Science

Curriculum Intent

Inquisitiveness, curiosity and exploration are encouraged from day one at Sunshine.

As pupils progress through the school their scientific curiosity increases alongside their knowledge and skills.  Their ability to test their ideas with a variety of methods and draw fair conclusions is the overreaching aim of our science curriculum.

Scientific enquiry skills are embedded in each topic the children study and these topics are revisited and developed throughout their time at school. Topics, such as Plants, are taught in EYFS and studied again in further detail throughout Key Stage One. There is clear progression of each topic that spans over different year groups.

Specialist vocabulary for topics is taught and built upon each year.

Effective questioning is encouraged to communicate ideas. Concepts taught are reinforced by focusing on the key features of scientific enquiry, so that pupils learn to use a variety of approaches to answer relevant scientific questions.

'Children want the same things we want.

To laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained and delighted.' - Dr Seuss

 Implementation

Our projects in Nursery and Reception are designed to develop scientific knowledge, skills, and understanding of the world around them.

Whilst the curriculum in KS1 is underpinned by a series of discrete Science units and is taught for 1 hour weekly to all children.

Work is evidenced weekly in a Science book as well as in the Class Floorbook.

Scientific skills are recorded when achieved and used to inform teacher assessments entered onto Insight Tracking.

The environment is created to support and extend children’s learning. All classes from Year 1- 6 have a Science Enquiry Board which is changed to reflect current learning. Key vocabulary is also displayed upon this.

The website is used effectively to keep parents up to date with the curriculum.

Our Science curriculum ensures that all children are provided with rich learning experiences                                 that aim to:

·         Prepare our children for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world today and in the future.

·         Help develop and extend our children’s scientific concept of the world around them.

·         Build on our children’s natural curiosity and develop a scientific approach to problems.

·         Encourage open-mindedness, self-assessment and perseverance.

·         Develop their skills through investigations – including: observing, measuring, predicting, hypothesising, experimenting, communicating, interpreting, explaining and evaluating.

·         Develop the use of scientific language, recording and techniques.

·         Make links between science and other subjects.

Impact

The impact and measure of this is to ensure children not only acquire the appropriate age-related knowledge linked to the science curriculum, but also skills which equip them to progress from their starting points, and within their everyday lives.

All children will have:

·         A wider variety of skills linked to both scientific knowledge and understanding, and scientific enquiry/investigative skills.

·         A rich vocabulary of words which will enable them to articulate their understanding of taught concepts in their daily life.

·         High aspirations, which will see them through to further study, work and a successful adult life.

·         Children’s work shows a range of topics and evidence of the curriculum coverage for all science topics.

·         There is a clear progression of children’s work across school which enables them to succeed.

·         Teachers’ high expectations in our school ensure our children become responsible, confident learners who are equipped for the wider world.

Projects for 2025-26

Science Long Term Overview

Progression in Knowledge and Skills

Progression in Scientific Knowledge and Skills.pdf

 Our Commitment to SEND and Inclusion

Weblinks

Plants