Science

At Dee Point, the Science curriculum will be the means of providing all children with opportunities for developing a passion for science, developing a sense of excitement and curiosity about the world and exploring a range of exciting topics. At Dee Point, we encourage our children to explore and be inquisitive about the world around them. Our curriculum fosters a curiosity about the universe and promotes respect for the living and non-living. Throughout the programmes of study, we will ensure that the Working Scientifically skills are built-on and developed throughout our children’s time at our school so that they can apply their knowledge of Science when using equipment, conducting experiments, building arguments and explaining concepts confidently and continue to ask questions and be curious about their surroundings.

• To provide all pupils with equal access to a rich, broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum matched well to their ages, abilities, interests and needs.
• To increase pupils’ knowledge, skills and understanding as they grow and develop a passion for Science to harness their natural excitement and curiosity.
• The curriculum will be carefully planned, sequenced and structured to ensure that learning is continuous. It will build upon previous knowledge and will deepen conceptual awareness to ensure pupils are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science.
• To engage the children’s interest and to encourage and motivate them to ask and answer questions, explain and analyse causes, make predictions and solve problems.
• To be exciting and enable children to build upon a body of key knowledge and an understanding of key scientific concepts through different types of science enquiries.
• To open their eyes to awe and wonder and cause them to marvel at the incredible and fantastic world in which they live, discovering why science matters in the world.

• The National Curriculum of Science will be used for the long-term planning. Subjects will link to the whole school curriculum overview.
• Topic webs will be used to inform medium term planning for key objectives and to ensure working scientifically skills are covered. Short term planning will be brief. In addition, planning will be differentiated and it will show how resources are to be deployed efficiently and effectively to personalise learning for each child.
• Children will be taught how to work scientifically using technical terminology accurately and precisely. They will build up an extended specialist vocabulary to articulate scientific concepts clearly and precisely through discussion and written work.
• Assessment will be used to inform the planning and delivery of science through the school.
• Cross-curricular links will be made between subjects where appropriate. Maths, Computing and English skills will be applied to sort, collect, present and analyse data.
• Opportunities will be taken to enliven the curriculum through the use of educational visits out of school, parents, visitors and workshops, clubs and through the use of the school grounds, the locality and the wider environment.
• The curriculum will build on previous learning and knowledge will be at the centre of all lessons. Working scientifically through an investigative approach will be used to embed key knowledge, enabling pupils to seek answers to questions about the world around them.
• There will be a clear sequence in the teaching and all children will be aware of the individual subject that is being taught which will grow as the pupils move through school.
• SEN needs will be addressed for individual pupils with reasonable adjustments made to ensure they can access the curriculum and make progress.
• Scientific vocabulary is discretely taught and modelled through Word Aware lessons.
• The curriculum will be high quality to ensure children become proactive thinkers with the ability to raise questions and develop their understanding of the world in which they live and provide them with opportunities for their future. Raising aspirations will be a key driver for all pupils and staff

Children’s work and achievement within the science curriculum will be celebrated and displayed to enable it to make a significant impact on the visual appearance of the school and to contribute positively to the ethos. The curriculum and its implementation will be closely monitored by subject leaders and through the monitoring of pupil’s work /learning environment/twitter/displays around school/pupil voice. The assessment data will clearly support the monitoring of science. Frequent, continuous and progressive learning outside the classroom is embedded throughout the science curriculum. Through various workshops, trips and interactions with experts and local charities, children have the understanding that science has changed our lives and that it is vital to the world’s future prosperity. Children learn the possibilities for careers in science, as a result of our community links and connection with national agencies including the STEM association. They learn from and work with professionals, ensuring access to positive role models within the field of science from the immediate and wider local community. From this exposure to a range of different scientists from various backgrounds, all children feel they are scientists and capable of achieving.