The National Curriculum sets out objectives for science under two broad headings. These are:

• Scientific Knowledge and Conceptual Understanding
• The Nature, Process and Methods of Science (working scientifically)

Objectives under Scientific Knowledge and Conceptual Understanding aim to develop a body of scientific knowledge and understanding in children. They cover key facts and concepts in the wider areas of biology, physics and chemistry, but have been arranged into units – or Programmes of Study – such as Plants, Everyday Materials, Animals Including Humans and Light.

Objectives under the heading The Nature, Process and Methods of Science (or working scientifically), focus on developing scientific enquiry skills. They encourage children to work and behave like scientists, developing skills such as observation, planning, hypothesising and fair testing.

At Coleridge, we aim to deliver these two areas of the curriculum in conjunction with one another (where possible), allowing children to use the tools of scientific enquiry to discover facts and concepts for themselves. By doing this, children come to understand how scientific principles have been established, and to value the evidence and research practices on which these principles are based. They will also study some of the notable men and women whose contributions to science through the ages have shaped the way we think today.

The Coleridge science curriculum is carefully sequenced so that learning is consolidated and developed year on year. Over time, children at Coleridge develop a ‘web of understanding’ that is highly connected, allowing them to make links between different areas of the science curriculum, and between learning in other subjects too.

Our curriculum is also a highly practical one with engaging experiments and activities planned for most lessons. This ‘hands on’ approach not only allows children of all abilities to access the curriculum, but it lets them experience some of the whizzes, pops and bangs that make science an innately exciting subject for young children to learn.

To view our school curriculum map, please click here

To view our knowledge and understanding progression map, please click  here