYFS statutory educational programme for ‘Understanding the World’ and at the end of Reception, children’s expected level of development is set out in the early learning goal ‘The Natural World’. Children find out about objects, materials and living things using all of their senses by looking at similarities, differences, patterns and change. Children are encouraged to be curious, to ask questions about why things happen and how things work, as well as observing and understanding the effect of the changing seasons. Children enjoy spending time outdoors so that they have a hands-on experience of the natural world around them, interacting with natural processes and learning new vocabulary to help them describe and recognise specific features of the world.
From years 1 to 6, Science topics are taught within each year group in accordance with the National Curriculum.
- Topics are blocked to allow children to focus on developing their knowledge and skills, studying each topic in depth.
- Every year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.
- Teachers promote enjoyment and foster interest of the scientific disciplines; Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- Children explore, question, predict, plan, carry out investigations and observations as well as conclude their findings.
- In order to support children in their ability to ‘know more and remember more’ there are regular opportunities to review the learning taken place in previous topics as well as previous lessons.
- At the start of each topic children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know about a current topic.
- To support teaching, teachers access a range of resources and planning from the PZAZ scheme of learning.
- Effective use of education visits and visitors are planned, to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experiences within the Science curriculum such as links with Cummins who provide their successful Lego racers day and Croft Circuit experience.
- Effective modelling by teachers ensures that children are able to achieve their learning intention, with misconceptions addressed within it.
- Cross-curricular links are planned for, with other subjects such as Maths, English and Computing.
Learning science is concerned with increasing pupils’ knowledge of our world, and with developing skills associated with science as a process of enquiry. Our science curriculum develops the natural curiosity of each child no matter their demographic, encourages them to have respect for living organisms, and instil in pupils the importance of caring for the natural environment. We ensure all children (including our more able) are challenged with their learning and consider the scientific opportunities in the wider world.
Assessment of Science is through summative and formative strategies. Children will have a knowledge mat at the start of their current topic in their books. Each child will complete a pre- and post-unit assessment from the PZAZ scheme of work. Our approach is to scaffold pupil’s learning through a cycle of opportunities via a variety of learning styles including, ‘Flashback,’ experiments and research based tasks which also ensures opportunities to target any gaps and ensure all children (include our more able) are challenged with their learning.
Impact
The cyclical nature of our Science curriculum ensures children’s build upon prior knowledge learnt. Children will learn in a fun and engaging way through a high quality science education, that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world that they can take with them once they complete their primary education.
Assessment is teacher based and formed using formal strategies (e.g. end of unit year group assessment tasks, quizzes) and informal strategies (Use of concept maps, verbal/written outcomes, reflection tasks/presentations). This is used to influence future learning.
Eco-Schools
At Eppleby Forcett and Middleton Tyas, we ensure that the children are taught to respect and protect our environment through reducing, recycling and reusing resources.
Additional Information
For more information regarding our Science curriculum (including our curriculum map and key procedures), please click on the ‘Useful Documents’ links below.
Similarly, under ‘Useful Links’, you can find supplementary resources and other useful websites about Science.
Useful Documents
Useful Links
