Useful Information for your Visit
During your visit, pupils will be encouraged to ask questions, handle artefacts and enjoy themselves. We ask you to be responsible for their supervision, so please ensure that you bring enough teachers and adult helpers with you on the day to supervise your pupils following the recommendations below:
Adult: pupil ratios
Nursery/Reception - min. 1 to 6, recommended 1 to 4
Infants (Y1 and Y2) - min. 1 to 8, recommended 1 to 5
Juniors (Y3 - Y6) - min. 1 to 10, recommended 1 to 8
Secondary (Y7 - Y11) - min. 1 to 10, recommended 1 to 10
Post 16 - min. 1 adult per booking, recommended 1 to 30
If you are coming for a themed visit with a workshop, it might be a good idea to refresh your students memories of the subject matter prior to arrival. If the subject has not yet been covered in school, our workshops can provide the perfect introduction.
Students are welcome to bring their own packed lunches (you should call to book suitable space as a lunch venue if required) and coats and bags can be hung up in the education room which will be locked until you need access.
Students can also bring some small change with them to visit our shop before the end of their trip. The shop sells souvenirs and educational toys relating to the Museum and workshop subjects.
Arrival
When you arrive at the Museum, please report to the reception where a member of staff will be waiting to welcome you. If you are expecting a workshop, you should notify the Information Assistant at the front desk who will direct you to the education room in time for your booked slot.
During your visit
Please ensure that pupils are supervised in the Museum at all times. If you have booked a workshop, this will be led by a member of the Museum Learning Team. Learning staff will concentrate on inspiring your group with artefacts and specimens and pupils will be encouraged to engage in active enquiry by handling objects and asking questions. Teachers are expected to take responsibility for pupils' behaviour and should be present at all times to ensure that all pupils get the most out of a session.
For the safety of your group and other members of the public in the galleries, please ensure that pupils walk sensibly through the Museum and are discouraged from running, splitting up from the rest of the group and causing any damage to Museum artefacts and structures.
Inclusion and Access
We provide physical access to as much of the Museum as we can, but please remember that it is a listed building, much of it dating from the 16th century and access to some areas is difficult. The whole of the ground floor is wheelchair accessible and visitors may use the public stair lift and elevator to enable access to a few of the first floor galleries. Parking for groups with disabilities is available in the museum staff car park and arrangements can be made to improve the access to certain areas if notice is given.
We regret that the Carriage Museum does not have a lift. There is no wheelchair access to the upper floor, however the ground floor is fully accessible.
We hope you enjoy your visit and we look forward to seeing you again.
For advice about your visit or to book, please contact the Learning Team - Lucy Waight and Amber Cottee, Learning Assistants on 01622 602853 or museumeducation@maidstone.gov.uk
