Science

Subject Leader – Mrs O’Gara

Intent

At Moat Farm Infant School, we are committed to providing our pupils with a science curriculum that has a clear intent and impacts positively upon children’s learning and lives.

We recognise the importance of science in every aspect of daily life. As one of the core subjects taught in primary schools, we give the teaching and learning of science the prominence it requires. Our science curriculum will develop the natural curiosity of the child, encourage respect for living organisms and the physical environment and provide opportunities for critical evaluation of evidence.

At Moat Farm Infant School, in conjunction with the aims of the National Curriculum, our science curriculum offers opportunities for children to:
• Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of Biology, Physics and Chemistry.
• Develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of scientific enquiries that help
them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.
• Be equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
• Develop the essential scientific enquiry skills to deepen their scientific knowledge.
• Use a range of methods to communicate their scientific information and present it in a systematic, cross-curricular manner.
• Develop a respect for the materials and equipment they handle with regard to their own, and other children’s safety.
• Develop an enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific learning and discovery.

Implementation

At Moat Farm Infant School our science curriculum uses both substantive and disciplinary knowledge. The curriculum consists of three areas: working scientifically, science enquiry and knowledge.

Substantive knowledge is developed through our topics:

Animals including humans, Plants and Living things and their habitats (Biology): Pupils are encouraged to recognise similarities and differences between living and non-living things. They learn about the human body, their senses, plants and what living things need to stay alive.

Material (Chemistry): Pupils are given the opportunity to explore different materials, sort them according to their properties and consider how some materials can be changed.

Seasonal changes (Earth Science): Pupils are encouraged to observe and describe changes across the four seasons.
Force (Physics): Pupils are given the opportunity to explore force.

Disciplinary knowledge is developed through working scientifically and science enquiry. Children use questions and skills through the 5 areas of science enquiry:

1. Comparative / fair testing
2. Research
3. Observation over time
4. Pattern-seeking
5. Identifying, grouping and classifying

Science is a core subject at Moat Farm Infant School. When planning science, staff ensure that our school gives full coverage of, ‘The National Curriculum programmes of study for Science 2014’ and, ‘Understanding of the World’ in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Working Scientifically skills and enquiry are embedded into lessons to ensure these skills are being developed throughout the children’s school career and new vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching. This is developed through the years, in-keeping with the topics.

Early Years Foundation Stage
In the Foundation Stage, our pupils are taught science through Understanding the World set out within the EYFS Statutory Framework. Through a broad range of teacher-led, child-initiated and continuous learning opportunities, children will be taught to:
• Use their senses to investigate a range of objects and materials.
• Find out about, identify and observe the different features of living things, objects and worldly events.
• Look closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change.
• Ask questions about why things happen and why things work.
• Develop their communication and co-operation skills.
• Talk about their findings, sometimes recording them.
• Identify and find out about features of the place they live and in the natural world around them.

Activities are carefully planned to meet the Early Learning Goals and develop characteristics of effective learning which underpin all of the skills and knowledge needed to ensure our pupils are ready for Key Stage One.

Early Learning Goals: The Natural World:
• 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 the effect of the changing seasons on the natural world around them.

In Key Stage One, a science topic is taught every half-term. Through our planning, we involve problem solving opportunities that allow pupils to find out for themselves. Pupils are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. The heart of science teaching at Moat Farm is our commitment to practical, explorative and investigative learning. We believe in a hands-on approach where pupils learn by doing it for themselves. This approach encourages our pupils to build resilience and become creative, critical thinkers. Our teaching and learning supports our curriculum by ensuring that lessons build on prior learning and provide opportunities for guided and independent practice.

There are also cross curricular opportunities, when possible. Trips and visits from experts who will enhance the learning experience are used where appropriate. These are purposeful and link with the knowledge being taught in class. Knowledge and skills are often revisited through retrieval practise strategies such as quizzes, games and starter activities so pupils can retain information in their long-term memory.

Non-Negotiables
We all:
• Follow the Progression of Skills Overview for planning, teaching and learning from Nursery to Year 2.
• Consolidate learning in every science session by including a retrieval quiz at the start.
• Provide children with SEND access to the curriculum through adapted planning and resource support.
• Share key vocabulary on our working walls and planning. This should be supported by the use of dual coding where applicable. We
ensure this is consistently shared with children.
• Share Learning Ladybirds and Successful Spiders with children in our science sessions.
• Plan for next steps and extension opportunities for children.
• Complete weekly assessments which inform future planning. We complete termly assessments based on skills taught throughout
previous weeks.
• Expect children to respond in full sentences.

Impact

Our successful approach at Moat Farm Infant school results in a fun, engaging, high-quality science education that provides children with the foundations and knowledge for understanding the world. Our children love Science! Children will know more, remember more and understand more about the curriculum.

At the end of each year we expect the children to have achieved Age Related Expectations for their year group. Some children will have progressed further and achieved greater depth (GD). Children who have gaps in their knowledge receive appropriate support and intervention.

Book monitoring, learning walks, pupil voice and planning show progression for children and that our implementation is ensuring a strong coverage of science curriculum. Monitoring has shown that all children are engaged and motivated to learn in science sessions. Pupil voice shows evidences that children have a love for science and enjoy the subject.

2022 data analysis shows the impact as:
• 92% of children met the age-related expectations by the end of Reception.
• 82% of children met the age-related expectations by the end of Key Stage One.

Non-negotiables for Science

We all:
• Follow the Progression of Skills Overview for planning, teaching and learning from Nursery to Year 2.
• Consolidate learning in every science session by including a retrieval quiz at the start.
• Provide children with SEND access to the curriculum through adapted planning and resource support.
• Share key vocabulary on our working walls and planning. This should be supported by the use of dual coding where applicable. We ensure this is consistently shared with children.
• Share Learning Ladybirds and Successful Spiders with children in our science sessions.
• Plan for next steps and extension opportunities for children.
• Complete weekly assessments which inform future planning. We complete termly assessments based on skills taught throughout previous weeks.
• Expect children to respond in full sentences.

End of Key Stage Intentions for Science

By the end of Early Years Foundation Stage
In the Foundation Stage, our pupils are taught science through Understanding the World set out within the EYFS Statutory Framework. Through a broad range of teacher-led, child-initiated and continuous learning opportunities, children will be taught to:
• Use their senses to investigate a range of objects and materials.
• Find out about, identify and observe the different features of living things, objects and worldly events.
• Look closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change.
• Ask questions about why things happen and why things work.
• Develop their communication and co-operation skills.
• Talk about their findings, sometimes recording them.
• Identify and find out about features of the place they live and in the natural world around them.
Activities are carefully planned to meet the Early Learning Goals and develop characteristics of effective learning which underpin all of the skills and knowledge needed to ensure our pupils are ready for Key Stage One.
Early Learning Goals: The Natural World:
• 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 the effect of the changing seasons on the natural world around them.

By the end of Key Stage One
Within Key Stage One, we ensure that our expectations enable all pupils to establish and begin to develop the key skills, knowledge and principals of working as a scientist and the content outlined in the National Curriculum.
In Key Stage One, a science topic is taught every half-term. Through our planning, we involve problem solving opportunities that allow pupils to find out for themselves. Pupils are encouraged to ask their own questions and be given opportunities to use their scientific skills and research to discover the answers. The heart of science teaching at Moat Farm is our commitment to practical, explorative and investigative learning. We believe in a hands-on approach where pupils learn by doing it for themselves. This approach encourages our pupils to build resilience and become creative, critical thinkers. Our teaching and learning supports our curriculum by ensuring that lessons build on prior learning and provide opportunities for guided and independent practice.
There are also cross curricular opportunities, when possible. Trips and visits from experts who will enhance the learning experience are used where appropriate. These are purposeful and link with the knowledge being taught in class. Knowledge and skills are often revisited through retrieval practise strategies such as quizzes, games and starter activities so pupils can retain information in their long-term memory.

Books that inspire Science – Click one to enjoy