We follow the National Curriculum sequence and content.  Our aim for children at St Dunstan’s, is to learn how science is used in life to explain the natural phenomena they see in the world, to predict how things behave and to understand the implications of science in their world today and in their future.

The curriculum intends to build, through consideration of prior learning and careful chunking of information, a strong understanding of the key scientific concepts in specific disciplines of biology, physics and chemistry.  We place an emphasis on developing scientific vocabulary, to support the children to be able to confidently explain and discuss their learning.  In addition, we aim to develop children’s understanding of how scientists think and work, to support them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.

How is science planned and taught?

Long term planning across the school builds from the EYFS learning about the Natural World, and People, Culture and Communities. Core learning is derived from the CUSP science planning scheme and each science unit is taught over a half term. We begin each sequence of learning with retrieval of prior learning to support understanding.  There is a focus on key vocabulary, which is explicitly taught, enabling children to communicate understanding of core concepts and more abstract ideas effectively.  Deliberate practice (structured practice to improve) is used so that the skills of working scientifically (questioning, planning, observing, measuring, gathering and presenting data, concluding) science are well understood, misconceptions are minimised and the key ideas are clearly developed before children explore and apply their thinking.