We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to our Somerset Heritage Schools Programme for the autumn term.
In school workshops are available from 7 September and workshops onsite at our three museums will commence from Monday 14 September. We will also be delivering loan objects to schools for use in the classroom from the start of the autumn term.
Because of Covid-19 we’re making some changes to the way we operate, including having schools’ only days at our museums, rigorous cleaning of our sites and quarantining objects after they have been handled.
You’ll notice other changes at our museums too, including hand-sanitiser stations, screens, signage and floor guides, which are intended to ensure a safe environment for visitors and staff.
Essential Information
Bookings for school workshops will be taken in the usual way by contacting the Learning Team on: learning@swheritage.org.uk or 01823 347451.
All adults visiting museum sites with school groups are required to wear a face covering.
Please do not bring any members of your school group if they live in a local lockdown area, are displaying any symptoms of Coronavirus (Covid-19), are awaiting a test result, or anyone who has been contacted by NHS: Test and Trace.
Please browse the FAQs for everything you need to know.
FAQs
Workshops at Museums
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What days can I book a workshop?
School groups can book on Mondays and Tuesdays at the Museum of Somerset and the Somerset Rural Life Museum. Workshops at the Brick and Tile Museum are running on Wednesdays. None of our museum sites will be open to the public on these days.
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How do I book?
Bookings for school workshops will be taken in the usual way by contacting the Learning Team on: learning@swheritage.org.uk or 01823 347451.
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Will the public be on site at the same time as schools?
The museum sites will be closed to members of public when school groups are in attendance.
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Is the whole museum open during school visits?
Yes, all the galleries are open for you to explore at all our sites. Temporary exhibition spaces may not be fully open. All lifts are available for use.
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What toilet facilities will be available?
School groups will have access to the toilet facilities within the Learning Space throughout their visit. The toilets will be cleaned regularly during the day. Schools are asked not to use the public toilets within the museums.
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What cleaning and hygiene precautions will be in place?
There will be a continual cleaning regime, paying special attention to high touch points such as door handles. Hand sanitiser and hand washing facilities are available, and we ask that all group members make regular use of them. Paper towels are provided in our toilets and no-touch bins, which will be double bagged and emptied regularly. Where possible we have increased air flow around the museum and within the Learning Spaces.
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What precautions will your staff be taking?
Learning Team members will wear a visor throughout the workshop and will socially distance, staying two metres apart from others where possible. There will be an extra member of our Learning Team supporting workshops and self-guided trails. Perspex screens are installed at the Welcome Desks in the museums. Other museum staff may be wearing visors or face coverings as appropriate.
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Will children be able to touch objects during their visits?
We have removed or adapted the interactives within galleries which require touch or dressing up. Please avoid letting children touch the museum objects on open display. All objects used in workshops will be quarantined before and after use.
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What equipment does the school need to bring?
Schools will need to bring enough clipboards and pencils for their groups. All adults visiting with school groups are required to wear a face covering in the museums.
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How will you comply with NHS: Test and Trace?
We will hold your booking details relating to each visit in order to comply with NHS Test and Trace guidelines.
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Can a school group eat their lunch on site?
Yes, there will be provision to eat lunch on site. School groups will need to take their lunchtime rubbish away with them.
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Will the café and shop be open?
The café and shop at the Museum of Somerset and the Somerset Rural Life Museum will be closed on the days school groups attend.
School Loans
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Are you taking bookings for school loan packs?
Yes, bookings for school loans are being taken in the usual way by contacting the Learning Team on: learning@swheritage.org.uk or 01823 347451
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Are you introducing quarantine measures for school loans?
Yes, all school loans are subject to a 72-hour quarantine period in our Loans Store at the Somerset Heritage Centre prior to delivery and after collection. Should any items require cleaning this will be undertaken by the South West Heritage Trust.
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Will there be any changes to the school loan boxes?
Additional Covid-19 safety guidelines for using the loans within your school will be included in your pack box. If your loans order consists of non-pack items i.e. taxidermy, models, framed artworks, the guidelines will be handed to a member of school staff upon delivery.
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Will there be changes to how the loans are delivered and collected?
Our driver will be using PPE when making deliveries/collections and will adhere to school delivery guidelines. Deliveries and collections will take place in the first/last two weeks of each term as usual. Collections and deliveries before or after a half term holiday will take place in the week immediately before or following.
In School Workshops
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Will there be any changes to in school workshops?
Our staff are looking forward to bringing learning to life in your classroom, and there will be minor adaptations to sessions to allow for sanitising and social distancing measures.
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What days can I book a workshop?
Bookings are being taken for in school workshops from Monday to Friday.
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How do I book?
Bookings for in school workshops will be taken in the usual way by contacting the Learning Team on: learning@swheritage.org.uk or 01823 347451.
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What precautions will your staff be taking?
Our staff will wear a visor throughout the time spent in your school and will socially distance, staying two metres apart from others where possible. They will follow government guidelines relating to hand hygiene and all resource boxes will be sanitised before and after use.
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Will children be able to touch objects during sessions?
Yes. All objects used in workshops will be quarantined before and after use. Appropriate cleaning of objects will be carried out by South West Heritage Trust Learning Team. Hand washing/sanitising needs to take place before the start and end of any object handling sessions.
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How will you comply with NHS: Test and Trace?
We will provide the contact details of the outreach teacher delivering your session.