Science 

At Tottenhall, we provide a high-quality Science education that focuses on introducing our young learners to the world around them through hands-on exploration and engaging activities. They are encouraged to be curious, ask questions, and are supported in developing their understanding of scientific ideas to answer their own questions. Pupils are offered opportunities and experiences to observe and understand the wonders of their surroundings, promoting a fascination and a lifelong love for Science. We aim for pupils to leave Tottenhall with a secure understanding of scientific concepts and a passion for scientific enquiry by delivering a broad, balanced, and coherent curriculum which embeds both scientific skills and knowledge. By doing this, we not only seek to continually ignite our pupils’ curiosity and interests but also prepare them to be inquisitive, confident, and skilful scientists!

We use the National Curriculum to ensure comprehensive coverage of learning, with long, medium, and short-term plans carefully sequenced so that pupils develop a secure understanding of each area. Our curriculum aims to:

• Develop pupils’ use of scientific language so that they can express their knowledge clearly and become effective communicators in the field of Science.
• Provide pupils with appropriate challenges in order to continually motivate and promote curiosity.
• Develop pupils’ interest in the world around them by celebrating and nurturing their curiosity through hands-on exploration and engaging activities.
• Cultivate pupils’ appreciation and love of Science and its importance in the wider world.
• Develop pupils’ confidence to ask questions and follow lines of enquiry by equipping them with the practical skills and disciplinary knowledge needed to be effective researchers.
• Ensure that pupils have access to a range of high-quality resources that support fun and engaging practical Science.

Pupils should be taught to use practical scientific methods, processes, and skills and here at Tottenhall, our Science Ninjas scheme supports pupils in carrying out meaningful practical science linked to the National Curriculum. The scheme rewards pupils for demonstrating practical skills during science activities with stickers that showcase one of the four skills: observation, equipment handling, recording, and measuring. The scheme’s principles are as follows:

• Accessible - Uses language that pupils are comfortable using.
• Manageable - Enables pupils and teachers to use the scheme during or after practical science activities.
• Science Capital - Encourages pupils and their families to recognise the value of practical science.
• Ownership - Focuses on rewarding scientific skills.

Alongside the comprehensive curriculum and the Science Ninjas scheme, our pupils receive weekly science lessons, attend science trips, participate in engaging activities during Science Week, and are continually exposed to the benefits of cross-curricular science links to other subjects.