Headteacher Interview – The Mother Nature Science – After School Science Club

Interview with Lynne Sumner, Headteacher The Breakspear School, and Mother Nature Science.

Q: Hi Lynne, can you believe the club has been running now for eight years, after such a long period of time why did you (the school) not take a break and why you think parents have continually kept enrolling their children term after term?

A: The school was extremely happy to continue working with Mother Nature Science  as we always found them to be both personable and professional – always taking the needs of the children into account as well as respecting the ethos and expectations of the parents and school.

The children really enjoyed the interactive and highly practical and informative sessions; these, in turn, reinforced and added to the learning both at school and home.  The sessions were extremely well planned, delivered and the instructors took time to really get to know the children and cater to their individual needs and interests.

The club was so well received that we were able to increase the provision from 1 session a week to 3 sessions a week!

Q: As you have discovered, our science club caters for children ages 5-12 of all abilities, can you think of a specific example where a child became more inspired and confident in their regular classes due to our club?

A: I can think of 2 children, in particular with very different needs.  One child who was wary of changes in routine and experienced anxiety with establishing new relationships found the lessons very interesting and highly enjoyable. This child was, through the successful working partnership of the School and the Mother Nature Science instructor, able to access a great learning experience which supported his intellectual as well as social and emotional needs. The other child responded well to the sessions as they promoted his self-esteem as well as providing him with mentally stimulating activities.     For both children the sessions stimulated their natural curiosity, promoted their self-confidence and provided an opportunity, outside the school classroom, to both learn and establish effective relationships with other children and adults.

Science Club Quick Rate Questionnaire:

And finally Lynne, please could you quickly ‘rate’ the following key club elements:

Q: Educational content?

A: Children were always excited by the topics and enjoyed both the investigative and practical aspects.

Q: Classroom management?

A: Instructors had very good behaviour and class management skills/strategies.

Q: Tidiness? (i.e. state we leave your classroom)

A: High respect given to the space provided.

Q: Entertainment value?

A: Children enjoyed the novelty as well as the fun aspect of the teaching – making learning visible and purposeful.

Q: General safety?

A: Instructors well trained in this respect.

Q: Communication with your school?

A: The club has always communicated with school in a professional and understanding manner.  An excellent partnership has been established.

Q: Would you recommend a Mother Nature Science Academy to other schools?

A: Yes.

Thank you again for taking the time to speak with us.

Applications for British Science Week 2019 are now open.

There are three grant schemes available to support British Science Week (8-17 March 2019) activities: one for schools, one for community groups, and one for BSA branches.

The deadline for applications is 5pm, 12 November 2018.

The BSA cannot consider applications received after this date.

Kick Start Grants

This scheme offers grants for schools in challenging circumstances to organise their own events as part of British Science Week. There are three options available:

• Kick Start grant: A grant of £300 for your school to run an activity
• Kick Start More grant: A grant of £700 for your school to host a science event or activity which involves your students and the local community
• Kick Start Youth grant: A grant of £150 for your school to run an activity during British Science Week organised by students.

Community Grants

This scheme offers £500 to £1000 grants for community groups that work directly with audiences who are traditionally under-represented and currently not engaged in science activity. Our definition of groups that are underrepresented in science includes:

• people who are Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME)
• people with low socio economic status (SES), including people disadvantaged in terms of education and income
• young people facing adversity, including those not in education, employment or training (NEET)
• people with a disability, defined as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term effect on someone’s ability to do normal daily activities (Equalities Act 2010)
• people living in a remote and rural location, defined as settlements of less than 10,000 people
• girls and women

BSW Grants for BSA branches

This scheme offers up to £500 of funding for British Science Association branches to take part in our national celebration by running local events during British Science Week.

This scheme is open to BSA volunteer branches only.

Source: https://www.britishscienceweek.org/about-us/grants/

Mother Nature Science is the only Workshops Provider Officially Accredited by the British science Association 

Transcription:

Sweet science of teaching can earn you a great living

HOW can we make children excited about science? Start them early, says Jennifer Chung, who runs hands-on science sessions for children aged five to 12 in South London.

Jennifer, a former management accountant turned franchisee with Mother Nature Science, says: ‘The key to engendering enthusiasm for science is letting children build experiments for themselves.

‘To teach about gravity we might make simple parachutes so children can see scientific concepts in action. They also have projects to take home after the sessions and often parents tell me they enjoy finding out about science too.’

Jennifer, 38, adds: ‘Too often schoolchildren think science is just about reading, so they find our sessions exciting.’

Jennifer found her accounting skills useful in setting up her franchise, and says a lack of science teaching experience was not a problem as the franchisor helped

Inspire Jennifer Chung with training and lesson plans. Mother Nature Science is looking for more franchisees across the UK.
Franchise director Luke Morgan says: ‘Our franchisees run after-school clubs, holiday sessions and parties. You don’t need science experience, but being keen to inspire children is essential.’

UK Franchises cost £15 ,000 and international Master Franchises are available.

Call 020 8863 8832 for more information 
Or use the Contact Form

FRANCHISING, Daily Mail, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2018, Page 60

LINDA WHITNEY
www.dailymail.co.uk

As you may be aware there has been a viral scare issue raised recently in the press regarding Slime ‘Boron’ Content

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44852913

Mother Nature Science can  clarify the below:

• Our slime is within safe levels.
• BBC state that Slime needs to comply with a stated “recommended 300mg/kg level of boron”. However CLEAPSS (used in most schools) state that the 4% borax solutions that we use, are low hazard.
• Happily we have done some experiments and discovered that a 2% borax solution still provides acceptable slime making properties.
• This brings the boron levels down to 226.8mg/kg, well within the limits stated by the BBC article.
• We will conduct further test to make sure the slime with the 2% borax is stable and up to our high slime standards and update the slime making instructions.
• We are also creating a slime/borax information sheet to be included as part of the risk assessment.

Our mantra will always be

Safety | Fun | Education

Feel free to ask Samira a Question Click Here 

“The Path to Inspire Children in Science”

Name: Sharen Sia
Location: Hertfordshire
Franchise: Mother Nature Science Hertfordshire, t/a I Love Science Ltd

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying a franchise business?
Prior to this, I was dealing in Medical Science Technologies for the last decade; from pharmaceuticals to medical imaging industries I saw the ever-changing medical advancement in improving life expectancy.

2. How did you hear about the Franchise?
From a friend.

3. Can you also tell us about the franchise you have bought?
Mother Nature Science started its incorporation in London since 2007. For the past 10 years the Mother Nature Science team have worked with local schools and parents to inspire children with Science. It has extensive networking circles in schools across London and parent groups. The curriculums are for children from the age of 5 to 12 years-old and deliver After-School Clubs, Holiday Camps, School Workshops and Birthday Parties.

4. Why did you go down the franchise route? What made you choose your industry? And why did you choose your franchise?
I’ve always had a passion for Science from a young age. Being a science graduate, I see the importance of inspiring the younger generation to have fun in Science. There are many franchise models to be purchased out there, I’ve spent time studying their company profiles and business models. None of them ticked all the boxes but Mother Nature Science does, after rounds of consideration.

5. How did you raise the finance?
I was self-funded with my savings.

6. What training and support did you receive to help get your franchise launched?
I started with 5 days intensive in-house training. I was introduced to the Mother Nature Science Franchise Team which comprises of Luke, Varun, Rose and Aisha.

The training was a very dedicated one-to-one training. The main area was to show me how to run the business from the start. Marketing involves setting up my company, telephone, bank, office and promoting my company on social media (Facebook and Google PPC etc.). Sales oversees the income generating activities, figures and how to handle new enquiries from parents/schools. The support from Operation team ensures all issues including instructors and recruitment synchronise with the sales/marketing activities.

“I am lucky to say that I have made the right choice as the support from the Franchise Team is second to none, sometimes just a text or phone call away from resolving my enquiries and problems.”

7. What was the most valuable part of your training?
The most valuable part is the experience of the Mother Nature Science team. Which is all unselfishly shared with their franchisees. They have over 10 years of concrete children education and entertainment experience, coupled with real life case scenarios.

8. Did the training meet your expectations?
Besides the in-house training, I was able to observe every one of their services. I have been to Workshop/Assembly, Holiday Camp, Birthday Party and School Club, worked along with their instructors. The observation and assisting along the lead instructors had definitely enhanced the training as I can see the bigger picture even before I start my own.

9. How would you describe your role as a franchisee?
My franchise area is Hertfordshire. I am delighted to establish my presence in this new area. My role involves promoting Mother Nature Science beyond London, so that the children in this area can also benefit from our services.

10. What have been the biggest challenges so far in getting your franchise launched? And how have you dealt with them?
As I mentioned, every area poses different challenges; my biggest challenge is to promote Mother Nature Science in a new area/county. I took it positively, seek advice from the team and we grow together as a team. Every day I’ve learnt something new, amazing!

11. How long do you expect to be running the franchise?
This franchise is my career and my passion, hopefully I can further expand my franchise business.

12. What are the most positive outcomes for you personally since becoming a Franchisee?
I have put my passion into something I really enjoy doing so far, I am grateful for the opportunity.

13. Any advice for someone considering franchising?
1 – Find a franchise that you have the passion/interest in
2- Research and ask questions during Discovery Day
3- Set a positive mindset and be prepared to accept challenges.

Feel free to ask Sharen a Question Click Here