Science

At Park we believe that a broad and balanced science education is the entitlement of all children, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, class aptitude or disability.

Our aims in teaching science include the following:

• Preparing our children for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world.
• Fostering concern about, and active care for, our environment.
• Helping our children acquire a growing understanding of scientific ideas.
• Helping develop and extend our children’s scientific concept of their world.
• Developing our children’s understanding of the international and collaborative nature of science.

Teaching and Learning

The National Curriculum for science aims 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 and ask 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. 

The planning grids from the Lancashire Grid for Learning are used as a guide for teachers. Planning is differentiated for the inclusion of all children, as they are in all subjects. Teachers are encouraged to plan creatively, delivering engaging and exciting lessons designed to challenge, motivate and inspire.  

Scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding:

Lessons need to ensure that the children develop secure understanding of each block of knowledge and concepts in order to progress to the next stage. Blooms taxonomy of higher order questioning, is used where possible to embed children’s thinking skills and enquiry.

The nature, process and methods of science:

‘Working scientifically’ specifies the understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science for each year group.  It should not be taught as a separate strand. Learning objectives need to allow children to: observe over time; pattern seeking; identifying, classifying and grouping; comparative and fair testing (controlled investigations); and researching using secondary sources. Pupils should seek answers to questions through collecting, analysing and presenting data.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Within the Foundation Stage Scientific understanding of the world and skills are promoted and developed through the Curriculum Area of Knowledge and Understanding of the World. The skills are taught through cross-curricular topics as a part of the Foundation Curriculum. These are recorded in floor books using notations about the children’s learning in the outdoor and indoor classrooms. The Development Matters (2020) is also used to support the national expectation for children at the end of the EYFS; that they will:

ELG: The Natural World Children at the expected level of development will: Explore the natural world around them, making observations and drawing pictures of animals and plants; - 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; - Understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons and changing states of matter.