Science Curriculum Statement

Intent

At Healey Junior, Infant and Nursery School, our Science curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity, wonder and a lifelong interest in the natural and physical world. We aim to develop learners who ask questions, think critically and understand how science explains the world around them.

Through high-quality science teaching, we aim to foster a strong foundation for future learning, including aspirations within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers and pathways.

In line with the National Curriculum (2014), we aim to ensure that all learners:

• Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through biology, chemistry and physics.
• Develop understanding of scientific processes and methods through a range of scientific enquiries.
• Develop the skills of Working Scientifically to investigate, observe, compare, classify, test and evaluate.
• Build the ability to explain phenomena, make predictions and draw conclusions based on evidence.
• Understand the uses and implications of science in the past, present and future.
• Develop curiosity, resilience and independence as learners of science.

We place strong emphasis on the development of Working Scientifically skills, ensuring these are progressively built from Early Years through to Year 6. Learners are encouraged to be inquisitive, ask meaningful questions and develop explanations grounded in evidence.

Our curriculum is designed to ensure that learners know more, remember more and can apply their scientific understanding across a range of contexts.

Implementation

Science is taught through a carefully sequenced, progressive curriculum that is fully aligned with the National Curriculum (2014). Learning is delivered through topic-based blocks, which are planned to ensure clear progression of knowledge, skills and vocabulary across all year groups.

Where appropriate, science units are linked to wider curriculum themes; however, where this is not possible, science is taught discretely to ensure full coverage and depth of understanding.

Teaching and Learning Approach

Learners are provided with rich opportunities to develop both substantive scientific knowledge and disciplinary knowledge through Working Scientifically.

Teaching includes:

• Carefully planned lessons with clear progression of knowledge and skills.
• Explicit teaching of scientific vocabulary and concepts.
• Opportunities for practical investigation and hands-on learning.
• Regular opportunities to ask questions, make predictions and test ideas.
• Structured enquiry-based learning using all five types of scientific enquiry:
  • Observing over time
  • Pattern seeking
  • Identifying and classifying
  • Comparative and fair testing
  • Research using secondary sources

Working Scientifically skills are embedded throughout lessons and are explicitly taught, revisited and developed over time. These skills are supported and reinforced through the use of our “Science Superhero Squad” framework, which helps learners understand and engage with different scientific enquiry types.

Enrichment and Cultural Capital

Learners benefit from a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including:

• Practical investigations and experiments.
• Outdoor learning experiences.
• Visits and workshops from science professionals and STEM experts.
• Educational visits linked to curriculum topics.
• Collaboration with secondary schools within our Multi-Academy Trust.

These experiences broaden learners’ understanding of science in the real world and help them develop aspirations for future STEM-related careers.

Assessment

Teachers use ongoing formative assessment, questioning and observation to identify misconceptions and gaps in learning. This informs adaptive teaching and ensures that all learners are supported and challenged appropriately.

Impact

The impact of our Science curriculum is evident in learners’ curiosity, confidence and ability to think scientifically.

As learners progress through the school, they develop secure scientific knowledge, understanding and enquiry skills. They become increasingly able to explain concepts, make predictions, test ideas and draw evidence-based conclusions.

By the end of Key Stage 2, learners will:

• Have secure knowledge of key concepts in biology, chemistry and physics.
• Apply Working Scientifically skills confidently across different contexts.
• Ask relevant scientific questions and plan simple investigations.
• Record, analyse and interpret results using appropriate scientific language.
• Draw conclusions based on evidence and explain their reasoning.
• Understand the relevance of science in everyday life and the wider world.
• Demonstrate curiosity and enthusiasm for scientific learning.

Science contributes to learners’ broader development by fostering curiosity, resilience, independence and aspiration. Learners leave Healey with a strong foundation in scientific understanding and an enthusiasm for continued learning in science and STEM subjects.

The impact of the curriculum is monitored through lesson visits, pupil voice, work scrutiny, assessment outcomes and enrichment participation. This ensures continuous improvement and consistency of high-quality science education across the school.

Science in the Early Years Foundation Stage

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, science is taught through the area of Understanding the World, with links to Communication and Language and Expressive Arts and Design.

Learning is delivered through purposeful play, exploration and hands-on experiences both indoors and outdoors.

Learners are provided with opportunities to:

• Explore natural and man-made materials.
• Observe changes in the world around them.
• Investigate how objects and materials behave.
• Ask questions and make predictions.
• Use all their senses to explore the environment.
• Develop early scientific vocabulary through adult interaction and modelling.

Learners are encouraged to be curious, to notice patterns and changes, and to talk about what they observe. Adults support learning through open-ended questioning and structured exploration activities.

By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage, learners are beginning to demonstrate curiosity, observation skills and early understanding of scientific ideas, providing a strong foundation for Key Stage 1 science.

The Lead Teacher for Science is Miss Bradnum.