SEND & Inclusion

LoveScience Inclusion & SEND Policy

Last updated: September 2026

1. Our commitment

At LoveScience, we believe every child should have the opportunity to experience the excitement of practical science.

Our approach is based on the belief that science should not be limited by a child's literacy, numeracy, confidence, communication style, physical ability or additional needs.

We aim to create science experiences where children can get involved, have a go, make mistakes, ask questions and discover things for themselves.

We recognise that every child is an individual, and that inclusion does not mean providing exactly the same experience for everyone. Sometimes, children need different approaches, adjustments or support to be able to participate fully.

2. Who this policy applies to

This policy applies across LoveScience, including:

LoveScience HQ

LoveScience franchisees

LoveScience clubs and workshops

School and nursery sessions

Parties and community activities

Mini Boffins sessions

LoveScience educational resources and online content

3. Our approach to inclusion

Our practical, hands-on approach naturally provides different ways for children to participate.

We aim to:

Encourage participation without requiring children to perform in front of others

Provide opportunities to learn through doing, seeing, hearing and exploring

Use practical activities to reduce reliance on literacy and written work

Introduce and reinforce scientific vocabulary without requiring children to already know it

Give children opportunities to work individually and collaboratively

Allow children to observe before joining in where that is more comfortable for them

Encourage children to ask questions and express ideas in different ways

Celebrate curiosity, exploration and scientific thinking rather than simply getting the "right" answer

Adapt activities and approaches where reasonably possible to support individual needs

We recognise that children may have SEND, English as an additional language, physical disabilities, communication differences, sensory needs or other circumstances that affect how they access activities.

4. Working with schools, nurseries and families

We encourage schools, nurseries and other organisations to tell us about any relevant needs before a session.

Information that may help us plan an inclusive session could include:

Communication needs

Sensory sensitivities

Physical or mobility requirements

Visual or hearing needs

Attention or concentration needs

Social or emotional needs

Learning difficulties or disabilities

Medical or dietary considerations where relevant to the activity

Strategies that are already known to work well for the child

We recognise that schools and families know their children best. We will listen to information and suggestions provided by the adults who support them and work with the setting to identify reasonable and practical adjustments.

Where we cannot safely or reasonably make a particular adjustment, we will discuss this with the setting and seek an appropriate alternative wherever possible.

5. SEND awareness and training

LoveScience is committed to ensuring that franchisees have the knowledge and confidence to provide inclusive sessions.

Franchisees receive training and ongoing support in areas including working with children with SEND, alongside other relevant areas of professional practice.

SEND and inclusion are considered as part of our ongoing development and support for franchisees rather than as a one-off training exercise.

6. Practical adaptations

Depending on the child and activity, adaptations may include:

Changing the way instructions are communicated

Breaking activities into smaller steps

Demonstrating an activity before asking children to try it

Providing additional time

Allowing children to participate alongside a trusted adult or peer

Offering different ways of taking part

Reducing unnecessary sensory stimulation where possible

Adjusting equipment or the way it is used

Allowing a child to observe an activity rather than participate directly

Providing opportunities for movement or breaks

Using visual demonstrations and repetition

Pairing spoken scientific vocabulary with practical experiences

Any adaptation will be considered in relation to the individual child, the activity and the safety of everyone involved.

7. Creating a positive environment

We want LoveScience sessions to be places where children feel comfortable being curious.

Children will never be expected to have prior scientific knowledge or to give a particular answer in order to participate.

We encourage children to:

Have a go.
Ask questions.
Make mistakes.
Try again.
Change their minds.
Find out what happens.

We believe that being able to safely fail is an important part of learning science.

Our franchisees are expected to create an environment that is respectful and welcoming, where children are treated with dignity and where differences are accepted.

8. Equality and respect

LoveScience does not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment.

We aim to ensure that children, families, staff, franchisees, schools and other partners are treated fairly and with respect regardless of disability, additional educational needs, age, sex, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise that some children and families may face additional barriers to accessing enrichment opportunities and will seek to reduce those barriers wherever reasonably possible.

9. Safety and inclusion

Inclusion must always be balanced with the safety of the child and everyone taking part.

LoveScience activities involve practical equipment and materials, and some activities may not be suitable for every child in every circumstance.

Where an activity presents a particular risk for an individual child, we will work with the setting or parent/carer to consider whether the activity can be adapted safely or whether an alternative way of participating is appropriate.

Our safeguarding and health and safety procedures continue to apply to all LoveScience activities.

10. Feedback and concerns

We welcome feedback from children, parents, carers, schools, nurseries and other organisations about accessibility and inclusion.

If you have a concern about how a LoveScience session has met a child's needs, please speak to the relevant franchisee in the first instance.

If the concern cannot be resolved, or if it is particularly serious, it can be escalated to LoveScience HQ through [email protected] in accordance with our Complaints Policy.

We use feedback to improve our training, resources and delivery.

11. Our ongoing commitment

We recognise that inclusion is an ongoing process.

We will continue to learn from children, families, schools, nurseries, franchisees and professionals working in the field of SEND.

As LoveScience develops, we will continue to review our activities, training and resources to identify and reduce barriers to participation.

Our goal is simple:

We want every child to feel that science is something they can do.

Policy owner: Evolution Education Ltd (trading as LoveScience)
Company number: 10177206
Email: [email protected]