Sign up for STEAMS School now
What is STEAMS School?
STEAMS School is a one-day-a-week programme that aims to involve children in hands-on learning around a topic that integrates the STEAMS subject areas (science, technology, engineering, arts, maths and social sciences). During the past year topics covered were as diverse as: light, energy, birds, and the Earth.
If you’re not in Nelson, you can always try out our STEAMS kit to create your own STEAM experience at home.
How do I participate in STEAMS School?
The school is held during school terms, one day a week from 9:00 am to 2:45 pm, at a variety of locations in the Tasman.
Nelson & Brightwater
Location: 173 Rutherford St in Nelson and Brightwater Town Hall.
- Little STEAMerS (ages 5-6) Richmond (Wed/Thur)
- STEAMS Jr (ages 7-9) Brightwater (Wed) and Nelson (Tues/Thurs/Fri)
- STEAMS Sr (ages 10-13) Brightwater (Wed/Thurs) and Nelson (Tues/Fri)
- STEAMS Low Sensory (ages 9-14) Nelson (Wed)
Blenheim
Location: MySpace 18 Kinross Street
- Little STEAMERs (ages 5-6) Tuesday
- STEAMS Jr (ages 7-9) Tuesday
- STEAMS Snr (ages 9-14) Thursday
Visit our Eventbrite page and register your tamariki for STEAMS School. Please choose the site and then the class and age group they wish to attend. Please note that the registrations will close for each term after the second week.
How should attend?
We welcome all students to find out if STEAMS school is right for you. The characteristics that will enable your child to get the most out of STEAMS school include:
- Students who have an enquiring mind and a thirst for knowledge
- Students who are willing to sustain concentration and effort
- Students who want to actively contribute to a positive learning environment
What should I tell my child's school?
You will need to inform the child’s school that he or she will be at STEAMS School one day per week. To date we have not encountered any issues around accommodating a child’s participation in STEAMS School, and many of the region’s schools are very supportive of the programme. Once enrolled, you are encouraged to inform the teacher and office staff that your child should be marked present for the day they attend STEAMS School, as they will be attending an academic school as opposed to being absent due to illness or other reasons.
But I'm still concerned about my child being marked absent...
We understand there has been some concern about how student’s attendance at STEAMS school is being recorded, and we are committed to supporting you and your child in attending STEAMS school without any penalty. We encourage you to meet with your child’s principal to discuss the benefits of the STEAMS program, which can significantly enhance your child’s in-school achievement and confidence, helping them feel valued and motivated to attend school more regularly. With your principal’s support, recording your child’s attendance can be more straightforward.
According to the Ministry of Education, a student’s attendance at STEAMS school is classified as “F – Not in class but attending an offsite course/class or learning from home.”
Under the Education and Training Act of 2020, Section 52 states:
“The principal of a State school may, if satisfied that the student is to receive outside the school tuition acceptable to the principal, release a student from attendance at the school for a period or periods agreed with a parent of the student, to receive the tuition (and, as appropriate, travel between the school and the place where the tuition is to be given).”
We hope this information helps support your child’s continued attendance at STEAMS school without any attendance penalties. If you have further questions, please reach out to amy@ministryofinspiration.org for assistance.
Key Information
Register for 2025:
For Nelson & Brightwater Term 1 2025 click here
For Blenheim Term 1 2025 click here
Note: we have new classes in Blenheim for Little STEAMERs (ages 5-6) and STEAMS Snr (ages 9-14) alongside our STEAMS Jnr (7-9 years) for 2025
When: During school term, 9.00am – 2.45pm
Where:
173 Rutherford St in Nelson & Brightwater Town Hall, Brightwater.
18 Kinross Street in Blenheim
Cost: Payment is by term. Junior and Senior $63 per day + GST. Little STEAMerS $25 per day + GST. We have a limited number of partial scholarships available that are awarded on a term by term basis for those with financial need. Parents can also apply for the government’s Gifted and Talented funding scheme. The application is quite easy and you don’t have to prove your child is gifted. Applications are open in September.
Is there a trial period?
The students can come for a three week trial (which you pay for, and attend in a block) then if both family and teacher feel there is a good fit for the child in the class they continue for the rest of the term and you are billed appropriately.
