Kinnaird Waters ELC Centre

STEM

What is STEM?

‘Sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education supports high-quality learning within each of its constituent curriculum areas and enables learners to apply their learning in stimulating interdisciplinary contexts. STEM education helps learners to develop a wide range of valuable skills such as creativity, problem solving, analysing, communication, project management, team working, critical thinking, evaluation and systems thinking skills. Learners can be highly motivated and engaged by STEM learning experiences, especially when they involve practical enquiry or problem-based approaches linked to real-life applications and to the world of work.’

STEM self-evaluation and improvement framework

Education Scotland

‘STEM encourages a hands on approach to ‘real life’ problem solving, fostering children’s natural curiosity as they are trying to make sense of their world. Lessons learned and opinions formed in early childhood are often carried through a lifetime.’

www.stemtropolis.com

How we implement STEM at Kinnaird Waters ELC Centre

Through our play pedagogy we increase our practitioners confidence in delivering STEM activities by building on existing skills and knowledge, using peer support and mentoring and through ongoing CPD opportunities.
We ensure all children have access to, and participate in, a range of high quality, play based STEM experiences.
We use a range of improvement methodology to assess the impact that our work is having and to evidence progress in the children’s learning and development.

STEM Nation Award

In July 2023 Kinnaird Waters ELC Centre was awarded the STEM Nation Award. This was attained by providing our children with a variety of experiences and activties incorporating STEM during their play within Kinnaird Waters ELC Centre.

These experiences were incorporated through tthe STEM Nation Awards 5 key elements:

Leadership in STEM,

STEM family learning,

Employablilty and STEM partnership working,

STEM curriculum and learner pathways,

Equity and equality in STEM.