Learning Visits
Booking for 2025 now being taken
Special sessions to support classroom studies
We especially welcome discovery visits from schools (primary and secondary) where the experiences enjoyed at Almond Valley add value to specific studies carried out in the classroom. We offer a range of curriculum-linked discovery sessions and other learning experiences, exclusively for such learning visits, and a specially discounted entry price.
Schools that qualify for this subsidy are charged at £3.00 per child, with one accompanying adult free for every seven children, and any additional adult charged at £3.00
To qualify for a learning visit your school must meet all the criteria below:
- the visit is a teach-led outing from a primary or secondary school to support specific classroom topics. Due to the content of the discovery sessions these are aimed at children from P1 upwards, the sessions are not designed for children younger than this. We adjust the discovery sessions for any ASN children
- the school class must be of at least 15 children, we can accommodate smaller ASN group
- visits take place between January to April and September to December each year
If your class(s) doesn't meet all the above criteria you can book one of our Group Visits school excursions group visits
We offer a choice of discovery sessions on topics that link to the Curriculum for Excellence under the themes Innovation, Community Life and Planet. We are happy to adapt and orientate these to suit a particular topic or course of study. The resources of the farm and museum may be applied in many other ways, and we'd be very happy to discuss how these might be used to support other studies.
Your Choice of Discovery Session
Discovery Sessions are hands-on learning activities that can be linked to curriculum studies and are delivered by an experienced demonstrator. Sessions usually involve groups of 15-20 children and last about 40 minutes. Large parties are therefore split into a number of sessions. Children can only receive a single discovery session during the course of their visit. Each class are given resource material to assist with their onsite learning.
Innovation
Inventing Tomorrow - The Story of James Young
Who is James Young? Discover more about the life and innovations of the Scottish Chemist. How did James Young's pioneering discoveries shape the future of the Scottish Shale oil industry? Join us on a fact finding mission to unlock the history of Young, take on the STEAM challenge and unleash your creativity and innovation.
This activity is suitable for primary school children working at second level.
Community Life
Voices of Shale (The Child)
Explore the voices of the Shale Oil community in this hands on workshop and take on the role of a child in the mines. Immerse yourself in the daily hardships and the physical conditions they endured. Join us in our handling session where we will look at objects, photographs and listen to stories from the past.
This activity is suitable for primary school children working at first and second level.
Planet
Sow and Grow
Available only during the Autumn term
This session explores our orchards, polytunnel and wartime garden to support historical themes or study of diet and sustainability issues.
This activity is suitable for primary school children working at early, first and second level.
Meet Our Rare Breeds
Our animal house is home to many rare breeds animals, which normally include goats, sheep, donkeys and horses. Meet the residents, and consider the characteristics that they share, and what makes them different. This activity is suitable for primary school children aged 5+, and can address learning outcomes related to classification and characteristics of living things.
This activity is suitable for primary school children working at early and first level
Optional Activites
There are a number of optional activities that require advance booking.
- Soft Play Session: £2 per child (resticted to under 8 years old). Session lasts a full hour at set times.
- Tractor and Trailer Rides: £1 per person. A short trip around the cropping field costs £1 per person.
Practical Matters
- We ask that a leader teacher will be in charge of your school throughout your visit, and provide phone number so we can contact the leader during the visit, should the need arise.
- On arrival, the group leader should report to reception and let us know the precise number of adults and children in their group. Payment in full is required by cash, credit card or cheque; we cannot invoice you unless supported by a local authority Purchase Order. We'll then direct the rest of your group onto the site, using a side entrance if things are busy.
- Across the site there's a range of covered (although unheated) spaces, suited for eating packed lunches, these don't need to be booked in advance.
