At Paddox, we want our children to be inquisitive and investigative learners, who are able to ask and answer questions confidently, using their own knowledge and real-life experiences.
Through our mastery approach, all learners are given the opportunity to succeed. We encourage children to work independently and make links between their learning and what goes on around them, thinking carefully about the scientific reasoning behind it.
We want the children to be competent in all areas of scientific enquiry and to have enthusiasm for their learning. Scientific enquiries cover a range of skills that are developed as the child progresses through school.
The Science curriculum supports the school’s REACH values as all children are expected to work hard and achieve well to be the best they can be.
At Paddox, we recognise that Science makes an increasing contribution to all aspects of life. Children are naturally fascinated by everything in the world around them and Science makes a valuable contribution to their understanding.
We aim to teach our children the skills, knowledge and understanding to question and understand the world around them, encouraging them to be inquisitive and investigative learners, who are able to ask and answer questions confidently. We want our children to appreciate how science will affect their future on a personal, national and global level.
Our Science curriculum aims to:
– Provide children with a good knowledge of the topics as specified in the National Curriculum
– Ask and answer scientific questions
– Plan and carry out a range of scientific enquiries using a wide range of equipment.
– Evaluate evidence and present their conclusions clearly and accurately
– Prepare children for life in an increasingly scientific and technological world
EYFS
In EYFS science is covered through the ‘Understanding the World’ section of the Development Matters. Other areas such as healthy lifestyles are covered within the Physical Development section. The elements of ‘Working Scientifically’ within EYFS are intertwined through the ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning’ which are; playing and exploring, active learning and creating and thinking critically.
KS1 and KS2
Through our mastery approach, all learners are given the opportunity to succeed. We encourage children to work independently and make links between their learning and what goes on around them, thinking carefully about the scientific reasoning behind it. We provide children with regular opportunities to deepen their thinking through extension tasks, designed to allow children to apply their knowledge in different ways.
An important focus in our lessons is the use of scientific vocabulary and this is taught explicitly. As we teach using a spiral curriculum, meaning knowledge is revisited constantly throughout the year, children become more confident and are given multiple opportunities to use their vocabulary correctly.
Working scientifically skills and enquiry types are explicitly explored and identified within each lesson. We ensure all skills are applied and developed throughout their time in school and encourage children to begin to plan their own enquiries to develop their independence.
Our vision is that through the delivery of our Science curriculum, all children show a thirst for learning. They understand that they can all be scientists and they are motivated to find out more to extend their thinking. They will have a solid understanding of key concepts and can use their scientific enquiry skills to prove or disprove their ideas. Most importantly, we want to prepare them for their future in an increasingly scientific world.