Meet Sandra Beale
Early Years STEM Expert · Author · BBC Contributor
Early Years STEM Expert · Author · BBC Contributor
Sandra Beale is an Early Years STEM and STEAM expert based in Saffron Walden, Essex. She runs hands-on science sessions for children aged 6 months to 6 years, with older children up to age 12 attending the sessions over halfterm and holidays. Through these she brings science to life through practical, exciting, and accessible experiments designed to spark curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.
Her sessions regularly take place in Saffron Walden and beyond, welcoming young children and their families to explore the wonders of science together — using everyday materials like water, ice, food colouring, and oil to reveal the fascinating world around them.
Beyond her work in early years education, Sandra has a creative background as an award-winning experimental filmmaker, bringing the same inventive spirit to everything she does.
Sandra's book presents 50 exciting yet easy-to-implement activities that develop children's understanding and lay the foundation for scientific enquiry, creative thinking, and problem-solving — from rainbow volcanoes to magnetic suspension and light refraction.
📖 Get the book from BloomsburySandra's book 50 Fantastic Ideas for STEM Activities won the Learning Resource 0–3 Award at the Creative Play Awards — recognising it as an outstanding resource for the youngest learners.
Sandra's innovative approach to early years STEM has been featured across major national media and platforms:
Since 2020, Sandra has been a dedicated fundraiser for BBC Children in Need, running special STEM sessions to raise money for children across the UK. Her sessions combine the joy of science discovery with a commitment to supporting those who need it most.
Ready to try Sandra's science experiments?
🎮 Play the games!