School Bookings Guidelines

Please familiarise yourself with the School Bookings Guidelines below before completing a School Bookings Request Form.

Before your visit
- Teachers are advised to attend one of our free INSET preview evenings or to make their own pre-visit to the Museum in advance of their school visit.

Booking details
- Teaching Sessions book up very quickly, we recommended that you book as far in advance as possible.
- Due to demand usually only one teaching session per class per day is available.
- When making a telephone booking, please have the following to hand: name, address, email and telephone number of school; name of group leader; date you would like to visit (please try to be flexible); the number of adults and children in the group; any special requirements or additional information, for example any special educational needs; and an idea of the focus of your visit.
- All booking requests are subject to availability and cannot be considered booked until you have received a confirmation letter and a reference number. You should receive written confirmation within five working days. We regret that we cannot accept provisional bookings.
- An adult:pupil ratio of 1:6 for primary children and 1:10 for secondary children is required. You are welcome to bring more adults if you wish.
- The maximum number of pupils per Teaching Session is 30.
- The lunchroom can be booked for 30 minutes at the following times: 10.40; 11.15; 11.50; 12.30; 13.05; and 13.40 (subject to availability).

Payment
- Payment for the Teaching Sessions can be made by cash (on the day), cheque or credit card.
- An invoice will be sent with your confirmation letter.

Penalties
- If you cancel a Teaching Session with less than 15 working days notice, you will be charged the full rate.
- Late arrivals will be charged at the full rate.

On the day
- If you have booked a Teaching Session, please bring the confirmation letter with you on the day of your visit and ensure that the group is ready in the Clore Learning Centre for the start of session (10.15, 10.30, 11.30, 12.30, 13.00).
- We offer free Spotlight Talks as part of a Self-Guided Visit to the Museum. These are run on a first-come first-served basis and accept a total of 15 pupils per session. Spotlight Talks can be booked on arrival. Please note that Spotlight Talks cannot be booked in advance. Spotlight Talks will be available to book in advance from the summer term 2012.
- Classes will be divided into five groups of six children for the hands-on part of the sessions.

The Museum also offers resources and special days for SEN groups. If your school has any special requirements please let us know.

For free downloadable resources for pupils and teachers visit Resources for Teachers.

How to book

Telephone: 020 8983 5205
Fax: 020 8983 5225
Email: mocbookings@vam.ac.uk
Post: Learning Administrator, V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9PA

If you have any further questions about your booking please call 020 8983 5205 or email mocbookings@vam.ac.uk.