At Newlands, the Science curriculum is designed to support children to develop key scientific enquiry skills, modelled by effective teaching, to be able to explore scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding. The children investigate using core scientific skills, and we aim to support the children to develop more independence to effectively use these skills as they move through school. We encourage children to ask questions about the world around them and then investigate these, exploring the results and linking these to key scientific knowledge and understanding. Building vocabulary is a crucial part of children’s scientific learning, to enable them to grasp key scientific processes and understanding. Our aim is to ensure that all children leave Newlands with enquiring minds and the ability to investigate and explore scientifically, as well as being aware of the uses of science and its importance in everyday life.

How we deliver our curriculum

Across the Key Stages, children develop a progressive understanding of the world through the separate disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. This begins in EYFS, where children are given wide and varied access to explore scientifically in these different disciplines through investigational activities. Children engage in scientific enquiry to answer scientific questions across the school which develop their understanding of the world around them. We are working on developing children’s use of research using secondary resources to enable them to answer questions about the world around them. Children develop a range of science-specific vocabulary and, as a school, we are working on developing this further to support children to consolidate their understanding of vocabulary and applying it through vocabulary-specific activities. Units of work build on prior experience and understanding, with opportunities to revisit key learning before moving on. Children use a range of techniques to share their scientific understanding (e.g. presentations, drama and concept cartoons).

How we support everyone to learn

All children are supported to learn through vocabulary activities to be able to grasp key scientific vocabulary and therefore be able to develop their scientific knowledge. Differentiation is used for children to be able to access their learning and be able to make progress in their understanding and scientific enquiry. Where individuals may be missing key information or understanding, assessment for learning is used to assess children’s current knowledge and understanding so that next steps can be identified and support children moving forwards in the science curriculum.