Intent: At Newton Primary School, we encourage children to be inquisitive and see science as the world around them, whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge to help them think and reason scientifically. We want them to gain an understanding of scientific processes and a knowledge of how these fit into the world of work as well as having a rich range of scientific vocabulary which they can use progressively as they advance through school.

Implementation: At Newton Primary School, we use the Developing Experts scheme to plan lessons and ensure all children learn and retain knowledge throughout the programmes of study. In each lesson, pupils are given key facts and knowledge through a storytelling approach to learning.  Further to this, each lesson offers Rocket Words, these are key words and meanings to learn; vocabulary which is then repeated throughout the lesson, quizzed on at the end and repeated at the beginning of the following lesson.
All our lessons contain a balance of the different ‘Working Scientifically Skills’ and ‘Scientific Enquiry’ types, so that children practise a broad range of skills throughout the curriculum. As well as each child having an individual science book and knowledge organiser, each classroom has a science floor book which records whole class and individual scientific thoughts, ideas and responses. These floor books can be recorded in and shared throughout the school week, promoting that notion of science being all around us and not just during science lessons. Wherever possible and suitable the children are taken outside for a first hand experience of their learning. 

Impact: the successful approach to the teaching of science at Newton Primary School will result in children developing their confidence, their love of science and their knowledge of careers and opportunities related to science.  We have several assessment opportunities to track pupil progress within lessons and units of work.  Each child is able to take a quick online key word quiz, a multiple choice comprehension activity and at the end of a unit each child will take a knowledge test or be assessed during practical task.

Science In EYFS

Developing Experts is used to support the teaching of Understanding of the World in EYFS. As with the rest of the school, Developing Experts is used for a short session on a Thursday and the learning is then incorporated into the continuous provision areas. The units are taught according to the children's interests during the week or to link with other topics being taught in the provision.