Saviour CofE Primary School
Science
At Saviour, we provide a rich high-quality science education that stimulates our children's inquisitive minds and provides them with the foundations for understanding the world. We build and enrich the children’s science capital to enable them to make aspirational choices in their future and develop their identities as scientists. Knowledge and skills are explicitly taught so that our pupils become confident, methodical and analytical scientists that recognise the significance of science in their everyday lives.
In Reception, we aim to sow the seeds for future learning of scientific concepts. We have carefully planned experiences which introduce them to a wide range of simple vocabulary that enables them to categorise and describe the natural world. These key experiences are linked to an overarching topic for the half-term. The Statutory Framework for EYFS and the guidance from Development Matters have been broken down into the key knowledge, which has been progressively matched to the school’s science curriculum.
Key Stage 1 and 2 follow the Rising Stars’ scheme, ‘Switched on Science – Second Edition’. Skills, knowledge and vocabulary are progressively mapped out across the year groups to ensure that pupils will acquire a solid foundation for KS3. Our progressive objectives identify what pupils should know by the end of each year group, which enables teachers to identify and plug gaps in pupils’ knowledge and skills.
Enriching the Science Curriculum
To nurture our children’s spirit of enquiry and encourage their enjoyment of Science, we supplement classroom learning with exciting activities and events outside the curriculum.
- Forest School and Outdoor Learning sessions are used as an opportunity to provide the children with a different context in which to engage with science. The school’s outdoor learning environment has been carefully enhanced to increase the opportunities for science outdoors. We have three qualified Forest School Leaders.
- The school’s ‘Bee Green Team’ develop the whole school’s environmental awareness and drive initiatives to reduce our environmental impact. They are currently working with MEEN (Manchester Environmental Education Network) and have achieved the bronze Eco-Schools Award.
- Afterschool Forest Club and the Bee Green Club
- Gardening afterschool club (spring/summer)
- Regular visits to the local allotment – nurture group and class groups
- Teachers incorporate a regular slot into their timetables for scientific discussions to take place. This session is called Bright Ideas and the children are supported to reason, think deeply and use scientific vocabulary in discussions.
- Trips and visitors are used to enhance learning experiences.
- The children in reception experience lifecycles in action through egg to chick hatching and caterpillar to butterfly experience.
- Year 2 are connected with a Scottish dairy farmer in an initiative called Farmer time. Fortnightly Zoom calls are focused on enhancing the children's scientific knowledge and understanding in a different context.
- For each unit linked current science news is shown and discussed using Twig Science Reporter and Newsround. The school library is stocked with high-quality non-fiction books and the school subscribes to children’s science magazines. The website also lists free ways that parents can boost their child’s science capital.
- The school celebrates British Science Week each year. Previously this has involved each class creating their own STEM project and them being showcased them to parents in an assembly.
- Parental workshops in cooking, teeth and healthy eating organised by Parent Support worker.
Free ways to boost your child’s science capital:
Free places to visit!
Watch the latest science news!
Websites to visit!