GLF Schools

GLF Schools

GLF Schools was founded in 2012 in order to enable the federation of Glyn School (an academy in 2011) and Danetree Junior School. Together, we began our journey to become a MAT of more than 1000 talented staff working with over 10,000 children in 40 schools across 5 regions in southern England.

Our Schools

Banbury Region

Banstead Region

Berkshire & Hampshire Region

Caterham Region

Crawley Region

Didcot Region

Epsom Region

London Boroughs

Redhill Region

Sunbury & Camberley Region

Curriculum Overview

Intent

At Banstead Infant School, our vision is to provide children with a wide range of science opportunities which will enable them to confidently explore, discover and understand the world around them. Through practical, hands-on experiences we encourage children to develop a healthy curiosity allowing them to improve their scientific enquiry skills through questioning and reasoning.  Allowing children to investigate through a variety of contexts will ensure a continually, evolving knowledge, which will equip them for an ever-changing world.

The National Curriculum for Science aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
  • develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.
  • are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

Implementation

The science curriculum has been developed so that all children can make use of our fantastic outside environment.  The Woodland Walk and garden area allows children to observe and investigate various aspects of nature, learning about plants, minibeasts and witnessing the effects of seasonal changes first hand.  This local knowledge provides the basis for comparisons and questions about the wider world.

In the Foundation Stage science is integrated within a topic-based curriculum and links to learning around high quality texts. Through practical investigations and continuous provision children have the opportunity to explore the world around them.  This hands-on curiosity for exploration of the world feeds into the children’s skills for enquiring further on in the school. In Key Stage 1 the teaching of science is linked to topics and texts wherever possible.  Where necessary, science is also taught as discrete units to ensure coverage of the National Curriculum. In science we believe that children learn best through practical experiences and activities that are designed to capture their interest. This helps develop their organisational skills, communication and the use of scientific and explanatory vocabulary. Throughout the school, specialist vocabulary is taught and revisited allowing this knowledge to become embedded.

The progression of skills from Reception to Year 2 is detailed in the subject map and planning so that ideas are developed over time and in line with the children’s ability to think about abstract concepts. Events like science week or blocking time for longer exploration of an aspect excite and enthuse children to think like a scientist; to wonder and question, hypothesise, test and find out. 

Impact

During their time at Banstead Infant School the children acquire the appropriate age-related skills and knowledge linked to the science curriculum.  We measure the impact of science by talking with the children and through evidence in their books from work sampling.  Our science books are carried throughout Key Stage 1 showing progression and recall of prior learning and is measured on our science requirements grid. 

Progression Map                   Action Plan

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