Science at Lyndhurst is taught in a wide variety of inclusive ways from Nursery to Year 6. Certain topics and areas are repeated across year groups, meaning that children may revisit a particular topic in each year of primary school but with increasing difficulty and with a different focus each time. We encourage the children to ask, as well as answer, scientific questions. They have the opportunity to use a variety of data, such as statistics, graphs, pictures, and photographs.

Wherever possible, we involve the pupils in practical activities as these increase enthusiasm, motivation and provide first-hand experience. In these sessions, children have the opportunity to test hypotheses and take part in full scientific enquiries, involving the concept of fair testing. This is in line with ‘working scientifically’ from the National Curriculum objectives. This focuses on the skills the children need to become accurate, careful and confident practical scientists. Children are expected to master certain skills in each year group and there is a very clear progression of these set out for each year group to refer to.

In order to enrich our Science curriculum even further, an exciting whole-school Science Week is planned annually which aims to deliver fun, informative and cross-curricular sessions based on the theme for that year. Science Week encompasses a variety of scientific elements from physics to biology, from space to the human body. This week successfully enthuses and engages the children (and adults!) and enhances their love for science; it is a particularly inspiring week of the academic year.

The national curriculum for science aims to ensure that all pupils:

• develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
• develop an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.
• are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science today and for the future.