Training

Training for your staff or volunteers will ensure that they understand:

  • why schools are visiting
  • what is happening in schools today
  • what their objectives are
  • methods of delivery.

Staff or volunteers can be trained by experienced education specialists to deliver handling sessions. To prepare for this assess the knowledge and experience of staff and volunteers. Training can be delivered in a range of complementary ways. For instance you could:

  • direct staff and volunteers to relevant sections of this website for training purposes
  • arrange visits to watch sessions in other museums (ask your Museum Development Officer for suggestions)
  • run a demonstration session at the museum with staff and volunteers as participants
  • arrange for staff and volunteers to shadow a session that another experienced member of staff delivers.

Ensure that staff/volunteers only lead a session when they are happy to do so (some may not want to lead but are happy to assist which is a useful role in its own right). To further support staff in their delivery of education sessions:

  • Provide a file of supporting notes about the session for staff/volunteers.
  • Join the Group for Education in Museums (GEM) or engage (the National Association for Gallery Education).
  • Arrange for staff to attend relevant training days, such as those organised by Renaissance, the Group for Education in Museums (GEM) or engage.

To ensure that all staff/volunteers are aware of educational programmes activities at the museum it is useful to provide an information file which is updated regularly. Also ensure that staff have information about services for schools including how to take a booking etc.

N.B., ensure that any member of staff or volunteer wishing to work with children is Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checked and understands the Child Protection Policy of your museum.

Downloads:

 Staff training – a personal perspective (Banbury Museum. Word DOC, 39Kb).

Websites: