‘Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour.  Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime’

Ian Russell, UK Science Communicator

Children have a natural curiosity about the world around them and by the time they start school they will have already started to explore, discover and investigate their environment. Through these experiences, they begin to further develop a knowledge and understanding of the world and the role science plays in our lives.

At Streetsbrook we aim for every child to think like, and aspire to be scientists.  This is achieved through an exciting science curriculum which includes a wide range of exciting experiences to inspire children’s imaginations and encourage their curiosity through practical, scientific enquiry.

The science curriculum is cross curricular and enables children to build on and develop a range of skills including logical thinking, communication, collaboration and innovation. We provide opportunities for children to develop their own ideas, discuss their thinking, evaluate their learning and explain and justify their findings.

At Streetsbrook, we understand the importance of scientific knowledge and understanding and the doors this opens in the future. Children learn about animals including humans, living things and their habitats, materials, seasonal changes and plants in Key Stage 1 whilst the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum appeals the children’s interests by focusing on light and dark, Space and dinosaurs amongst others. All lessons have a ‘working scientifically’ golden thread running through them, focusing on the children’s questioning, observation and noticing skills, offering opportunities to record data in a variety of ways and supporting children in communicating their thoughts and ideas. During Science lessons, children develop their independent and collaborative working skills.

Throughout the Science curriculum, opportunities to link scientific learning to real-life, in particular to the children’s lives, are entrenched. Incorporating our Life Ready initiative ensures that children meet professionals from a scientific job-role and support, develop or inspire aspirations they may have. We also endeavour for this to break gender stereotypes. Children are also exposed to new experiences through school trips such as to the ‘Think Tank’ and through science based extra-curricular activities whereby children can explore their interest further.

At Streetsbrook Infant & Early Years Academy, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive setting that promotes and celebrates the benefits that inclusion brings for all children. We are committed to identifying and removing potential barriers to learning across the curriculum for a diverse range of individuals and groups, and strive to ensure all children make progress. Staff are highly skilled in adapting the curriculum, the learning environment, their practice and the resources used in order to meet the needs of all children.