Science | Saviour CofE Primary School

Science

At Saviour, we provide a rich high-quality science education that stimulates the children’s inquisitive minds and provides them with the foundations for understanding the world. We build and enrich the children’s science capital to enable them to make aspirational choices in their future and develop their identities as scientists. Knowledge and skills are explicitly taught so that our pupils become confident, methodical and analytical scientists that recognise the significance of science in their everyday lives.

In nursery and reception, we aim to sow the seeds for future learning of scientific concepts. We have carefully planned experiences which introduce them to a wide range of simple vocabulary that enables them to categorise and describe the natural world. These key experiences are linked to an overarching topic for the half-term. The Statutory Framework for EYFS and the guidance from Development Matters have been broken down into the key knowledge, which has been progressively matched to the school’s science curriculum.

Key Stage 1 and 2 follow the White Rose scheme. Skills, knowledge and vocabulary are progressively mapped out across the year groups to ensure that pupils will acquire a solid foundation for KS3. Our progressive objectives identify what pupils should know by the end of each year group, which enables teachers to identify and plug gaps in pupils’ knowledge and skills. The planning also clearly states for teachers the previous learning that their current unit is building upon. Purposeful practical work, in relation to the curriculum content, is sequenced within each unit to ensure that the children have the necessary disciplinary and substantive knowledge needed to carry out the work successfully and to learn from it. Our science curriculum outlines and anticipates common misconceptions that are explicitly addressed within lessons. The science units have science in action CPD videos and also provides teachers with in-depth subject knowledge on what is being covered.

We take into account that science is dependent on the children’s mathematical knowledge and skills. The progression of mathematics within science has been coherently matched with what is taught in mathematics and children are explicitly taught how to use mathematics in science. Likewise, the component knowledge pupils need in order to read, write, represent and talk science is coherently matched to the English curriculum.

Each year group has two blocks dedicated to sustainability. We want to help children to: Understand the current issues around sustainability and climate change. Identify that they have a role to play in creating a more sustainable future for themselves and others. Think of ways to make a positive impact on their local and wider environments. Have a positive and proactive mindset when it comes to making sustainable changes.

Science curriculum 2025

Enriching the Science Curriculum

To nurture our children’s spirit of enquiry and encourage their enjoyment of Science, we supplement classroom learning with exciting activities and events outside the curriculum.

Forest School and Outdoor Learning sessions are used as an opportunity to provide the children with a different context in which to engage with science. The school’s outdoor learning environment has been carefully enhanced to increase the opportunities for science outdoors. We have three qualified Forest School Leaders.
The school’s ‘Bee Green Team’ develop the whole school’s environmental awareness and drive initiatives to reduce our environmental impact. They are currently working with MEEN (Manchester Environmental Education Network) and have achieved the bronze Eco-Schools Award.
Afterschool Forest Club and the Bee Green Club
Gardening afterschool club (spring/summer)
Regular visits to the local allotment – nurture group and class groups
Teachers incorporate a regular slot into their timetables for scientific discussions to take place. This session is called Bright Ideas and the children are supported to reason, think deeply and use scientific vocabulary in discussions.
Trips and visitors are used to enhance learning experiences.
The children in reception experience lifecycles in action through egg to chick hatching and caterpillar to butterfly experience.
For each unit linked current science news is shown and discussed using Twig Science Reporter and Newsround. The school library is stocked with high-quality non-fiction books and the school subscribes to children’s science magazines. The website also lists free ways that parents can boost their child’s science capital.
The school celebrates British Science Week each year. Previously this has involved each class creating their own STEM project and them being showcased them to parents in an assembly.
Parental workshops in cooking, teeth and healthy eating organised by Parent Support worker.