At Clandon, science is about nurturing children’s natural curiosity about the world around them.  Our science curriculum is carefully sequenced from Early Years through to Year Six so that children build a strong foundation of scientific knowledge alongside the skills needed to think, question and investigate like scientists.

Children begin by exploring the world through their senses – learning about animals, plants, materials and the changing seasons.  They observe closely, ask simple questions, notice patterns and begin to talk about what they see happening around them.  As they move through the school, pupils develop a deeper understanding of key scientific ideas such as living things and their habitats, plants and growth, materials and their properties, forces, light, sound and electricity, and the Earth in space.  Older children explore more complex ideas including the human body, evolution and inheritance, changes of state, and how scientific discoveries and inventions have shaped our world.

Practical, hands-on learning sits at the heart of science at Clandon.  Alongside classroom learning, Forest School plays a vital role in bringing science to life.  Through regular experiences in our outdoor environment, children observe plants and animals in their natural habitats, notice seasonal change first-hand, explore soils and materials, investigate forces through play, and develop a real understanding of how living things grow, change and depend on their environment.  These rich outdoor experiences deepen children’s scientific understanding and foster a sense of care, respect and responsibility for the natural world.

Children are encouraged to ask questions, make predictions, carry out investigations and tests, measure carefully, and record and interpret their findings.  Over time, they develop the skills to plan fair tests, identify variables, spot patterns in results and draw conclusions using scientific language.  This approach helps children to understand that science is not just a body of knowledge, but a way of finding things out about the world.

Our curriculum also supports children to learn about health, wellbeing and keeping safe, including caring for their bodies, making healthy choices, and learning about safety in areas such as electricity and sunlight.

By the time they leave Clandon, pupils have a secure foundation in scientific knowledge and enquiry skills.  They are confident to ask thoughtful questions, investigate ideas in a systematic way, and explain their thinking clearly.  Most importantly, they leave with a sense of wonder about the natural world and the confidence to continue exploring, questioning and learning as young scientists.