At Chigwell Row Infant School, we want to prepare our children for life in an increasingly scientific world. We want our children to foster concern and care for our environment and help them develop a growing understanding of scientific ideas. We aim to achieve this through our exciting curriculum map, which promotes a cross curricular and creative approach to learning. Our curriculum follows the programmes of study from 2014 National Curriculum that specifies what to teach in each year group. 

Intent:

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At Chigwell Row our science curriculum aims to develop and support pupils’ curiosity and understanding about the world around them. We provide them with the skills and knowledge to develop independent thought, fascination about the world and a  respect for the scientific community. 

 Our aims are to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for science; providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum.  Using the Developing Experts scheme, our curriculum builds upon students’ prior learning and skills and encourages them to ask questions, work scientifically and engage in a range of investigations and experiments. Pupils are encouraged to think as scientists, asking questions to further their understanding and apply this to the world around them.
 

Implementation: 

In the Early Years children follow Understanding the World as part of the EYFS curriculum. Their learning is developed and supported through engaging classroom provision that is adapted according to the children’s interests. The Developing Experts Scheme is used to support the planning of activities for pupils related to the relevant topic, and pupils have access to a curiosity table which provides them with resources that can support their curiosities.  Adult questioning allows the children to further their understanding across different topics, and cross-curricular links are made to provide context to the children’s learning, for example class texts that link to the topic of ‘Farming’ are used to reinforce learning about food in Understanding the World, whilst also developing their understanding of health and wellbeing in Personal, Social and Emotional Development. 

In Key stage 1  we follow a rolling curriculum with a Year A and B cycle, this is adapted from the Developing Experts scheme. The rolling curriculum  ensures that children who are in mixed year group classes  build on their previous knowledge and skills, whilst also ensuring that by the end of KS1 they have had complete coverage of the KS1 national curriculum.  Where possible we look to make cross curricular links for example our science topic ‘All about Health and Diet’ links with our PSHE topic ‘Healthy Me’ and our Geography topic ‘Why Does it matter where our food comes from?’

At the beginning of each science lesson key vocabulary is specifically taught and put into context (rocket words). This ensures that children are continuing to develop their scientific vocabulary and are able to use it within their learning. Expert films are embedded within every lesson to demonstrate how the lesson’s knowledge is relevant to the wider world. These experts show the application of the scientific topic within their workplace and showcase potential employment opportunities. Children’s tasks (mission assignments) are adapted to support and challenge all abilities.

We enhance our curriculum with outdoor learning and the utilisation of spaces such as  Hainault forest. Science extends beyond the classroom for pupils at Chigwell Row, who are given opportunities to investigate the natural world around them. Where possible, learning throughout the school is supported by the use of high-quality texts, a range of resources and technology. Pupils are encouraged to answer questions through their own research and experimentation. Pupils are also given the opportunity to record their findings using a range of methods. 

Pupils are encouraged to develop curiosity in Science by taking part in trips, local visits, extracurricular activities (such as gardening club), and connecting with other schools and scientists online for example during Science week. 

Impact:

We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

• Assessing children’s understanding of topic linked vocabulary before and after the unit is taught as well as during the lessons. 
• Marking of written work in books
•  Images and videos of the children’s practical learning.
• Interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice)
• Low stake quizzes within lessons
• Formal reporting of standards at the end of each Key Stage
• Adult questioning and prompting

Our Science Topic Overview

science topic overview template.pdf