At Titchfield Primary School, we want to be excellent Scientists!  We use our learning values- STRIVE- to help us be the best Scientific thinkers and learners that we can be, leading to excellent outcomes.

At Titchfield we want the learning in Science to be as creative and interactive possible.   Using the National Curriculum, and the knowledge of our children at Titchfield Primary School, the Science skills and progression have been perfectly linked throughout the school to ensure all children follow a programme of study taken from the National Curriculum objectives and have plotted them into that Year groups theme for the half term.  Each unit of Science has an assessment sheet for teachers, showing key skills and key vocabulary that should be taught alongside the objectives that need to be met. The vocabulary is part of their learning journey and embedded into their learning and used to explain their thinking.

Children are encouraged to be inquisitive about the world and how things work.  We want them to be curious and ask questions.  How?  Why?  What?

Being able to experience and observe the world around them is at the centre of Titchfield Primary School’s ethos for making the most successful Scientific learners. From Early Years, the children are encouraged to develop their Scientific understanding through enquiry; answering their own questions through observing, grouping and classifying, carrying out tests and finding things out through primary and secondary resources.  With the progression through the school, moving into KS2, the children are encouraged to explore, discuss, test, notice patterns and begin to make simple conclusions.  They will increase their scientific vocabulary and be able to use and read it confidently.  Moving into upper Key stage 2 the children develop a deeper understanding of scientific ideas.  They can analyse and understand relationships between how things work and operate.  They will use evidence they have collated to form and draw their own conclusions.

Teachers at Titchfield Primary School believe that children learn best from first hand experiences of the scientific world around them.  Displays through learning journeys show technical language, alongside diagrams and explanations to help the children with their learning.    

The teachers have had a series of CPD staff meetings held by the Science, leader. These include providing information about teaching Science through Drama.  Children can learn how things work in the world through Drama activities and collaborating with other children to show their understanding.  Science through Drama should now be embedded and the teachers are supported in this by the science leader.  The staff also worked together to provide a Science week where our theme was ‘use of plastic in the environment’.  A Science week allows a week of questioning, testing, finding out, reasoning and drawing conclusions.  Working scientifically is elevated and the children have the opportunity to show case their investigations to other classes and adults. 

Our allotment allows our children to observe how plants and vegetables grow throughout the year.  Pupils are introduced to the requirements of plants for germination, growth and survival.  Each class will observe and record, the growth of a variety of plants as they change over time from a seed or bulb.  The harvested crops are then used to enhance other areas of the curriculum. 

Assessment sheets have been carefully planned and written for each class teacher, in each area of Science.  They show the learning objectives, skills needed and vocabulary to be used by the children.  The teachers are to record the children’s understanding of the learning objectives and these are seen and monitored by the Science leader; where conversations will take place regarding children who need support and challenge.

The children at Titchfield Primary School are enquiring about the Scientific world all the time and we, as teachers provide the tools to help the children find the answers in a fun, investigative way.  We want them to continue asking ‘why’ and ‘how’ throughout their time at our school and beyond.