Science

Intent:
The framework for setting out the aims of a programme of education, including the knowledge and skills to be gained at each stage.

Science

Our vision in science is to encourage curiosity in children so that they ask questions that fuel explorations and investigations about the universe we live in. Science is a practical, interactive, hands on subject that develops the skills and processes of scientific enquiry, as well as building understanding about the concepts being explored. The children systematically build a bank of scientific vocabulary which supports their acquisition of scientific knowledge and enables them to effectively describe and explain the concepts they are learning about.

We use the seven steps of scientific enquiry as the starting point for all of our teaching. This enables children to build their resilience through asking their own increasingly complex questions; developing their skills in explaining what they already know and what their findings might mean as well as drawing conclusions from data they collect.

We recognise that all children have a natural inquisitiveness about the world around them and about how things work. We aim to nurture and develop this to give our children a deeper understanding of their world and to prepare them for the future, where science plays a vital role in the world’s future prosperity.

Implementation
At Cross Farm Infant Academy, we teach the EYFS framework and the National curriculum, however we do not confine ourselves to these boundaries. Science is taught using an enquiry approach and the children are encouraged to pose and investigate their own scientific questions. At Cross Farm, we are passionate about learning and often go beyond the suggested programmes of study to follow children’s interests and to respond to local, national and global issues. At Cross Farm, we teach science through our themes and topic based curriculum which allows the children to make links between science and the other subjects they are studying. In Reception we facilitate the children’s learning through play based exploration and investigation. Teachers are there to encourage, support developing knowledge, expertly question and guide the children’s learning. In Key Stage 1 the topics are used to generate scientific questions and investigation. The children are encouraged to answer these in different ways by: Observing closely, using simple equipment, performing simple tests, identifying and classifying, using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions and by gathering and recording data to help in answering questions. Throughout the school we make use of the school grounds, the local environment, trips further afield and visitors to the school to further enhance the children’s learning. Children’s learning is encouraged beyond the classroom into free play with resources available to continue their own investigations.

Impact Statement
Science
We aim for all our children to leave Cross Farm...

Having developed a deep and lasting interest in science and are motivated to study it further.
Being prepared for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.
Showing concern about, and appreciate, our environment.
Applying scientific vocabulary to describe and explain the world around them.
Able to make links to the broader curriculum and their life experience.
Being confident to lead their own learning, carrying out and planning investigations to provide answers to their own questions.
Having an extensive base of scientific knowledge, skill and vocabulary.