Notes for contributors to Primary Science Review

Primary Science aims to share information and ideas that support effective practice in science education at the primary school level and at the transition to early secondary education. To this end we publish articles about teaching, learning and assessing science, for all children in the age ranges of 3 to 13, covering early years to secondary/high school transfer. We welcome articles which include:

• selecting, adapting and managing learning activities both within and outside the classroom, so sharing expertise;

• research interpretations;

• informing and addressing important developments and challenge thinking about them;

• an international perspective on primary science education;

• adaptations for children with special needs, health and safety;

• use of ICT;

• links to other areas of the curriculum and;

• information about useful books, equipment, audio-visual aids, web sites and CD-ROMs to support both teachers and learners.

We welcome articles that provide insights into familiar classroom activities as well as those containing novel ideas about content and learning & teaching processes. However we look for reflection on practice rather than simple description. We also value comment on matters of policy and developments in primary science and discussion of innovations whether originated locally or nationally. Short letters, viewpoints, ideas, queries and news items are also welcome.

Authors should note the following advice:

Length and style

• try to submit articles in electronic form, but if this isn’t possible then 3 hard (paper) copies should be sent by post to the contact below;

• keep articles short; ideally no more that 2,000 words; other contributions such as letters and viewpoints etc should be much shorter;

• keep jargon and technical language to a minimum.  If you need to use specific terminology, please clarify it;

• write in a straightforward and economical style; serious but not dull;

• follow the journal style for writing, e.g. a title and ‘strapline’ indicating the article’s content, subheadings to break up the text, and information about yourself at the end of the article (although these will be setout during the editing process if missing);

• give a few essential references only following the journal style for references;

• should you wish to include illustrations from a published source please note that you are responsible for obtaining (and retaining) the permission to use it and for supplying the required credits  These are best supplied as high quality images e.g. .jpg’s if possible;

• remember that most readers are primary teachers but that PS also has an international readership and is read by students, ITE staff, professional developers, researchers, parents, and some in the education departments of industry and commerce.

Illustrations – photographs and children’s work

• relevant photographs or examples of children's work are welcome, some of which may be used for the front cover.  These are best supplied as high quality images e.g. .jpg’s if possible;

• when photographs of children are included in an article, it is essential to ensure that the children's parents and teachers are agreeable to this and are aware that the article with the photo may be put on the ASE website.  This permission should be retained by you for future reference, but it’s existence indicated when submitting the article;

• please give one or two relevant website addresses which would help readers find further relevant information;

• should you wish to include illustrations from a published source please note that you are responsible for obtaining permission to use it and for supplying the required credits.

Information to include

• include your name, position, home and work addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses on the main document not just on the covering letter (which may become separated);

• provide a brief (30 word max) indication of your current occupation and any other relevant information to be published at the end of your article, together with your e-mail address if you wish;

• where you provide sources of equipment, etc, please check that they are up to date and give full addresses/contact numbers.

Submitting articles

Please email your submission to janehanrott@ase.org.uk as an attachment, or post hard copy to: The Editor, Primary Science, ASE, College Lane, Hatfield, Herts. AL10 9AA

Please don’t send an article to more that one journal at a time since this wastes the time of those who referee submitted contributions

Note that materials published in PS may be included on the ASE Website.

Finally…
Members of the editorial board are always willing to give advice to those who are writing for PS for the first time. Seeking this help before submitting formally will avoid articles being rejected for being 'off the mark'. However, articles intended for publication do need to be submitted through the ASE to the email or office address listed above, where they are logged.

The Editor then submits these articles for review to the PS Editorial Board.  This process can take up to 8 weeks, after which the Editor will contact the author with the decision about acceptance for publication and any comments or suggestions for revisions.

The date of publication of accepted articles depends on the number of articles awaiting publication and on decisions about what is most appropriate at a particular time.  If an author wishes to write for a particular themed issue of PS, this process is aided if the article is received before the ‘deadline’ published in each PS Journal for the themed issue.

The Executive Editor, Helen Johnson, who is responsible for putting together the articles accepted for a particular issue and adding other sections, such as reviews, correspondence and advertisements, will confirm the date of publication and arrange for authors to receive 3 complimentary copies of the relevant issue.