How can primary schools create STEM-friendly learning environments? Nicole Weinstein speaks to the Reception teacher at one school in Essex to find out
Some people refer to STEAM, to emphasise the importance of the arts in creative thinking and problem-solving.

A group of four- and five-year-olds are huddled on the floor around a pile of sticks, blue tack and a roll of string. While one holds the sticks upright, another places a blob of blue tack onto the structure to secure it. After several failed attempts to create a house of sticks from The Three Little Pigs, the budding engineers discuss how to make their structure stand tall and strong, enough to withstand a gentle ‘huff and puff’ from their giggling friend, the ‘big bad wolf’.

This activity is taking place at St Thomas More Catholic Primary School in Essex, where Reception class teacher Jordy Vinter says the current cohort of children ‘particularly enjoy’ the science and engineering strand of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

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