Science

Intent

At Ladysmith Infant and Nursery School, we value science as a subject that inspires awe, wonder and curiosity about the world around us. We believe that a high-quality science education should engage, stimulate and challenge children, helping them to understand both their everyday experiences and the wider world. Through science, children learn to ask questions, explore ideas and make sense of what they observe.

Science sits within the Understanding the World curriculum in the Early Years and provides important foundations for future learning. From Nursery onwards, children are encouraged to explore, observe, investigate and talk about what they notice. As they move into Key Stage 1, they develop their scientific knowledge through rich and engaging learning in science lessons which also builds the vocabulary needed to explain and communicate their thinking confidently.

We want children to see themselves as scientists. Through practical experiences, enquiry and exploration, they learn how scientific knowledge is developed and how science has shaped our lives, both in the past and today. We also introduce children to significant scientists from a range of backgrounds, helping them to understand the contribution science makes to society and inspiring them to believe that scientific achievement is for everyone.

What do science lessons look like at Ladysmith Infants?

Science is taught through carefully planned sequences of learning that build knowledge and skills progressively across Nursery, Reception and Key Stage 1. Each unit is rooted in clear scientific knowledge and linked to prior learning so that children can make connections and develop a deeper understanding over time.

Lessons are practical, engaging and enquiry-led. Children are encouraged to ask questions, make predictions, observe closely, compare, sort, test and investigate. In Early Years, children begin to answer questions through carefully planned opportunities in the provision. These early experiences provide strong foundations for the scientific enquiry skills developed further in Key Stage 1.

Scientific vocabulary is explicitly taught and regularly revisited so that children can recognise, understand and use key terminology accurately. Opportunities for outdoor learning are embedded throughout the curriculum, enabling children to explore seasonal changes, habitats, plants, animals and the natural environment first hand. Through these experiences, children develop both their scientific knowledge and their understanding of how scientists work.

Key scientists 

We have included key scientists across our curriculum to enable children to relate their learning to a real-world context. Knowing about scientists, both historical and modern, brings meaning and value to their learning in the classroom. It also helps them to envisage what a career in science might look like and to understand how scientific understanding has developed and changed over time. We have chosen these scientists carefully to ensure they represent the wide range of human achievement across the world, showing that ethnicity and gender are no barrier to scientific achievement. 

How do we make sure that every child succeeds?

We believe that all children can be successful in science. Our curriculum is designed to be ambitious, inclusive and accessible, with learning carefully adapted to meet the needs of all pupils.

Teachers continually assess understanding through discussion, observation, practical investigations and children's recorded learning. This enables misconceptions to be identified quickly and support to be provided where needed. Children are given a range of opportunities to demonstrate their understanding through talk, drawings, photographs, investigations and written outcomes appropriate to their stage of development.

By providing rich practical experiences, explicit vocabulary teaching, effective scaffolding and carefully sequenced learning, we ensure that every child develops confidence, curiosity and a secure foundation in scientific knowledge and enquiry skills.