Year Two- Nursing Through Time

This half term, Year 2 have thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of nursing. They have explored the impact of Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole, and Edith Cavell on the nursing profession and hospitals, comparing past and present practices.

A highlight of their learning was a visit to the Thackray Medical Museum, where they participated in a Florence Nightingale workshop. This experience truly brought history to life, deepening their understanding of Florence Nightingale’s role—not only in caring for soldiers during the Crimean War but also in transforming hospital hygiene.

Inspired by their visit, the children have eagerly engaged in imaginative play, role-playing as nurses and recreating Scutari Hospital in our creative area. In writing lessons, they have written detailed recounts of their museum visit and created non-chronological reports about nursing in the 1900s.

What The Student Says

"I loved being a nurse in Scutari Hospital and learning all about the leeches."
 
"I know that before Florence Nightingale went to Crimea, doctors used dirty bandages on soldiers, and the hospitals were dirty and smelly. However, Florence cleaned them and used clean bandages."
 
"I enjoyed learning how Edith Cavell helped soldiers escape the war."
 
"I have learned that Mary Seacole was not allowed to become a nurse because of her skin colour. She used her own money to travel to the Crimean War and help the soldiers. She set up a hotel and treated all the soldiers, and she gave them food."

What knowledge and skills have been developed?

Historical skills:

  • Knowledge and understanding of events, people, and changes in the past.
  • Chronological Understanding
  • Historical Enquiry
  • Organisation and Communication

Key Knowledge: 

  • Life for women in the 1900s was different from today.
  • Medical care in Victorian Britain was different to today. Doctors were very expensive and didn’t know much about how the body worked.
  • Florence Nightingale’s nursing has impacted medical care today as she improved the care of sick and wounded soldiers.
  • Mary Seacole used traditional medicines and herbal remedies to treat soldiers during the Crimean War.
  • During WWI (1914-1918), Edith Cavell treated soldiers from both sides of the conflict without discrimination.
  • Nursing has evolved over time; without these changes, we would not have received the care we get today.

 

What the Teacher says

Seeing the children’s love for history flourish this half term has been an absolute joy. Hearing them speak in detail about what hospitals were like in the 1900s compared to today—and then demonstrating their understanding through role play, artwork, and writing—has been truly fantastic. Their thirst for knowledge and eagerness to share their learning during weekly discussions have been wonderful to witness. A real highlight was their enthusiastic participation in our Florence Nightingale workshop, where they fully embraced their roles as porters and nurses in Scutari Hospital, working under Florence herself.
School Address:

Clapgate Primary School
10 Cranmore Drive
Belle Isle
Leeds
LS10 4AW

School Contacts:

Headteacher: Mrs Singleton
Deputy Headteacher: Miss Taylor
SENDCO: Mrs Lawton
Office: Mrs Austin, Miss Johnson, Mrs Belt and Miss Stamp
Chair of Governors: Mr Bache

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Tel: 0113 271 6700
Email: clapgate@clapgateprimaryschool.org

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