School visits

This session focuses on the police and how they help us.

We'll explore how the uniform police officers wear and the equipment they use, help them to do their job. And of course the children will get to try on some police uniform too.

Learning will be encouraged through a range of age-appropriate police related free-play activities. These include colouring, pretend play, toy cars and reading books.

Or if you prefer we can provide a session around seatbelt safety, what to do when you're lost, or other age-appropriate topics. We can tailor the session to meet your needs.

The session will be rounded off with a museum trail which will guide the children through the various displays we have available.

• Price: £3 per student (min. charge of £30)
• Duration: 90 minutes, including time to look around the museum and visit our small gift shop.

This session focuses on the different people who help us in our everyday lives.

We will look at the different roles of the emergency services and the importance of uniform in helping to identify emergency service workers.

Through trying on police uniforms and looking at the equipment police officers use, the children will also learn how these things help police to do their job.

We will go onto discuss how police officers can help us when we are in trouble or need help. And we'll talk about how to and when to call 999.

The session will round off with some free-play time and a chance for the children to explore the museum further.

Price: £3 per student (min. charge of £30)

Duration: 90 minutes, including time to look around the museum and visit the gift shop.

This session is all about staying safe.

After watching a short film about a child's journey home from school, we talk about personal responsibility and things we can do to make sure we stay safe when out and about.

We also discuss ways the children could get away from a difficult or uncomfortable situation without 'losing face'.

Learning is reinforced with a chat about how we can apply what we've learnt to our own journeys.

The session will end with a chance for teachers to have an input if they would like to and for students to ask questions.

• Price: £3 per student (min. charge of £30)
• Duration: 90 minutes, including time to look around the museum and visit the gift shop.

Students will learn how DNA and fingerprint evidence help to solve crimes.

Working in groups of five, students will take part in a fun activity which will help them to understand Locard's Exchange Principle. This is the idea that whenever someone enters or exits an environment, something physical is added to and removed from the scene.

The students will piece together clues to solve the real-life Edwardian 'Moat Farm murder'. They will then present their evidence from our original courtroom witness box.

Next the students will look at the importance of fingerprints. Alongside taking and studying their own fingerprints, the students will get to loot at original CSI uniform and equipment.

• Price: £3 per student (min. charge of £30)
• Duration: 90 minutes, including time to look around the museum and visit the gift shop.

This activity looks at the changes in crime and punishment over time.

We'll examine today's criminal justice process and compare it to what would happen in ancient times. Using Halloween props, replicas and real objects, we'll explore a range of punishments used throughout history.

Drawing on Lombroso's 1876 description of criminals, the students will work to identify criminals. And they'll play a guessing game to discover how the justice system determines guilt - with some bizarre concepts popping up!

Of course, all themes around capital punishment will be discussed delicately and age-appropriately. An emphasis will be on it being a historical form of punishment in the UK.

Working in groups of size the students will use our bespoke iPad app to solve a real life crime from 1927 - the murder of PC George Gutteridge.

• Price: £3 per student (min. charge of £30)
• Duration: 90 minutes, including time to look around the museum and visit the gift shop.

In this session students will look at how policing has changed since it's origins in the Victorian era to today.

The children will look at the uniform and equipment used by police officers in the past and compare it to the things officers use today.

Utilising props, replicas and real life items, we will look at how criminals were punished in the Victorian-era. We'll also discuss the impact of this punishment.

The students will then work to solve the 'Moat Farm Murder' - a real crime which took place in Essex during Edwardian times.

The students will have the chance to take their fingerprints and in groups of five play a true or false game.

• Price: £3 per student (min. charge of £30)
• Duration: 90 minutes, including time to look around the museum and visit the gift shop.

This session focuses on what life was like in Essex during World War II. Through interactive activities the children will learn about air raids, what they felt like and discover their local history.

We'll listen to student, Judy and take notes as she talks about her perspective of air raids, shelters, bombs, schools, rationing. and VE day.

The students will then take turns to experience our replica air raid shelter, complete with smells and soundtrack. They'll learn about the impact of air raids through looking at photos in our collection. We'll finish by discussing what impact the war had on local people and reflect on what we've learnt.

• Price: £3 per student (min. charge of £30)
• Duration: 90 minutes, including time to look around the museum and visit the gift shop.

Everyone should bring their own lunch and drinks. The group can enjoy lunch in the museum or, if the weather is nice, at the nearby park.

We can accommodate parking for up to three minibuses (use CM2 6DN Kingston Crescent for sat nav directions). 

Unfortunately this doesn't extend to coaches. Coach drivers will need to find alternative parking and we advise this is arranged ahead of the visit.

We have a small gift shop at the museum which sells souvenirs and toys. Should you wish to allow your students to purchase items, we recommend they bring between £3 and £5 each. Alternatively, when you book with us, you can arrange for each student to receive a goody bag. 

The museum is on one level and suitable for wheelchairs and buggies. We have an enclosed platform lift and ramp to get in and out of the museum too.

We have spotlights and artificial lighting throughout the museum, and we can turn off one or the other if required. We also have a flashing light on top of our police box, which can be switched off.

Video content is played on TV or iPads through the regular audio settings.

Our displays, text panels and labels use large black san serif font on a white background. Titles are in navy or burgundy.

We have items that can be handled, which can be useful for visually impaired visitors and we also have magnifiers and torches available too.

We can provide descriptive tours, have a T induction loop system and welcome service dogs too.