Denton West End Primary School

Science

Overview

At Denton West End Primary School we believe that developing and increasing pupils’ understanding and enjoyment of science is core to our curriculum. Science has changed our lives significantly and we aim to stimulate a child’s curiosity in finding out why things happen in the way they do. This policy will put into place the provisions for science which are set out in the National Curriculum 2014. We will ensure that all pupils develop scientific knowledge, skills and understanding through the appropriate teaching of biology, chemistry and physics. Effective teaching and learning will help them develop an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of Science. They will experience different types of research and experimentation, which will help them answer scientific questions about the world around them and appreciate the way science affects their life today and in the future, on a personal, national, and global level. This policy will ensure that high standards are achieved and that pupils make good progress at every stage.

Policy

Objectives - Intention

1. To promote and develop children’s enjoyment and enthusiasm for science through exciting, practical, first-hand learning and opportunities to experiment, explore and investigate.
2. To ensure that the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum (2014) for science are taught well and that where appropriate their scientific knowledge skills and understanding are applied across all subjects of the curriculum.
3. To ensure that the school’s schemes of work and guidelines for science are taught, thoroughly, systematically and progressively to all pupils by all staff.
4. To help pupils to become scientists by developing their problem solving and reasoning skills so that they can apply their scientific thinking across the curriculum.
5. To ensure that from the EYFS onwards, pupils are confident in their understanding and application of their basic skills in science and that they build upon their prior learning at every stage.
6. To encourage children to use their increasing knowledge, skills and understanding of science to investigate, ask questions and solve challenging problems.
7. To develop pupils’ confidence and skill in scientific methods as they explore the areas of science and address increasingly complex problems.
8. To bring science to life and make it real so that children understand the importance of science in the world and in their everyday day lives.
9. To ensure that all children particularly those with special needs or disability; those who are ‘stuck’ or those finding it hard, are well supported.
10. To teach pupils to work with proper regard for their own safety and that of others, using safety equipment where necessary.

Strategies - Implementation

1. An appropriate range of teaching and learning strategies will be used in all science lessons to capture pupils’ interest and to promote effective learning and progress.
2. Teachers will use the schemes of work and guidelines, supported by an appropriate range of teaching and learning resources, to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding of every child, ensuring that all pupils, including those with SEND, achieve high standards for their ability and make appropriate progress.
3. Children will be encouraged to; ask questions, solve problems, discover new information, apply and consolidate their knowledge, skills and understanding through first-hand experience, investigations and practical work.
4. Teachers will make use of the immediate and wider environment to help pupils apply their scientific knowledge skills and understanding to see the relevance of science to their own lives. They will set challenging work, tasks and problems to increase children’s’ knowledge, skills and understanding, to extend their thinking and build their self-confidence.
5. Teachers will assess children’s work in science through formative and summative judgements by; asking questions, observing learners during lessons, observing pupils solving practical problems and listening to pupils’ discussions. Work will be marked regularly and frequently and pupils will be given appropriate, clear feedback which tells them how well they have done and what they need to do next to improve.
6. The science leader will support the teaching and learning of science by; providing strategic leadership and direction, monitoring progress and standards across the school, reviewing and revising the science policy, monitoring and supporting teachers in the teaching of science, keeping staff up to date on new developments in science, monitoring the effectiveness of the planning and development of science, auditing, monitoring the effective and appropriate use of resources and obtaining new resources.

Outcomes - Impact

This policy will ensure that all pupils become confident scientists. Effective teaching will ensure that they can solve problems by applying their knowledge, understanding and skills in science with increasing sophistication. This policy should be read in conjunction with other key policies including; assessment, teaching and learning, special needs and equal opportunities, deployment of support staff.

Science – Useful websites

• http://www.sciencefun.org/kidszone/experiments/ - experiments that can be done at home.
• https://sciencebob.com/category/experiments/ - experiments that can be done at home.
• http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html - experiments that can be done at home.
• The Science Museum for information, games etc.
• The Children’s University of Manchester Science pages
• National Geographic Kids
• BBC Bitesize
• Science Sparks(including loads of challenges and periodic table of experiments)
• The Imagination Tree(craft and creative play ideas, including fab play dough recipe!)
• Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) are collating resources for home learning (details coming soon so check their website)
• Science Museum activities to do
• Zoo live - ZOO KNEW You can watch animals live at the zoo without leaving the sofa. Zoos and aquariums all around the world have launched virtual footage of their attractions and animals. https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/g31784857/live-animal-webcam-zoo/
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/terrific-scientific
• http://www.physics.org/marvinandmilo.asp

TV programmes - Either on Freeview, watch again or YouTube

• David Attenborough documentaries 
• Operation Ouch!
• National Geographic Kids
• How It’s Made
• Educational YouTube channels (compiled by Paul Tyler) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_5Wf0ZyXbRaWwTrAuO6LRIDDoSMJZck-/view

For more information about the curriculum areas please contact the school