At Steyning CofE Primary School, we provide an exciting and engaging Science curriculum that develops children's curiosity about the natural world. Our curriculum ensures that all pupils develop scientific knowledge, understanding and skills through practical investigation and exploration from EYFS through to Year 6.

Science education helps children:

• Develop curiosity and wonder about the world around them
• Learn through hands-on investigation and experimentation
• Build problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Understand how science affects their daily lives
• Develop scientific knowledge that prepares them for the future
• Learn to ask questions, make predictions and draw conclusions

Our Science curriculum is practical and investigative. Children learn through:

• Hands-on experiments- practical investigations and observations
• Scientific enquiry- asking questions, making predictions, testing ideas
• Working scientifically- using equipment, recording data, drawing conclusions
• Real-world connections- linking science to everyday life
• Outdoor learning- exploring nature and the environment

Skills Progression- Working Scientifically

Throughout their time at Steyning, children progressively develop:

Asking Questions and Planning

• EYFS & KS1: Asking simple questions, recognising they can be answered in different ways
• Lower KS2: Asking relevant questions, setting up simple practical enquiries and tests
• Upper KS2: Planning different types of scientific enquiries, recognising and controlling variables

Observing and Measuring

• EYFS & KS1: Observing closely using simple equipment, performing simple tests
• Lower KS2: Making systematic and careful observations, taking accurate measurements using standard units
• Upper KS2: Taking measurements with increasing accuracy and precision, using a range of scientific equipment

Recording and Presenting

• EYFS & KS1: Gathering and recording data, using simple charts and tables
• Lower KS2: Recording findings using drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts and tables
• Upper KS2: Recording data using scientific diagrams, labels, classification keys, tables, scatter graphs, bar and line graphs

Interpreting and Concluding

• EYFS & KS1: Using observations and ideas to answer questions
• Lower KS2: Gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data, using results to draw simple conclusions
• Upper KS2: Identifying scientific evidence, using results to draw conclusions, identifying causal relationships

Evaluating and Communicating

• EYFS & KS1: Talking about what they have found out
• Lower KS2: Reporting findings, using straightforward scientific language, suggesting improvements
• Upper KS2: Reporting and presenting findings, using oral and written explanations, identifying improvements and further questions

Enrichment and Visits

We enhance our Science curriculum through:

• Visits from professionals- doctors, nurses, dentists, electricians
• Educational visits- Butser Ancient Farm, Wakehurst Place, planetariums
• Hands-on investigations- owl pellet dissection, heart dissection, growing plants
• Wildlife experiences- caterpillars/butterflies, visiting lambs, Jaws and Claws
• Outdoor learning- park visits, local environment studies, fieldwork
• Workshops- chocolate making, first aid training

Supporting Your Child's Science Learning

You can support your child's scientific development at home by:

Encouraging Curiosity:

• Ask questions together- wonder about how things work
• Explore nature- observe plants, animals, weather and seasons
• Visit science centres- hands-on exhibits bring science to life
• Watch documentaries- age-appropriate science programmes

Practical Investigations:

• Simple experiments - try safe experiments at home (growing plants, making slime, exploring magnets)
• Cooking together - discuss changes in materials, measuring, temperature
• Observe changes - ice melting, water evaporating, plants growing
• Explore forces - ramps, floating and sinking, pushes and pulls

Developing Skills:

• Make predictions - encourage them to guess what might happen and why
• Record observations - keep nature diaries, weather charts, growth records
• Discuss findings - talk about what they noticed and why it happened
• Ask "why?" - encourage them to explain their thinking

Real-World Connections:

• Link to daily life - discuss science in cooking, cleaning, transport, technology
• Explore the environment - local parks, beaches, woods
• Care for living things - grow plants, look after pets responsibly
• Discuss health - healthy eating, exercise, hygiene

Building Knowledge:

• Read science books- fiction and non-fiction about scientific topics
• Use online resources- BBC Bitesize, educational science websites
• Collect and classify- rocks, leaves, shells (understanding classification)
• Keep safe- always supervise experiments and follow safety guidelines

For detailed curriculum maps showing exactly what your child will learn each term, please see our separate curriculum Long Term Plan documents on the website.