The club has been running during the school holidays since February 2023, welcoming over 300 children to the Museum and Gardens from several local schools.
Consultation phase
Staff from the participating schools are invited to share what would most benefit the children, and the programme is based on this consultation.
The children were engaged and eager to participate and the look on their faces was fantastic. For many this was the first experience of these type of activities.
This has been – and continues to be – a valuable opportunity to understand our local schools better, and to establish meaningful, long-standing relationships with these schools and the children who attend them.
When we began consultation, student wellbeing very quickly emerged as a priority. School staff spoke about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and about children needing opportunities for cultural experiences, fun, and social interaction with their friends away from school term-time.
It provided an experience the children would not normally have anywhere else.
I’m happy I got to experience this. I’ve never been here before.
Piloting the scheme
In February 2023 a School Holiday Club pilot was held. Using this, and the school consultation, the aims were established.
- To provide children with opportunities they would not otherwise have access to
- To provide children with new cultural experiences
- To support children with their wellbeing by providing a safe, fun and nurturing club
- To enhance children’s understanding of nature, living things and caring for the world
- To deliver the School Holiday Club for free
Each day of the club begins with a relaxed breakfast of fruit, porridge, pancakes and juice in the Education Centre at the Museum, with a range of games, books and creative materials for when the children have finished eating.
Feedback from staff and students has been that this unstructured, social time is an important part of the day.
It was very exciting and made me feel energetic
My favourite part was making the fish [collage] because it helped me express my emotions onto paper
I liked arriving at a place where we could talk. It was so nice to meet the friendly people at the Museum – and then the food made me even more happy!
The activities during the day vary for each school, and include:
- pond dipping,
- finding mini-beasts,
- sessions with the Animal Assistants on the Animal Walk,
- visits to the Aquarium and Butterfly House,
- the Dinosaur rEvolution exhibition,
- the Elmer exhibition,
- workshops in the Hands On Base using the Handling Collection,
- playtime and games outdoors,
- and various art and craft sessions.
My favourite bit was when I found the newt!
Looking to the future
The School Holiday Club is fully funded by part of the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2022 prize money, meaning it is completely free for schools to take part.
Two local schools now attend regularly, and we’re hoping to establish more relationships like these as the project continues, running across school holidays during the coming academic year.
Our pupils loved every part of today. Thank you so much.
I don't want this day to end.
