Meade have very generously donated another telescope to raffle at the Astronomy Festival. This year ...

Schools Information and Facilities

What Key Stage?

There is something for all Key Stages at The Centre and we welcome groups from across the range of school and educational establishments. Some pupils will especially enjoy and benefit from the play element of the hands-on exhibits; not even realising that they are learning at the same time. Others will adopt a different approach according to their own level of understanding and will have fun as they explore new principles. Bridge Building Workshops, Telescope Tours and Science Shows are all aimed at the age and ability of each individual group. You will find more specific information in the Key Stage sections of this site.

Is The Centre suitable for Special Educational Needs?
SEN groups of all ages are welcome at The Centre and the majority of the site is wheelchair accessible. The multi-sensory nature of many of the hands-on exhibits makes them ideal for all ability levels. Bridge Building Workshops and Telescope Tours can be adjusted to suit each group.
Carers are admitted free of charge, to a maximum 1-1 ratio. At the time of booking please discuss any access issues, special facilities, or if additional carers are required to accompany the group.
Parking for ramped access into the building is at the rear of The Centre.

How many pupils & adults can we bring?

The Centre can take up to 200 pre-booked pupils at one time (240 if all from one school). The structured timetable for your day facilitates the movement of each group to different areas and activities. It is recommended that you book as far in advance as possible, especially if you are bringing a large year group.
Our aim is for all children to have a positive experience so to help us achieve this please ensure the children:

Know who their group leader is
Always stay with their group and supervising adult
Know what to do if they become detached from their group
Are encouraged to ask lots of questions at the appropriate times
Have loads of fun!

Accompanying, supervising adults are admitted free of charge to a maximum 1-1 ratio.

Our suggested minimum ratio is:
Infants 1:6 pupils
Juniors 1:8 pupils
Seniors 1:12 pupils
Please advise us at the time of booking if you are bringing a large number of adults to support children with special educational needs.
The supervision & support of accompanying adults is vital to the children so please ensure the adults:

Know which children are in their group and their allocated group number.
Are aware of your focus and aims of the visit.
Understand that they are expected to ensure the children behave appropriately and to adhere to the Code of Conduct.
Keep to the issued timetable on the day (unless instructed otherwise by a member of science centre staff).
Encourage the children to use each exhibit correctly, reading the instructions and sharing etc.
Ensure that science centre staff and volunteers are listened to and respected.
Turn off their mobile phones.
Do not smoke (we are a totally non smoking site and request that adults return to the parking field if they need to smoke).

It is important that children and adults dress appropriately for the weather conditions with sensible clothing and footwear (not flip flops or high heels). You will have to go outdoors to access some areas and it can be cold, muddy etc.
Everyone should bring a packed lunch and sufficient to drink. The Café will be open all day and lunch can be ordered. We do not have a water fountain, but can refill water bottles in hot weather from the Café.

What is included?

Hands-on Exhibits indoors
Bridge Building Workshop
Discovery Park and Water Exhibit areas outdoors
Telescope Tour (optional)
Science Show (optional)

You will find details in the web sections with Risk Assessments.

How long does a visit last?
Allowing for travelling time, a visit to The Centre will fill your normal school day. The Centre opens at 10am so schools should look to arrive as soon as possible after that and aim for 3 - 4 hours to complete a full programme of activities.
We will work with whatever times you can be at The Centre and groups are welcome to arrive later in the day and stay through the afternoon.

Opening hours
10 am - 6 pm
April, May, June, July, August, September.

10 am - 5 pm
February, March, October, November.

On the Day, Lunch Area & Personal Belongings

A member of the science centre team will meet you at our reception and lead the group to your base for the day – usually the large, white geodesic dome. There will be a short welcome & safety talk before you can access the site and exhibits. The timetable for your day will be distributed to your group leaders (please note that we do not give a timetable to every adult – just group leaders). Bags, lunches, coats etc are all left in this geodesic dome and this is where picnics are eaten. The geodesic dome is heated in cold weather, and is surrounded by grass and paving which can be used for outdoor picnics in better weather.
Please Note: Our risk assessment does not permit school groups to use the benches which are located beside the pond.

It is not possible to lock the geodesic dome and pupils should be discouraged from bringing items of value on a school visit. Science Projects Ltd cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage to personal items.

Timetable
In your confirmation letter, we will ask you to divide the pupils into a certain number of groups and on arrival each group leader will be given a timetable. This timetable has times for the bridge building workshop, telescope tour, shop, lunch etc. and you will be told where to meet with The Centre staff for these activities.
In-between these activities is time to explore the indoor corridor of hands-on exhibits. There is no set order in which to tour the corridor, but the exhibits are displayed in themed exhibition areas. The group should explore together, one exhibition area at a time, rather than spread out along the corridor.
Each group will also be allocated time to the outdoor exhibit areas of Discovery Park and Water Park (weather permitting).

Cost and How to Book

ALL supervising adults are admitted FREE OF CHARGE

Hands on exhibits and bridge building
£4.50 per pupil

Telescope tour or science show
additional 75 pence per pupil

Team Challenges
£5.95 per pupil

Telescope Discovery Workshop and Tour
£5.95 per pupil

Twilight Visit
£9.25 per pupil (including food).
Supervising adults admission free, £4 food.

Please make an initial enquiry to check availability of dates.
Then phone, write, fax or email the details.

When making a booking please have the following information ready. (You may like to download a Booking Form in advance of contacting us to prepare this information).

Preferred date, plus an alternative.
Expected arrival and departure times.
Number of pupils and which year group(s).
Approximate number of accompanying adults.
Whether telescope tours or science shows (if available) are required.
The intended Learning Objective of the visit.
Full address details of the school.
Any special needs within the group, especially wheelchair access as we may need to alter areas we use for certain activities.
The name of the teacher in charge of the visit.
Whether pupils will be using the shop, or if you wish to order 'goody bags'.

Provisional dates can be held for 7 days.

When all details have been received we will post a Confirmation letter, Invoice, Guidelines for the Visit and Code of Conduct. If you have NOT received this information 2 weeks prior to your visit, please contact The Centre immediately.

You can download copies of The Code of Conduct, Guidelines for the Visit and Map of the Site.

Booking Terms
Methods of Payment
Payment is in advance or on the day of the visit. A deposit may be required and this will be indicated on your invoice. Payment can be made by BACS, cash, credit card or cheque.
Cheques should be made payable to ‘Science Projects Ltd'

Refund Policy
We ask all groups to confirm their numbers 7 days prior to the visit. As an educational charity, we allocate staffing for each day dependent upon the number of pupils we are expecting. We are unable to offer refunds.

Cancellations must be sent in writing no later than 14 days prior to the visit.

Telephone: 01323 832731

Fax: 01323 832741

Email: schools@the-observatory.org

How to find The Centre

ESSENTIAL driver information
Increasingly coach drivers are taking a variety of routes to The Centre which are not always the most direct. Your time at The Centre is precious and it is vital that drivers know where they are going and how to find us. it is strongly recommended that you use the link below to obtain directions to The Centre - this map has been pre-programmes with the exact co-ordinates of the CORRECT entrance.
Drivers MUST NOT rely on GPS as some systems will direct you along a narrow lane to the WRONG (closed) entrance of the Herstmonceux Castle Estate resulting in a 15 minute re-route.
Further details of our location are shown in the map

Parking
Parking is free for all vehicles.There is a designated hard standing area for coaches located a short 100 metres (approx.) walk from The Centre.
Please advise your driver that NO coach is permitted to reverse whilst children are in the coach park and ALL children must remain seated until your vehicle has reversed into the coach park. Coaches are NOT permitted to drive up to the main reception on Bradley Road.
Cars & Minibuses may use the car parking field immediately adjacent to the entrance.
We offer free admission for your coach drivers (plus a free cup of tea / coffee from our café).
Disabled access is at the rear of the main centre building, with 2 parking bays and ramped, wheelchair access. This is not accessible for coaches.

Facilities

Shop
The Gift Shop is located within the entrance reception. It stocks a wide range of exciting pocket money science toys, souvenirs, books and teacher resources – prices start at just 15 pence!

If time does not permit your group to use the gift shop, then you can pre-order Goody Bags - available from £2.50. These will be prepared in advance and handed to you at the end of your visit so that they can be distributed on the coach or when back at school etc. Every purchase helps to support The Centre.
Pupils must always be accompanied in the shop by a supervising adult.

Cafe
The Café is normally open all day serving drinks, sandwiches, light snacks etc.
You can pre-order lunch boxes (or similar) and options can be discussed with the Cafe Manager.
Pupils must always be accompanied in the café by a supervising adult

Risk Assessments & Safety Information

Risk Assessments
We cannot complete your Risk Assessments, but we do provide our own for the site in general, exhibits, activities etc. all available to download.
The Observatory Science Centre operates in an historic site and visitors must take care at all times. Teachers and accompanying adults are responsible for the appropriate behaviour of their pupils.

Fire Safety
In the event of an evacuation of the building everyone assembles in the outdoor Discovery Park. If you are involved in a workshop, telescope tour or similar, you will be directed by The Centre staff. The teacher in charge of the group will be expected to check that all members of their group are accounted for.

First Aid
The Centre has a first aid room in the hands-on corridor, beside the café. Although all visiting schools bring their own first aider, if an incident or accident does occur it must be reported to us.

Staff & Volunteers

We have a dedicated team of staff & volunteers, all of whom are checked through the Criminal Records Bureau and many of whom are registered STEM Sussex Science & Engineering Ambassadors.

All staff & volunteers wear uniform and / or a name badge.

Guidance for the Visit

School Visit Code of Conduct

Map of the site

School Visit Booking Form

Coach Park / Grounds Risk Assessment

Teacher Preview Visits

Visit organisers are offered a complimentary visit wheneverThe Centre is open. This is highly recommended as an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the facilities and to discuss a future visit. Where possible, please phone in advance to make an appointment and we will endeavour to have a member of staff available to answer your questions. Please identify yourself on arrival and sign in at reception.