Year 1 & 2 Florence Nightingale Workshops

The pupils thoroughly enjoyed an exciting, interactive workshop that brought the life of Florence Nightingale to life!

They discovered how Florence, through her kindness, courage and determination, transformed nursing forever. Born in 1820, she felt a strong calling to help others and was determined to improve the care of sick and injured people at a time when nursing was not widely respected.

The pupils also learned about Mary Seacole and her important contribution to caring for soldiers during the Crimean War (1853–1856).

Through role play and interactive activities, the children explored how nursing was viewed in the past and reflected on how attitudes towards healthcare and the nursing profession have changed over time.

They discovered how Florence travelled to Turkey to care for wounded soldiers, improving hospital cleanliness, hygiene and patient care. She became known as 'The Lady with the Lamp' because she visited soldiers during the night, offering comfort and reassurance.

After the war, Florence continued campaigning for better healthcare and nurse training, helping to shape modern nursing.

The highlight of the workshop was meeting Florence Nightingale herself – and even getting to meet her pet owl!

The teachers were incredibly proud of the pupils' enthusiastic participation in the role play and the thoughtful questions they asked throughout the session.

It was a wonderful opportunity to bring history to life and explore how kindness, courage and compassion can make a real difference.