Sparking a love of science for Toddlers to Teens!
Here at Plantos Nursery, we’re excited by this message from Mel and Rhi at Sparklab! Two teachers and best friends who want to spark a love of science among youngsters!
Here’s what they have to say to us at Plantos.
About Mel and Rhi
“Hi!
We are Mel and Rhi, founders of Sparklab (Cymru), a science education company set up in September 2020. Before we tell you what Sparklab is all about, we thought it would be nice to give you a bit of an insight to who we are!
We are best friends who first met whilst studying for our Masters Degrees in Chemistry at Cardiff University back in 2003. After leaving University, we took slightly different pathways but ultimately both decided on a career in education, becoming secondary school science teachers at different schools in England and Wales. We both love teaching and worked our way up from pastoral roles to Assistant Heads of Department and Heads of Chemistry.
We had always talked about how we could take science education that one step further, or rather make it more personal, more fulfilling for us and our students and finally in January 2020 we came up with the idea of going into business together and Sparklab was born (well, in our heads anyway!). It is safe to say that we haven’t looked back since!
What is Sparklab?
Eggs-periment number 6 🥚🐣 Arbrawf rhif 6 🥚🐣 Did you realise eggs were strong enough to stand on? Make sure all the eggs are pointing upwards and give it a go! Ydych chi’n ymwybodol bod wyau yn ddigon cryf i sefyll arno? Gwnewch yn siŵr bod pob wy yn pwyntio i fyny a cher amdani!
Posted by Spark Lab Cymru on Monday, 5 April 2021
Our tagline, ‘Science education for toddlers to teens’ sums us up nicely! Sparklab offers a variety of science-based education for all ages, from preschool science classes running all over Cardiff to parties for all ages as well as holiday science workshops and exam tuition. With over 20 years of teaching experience between us, we are confident in our ability to deliver lessons to teenagers but other than science with our own children, toddler science was a first!
Our first ever toddler class was at Insole Court in September 2020 and to say that we were very nervous would be an understatement however we were also super excited!! The class was so well received that by the very next week we went on to hold two more classes and were fully booked almost immediately!
Our themed science workshops for primary school aged children were also a big hit, with all places fully booked shortly after advertising. The science bug was certainly catching across Cardiff further demonstrated by the number of attendees at the virtual Cardiff Science Festival, which we were very lucky to have a slot at. Again, this was a first for us, and once again we were blown away by the enthusiasm and support we received for our session.
Sparklab’s dedication to tots and teens!
Unfortunately, in these current times everyone has been affected by Covid-19 in some way or another and for us it meant cancelling all face to face classes, workshops and parties until further notice in December 2020. As was the case for so many other businesses, we had to think on our feet and adapt. In January 2021 we began conducting zoom group and individual tuition to children all across Wales through the medium of English and Welsh.
We have been able to use our skills as teachers (and mums) to help students not only regain their confidence in science, to reassure them during these strange times as they navigate a very different assessment period to what they are usually used to. With these school assessments coming to an end, many of these students are now moving on to their next steps and we look forward to hearing from them and of their successes!
We are finally seeing that light at the end of the tunnel and cannot wait to get going again with our Little Sparks preschool sessions from June 8th when we can finally welcome everyone back with open (and socially distanced) arms!
We have so, so many exciting projects in the pipeline. One of the reasons we love this job so much, apart from getting to work with your best mate day in, day out, is that we have so many wonderful opportunities in front of us to spark the wonder of science and help inspire the next generation of mini scientists.
Thanks for taking the time to read this – hopefully we will see you at a Sparklab event soon!
Thanks,
Mel and Rhi”
Contact Mel and Rhi here!
Email: info@sparklabcymru.co.uk