Practical Information for Teachers

We hope that you will enjoy your visit to Wimpole.

Please take time to read the following information carefully in order to get the most out of your visit.

·      All teachers are entitled to a free preliminary visit, a voucher will be sent with your booking confirmation.

·      All group visits to the property and all directed activities must be booked in advance. Please contact the Education Office on 01223 206004

·      Additional charges apply for directed activities. These are reduced for Education Group Members.

·      Education Group Members please remember to bring your card with you. Failure to do so will result in the group rate being charged and we regret that refunds cannot be made.

·      Non members and Farm visitors should collect tickets for entry from either the Stable Block ticket office or Farm reception.

·      The group will be invoiced after the visit for admission charges and directed activities, where applicable.

Home Farm

ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOLS IN THE HALL

·         Please ensure that you arrive promptly for any directed activities and allow enough time to walk from the car park to the farm. (It takes 10-15 min).

·         Bags may be left in the boxes provided below the Grain Loft, but please keep valuables with you.

·         Schools spending the day on the Farm are strongly advised to bring their lunches to the Farm with them.

·         Access to the Farm is by a level firm path. By prior arrangement it is possible to bring a coach or minibus to the Farm to if any member of your group has mobility problems.

ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOLS AT HOME FARM

ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOLS IN THE GARDENS

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

Hall

·      For self-directed visits to avoid overcrowding in the house please organise your pupils into small groups (approx. 10) each accompanied by an adult. Please allow time for your groups to be admitted to the Hall in approx. 5-minute intervals.

·      Please ensure that you are ready to start your visit on time. Late arrival may mean that you have to wait.

·      Please do not bring large bags with you into the Hall. There are boxes behind the front steps of the Hall where you may leave bags during your visit. A member of staff will be happy to show you these on request. Please keep all valuables with you.

Practical Information for Teachers

Parking
Coaches and cars should park in the main car park near the Stable Block.

Tickets
These should be collected at the Stable Block ticket office or at Farm reception.

Toilets
There are toilets in the Stable Block, at the Hall and on the Home Farm. There is a toilet with access for a wheelchair in all these places.

Shops

·      There are shops in the Stable Block. These shops have different stock but both sell a good range of small items.

·      Bags of small souvenirs can be made up, in advance, to a set price for your class. The Shop Manager will be happy to discuss your specific requirements, please contact the shop directly on 01223 206017

·      Please ensure that children visit the shop in small, well-supervised groups and that large bags are left outside.

Picnics and Refreshments

·      There are picnic tables near the Stable Block, and outside the Farm catering outlet.

·      You may picnic on the grass but not in the Formal Gardens or Pleasure Grounds.

·      Schools undertaking directed activities in the Hall during the morning may arrange to eat their lunch in the Servants Hall if the weather is poor.  This must be booked in advance.

·      There is a servery in the Stable Block and a catering outlet on the Farm

·      Ice creams and lollies for school groups can be ordered in advance – Please contact the Catering Manager on 01223 206001

Access

·      Please be aware that all access to the Hall is via steps.  There are also flights of stairs to the basement and first floor.

·      Access to the Farm is by a level firm path. By prior arrangement it is possible to bring a coach or minibus to the Farm to unload if any of your group has mobility problems.

·      A wheelchair may be borrowed from the Stable Block, please book this in advance.

·      Please ring the Education Office on 01223 206004 to discuss any special needs or requirements you may have.

Litter
The National Trust is a conservation charity. Help us to help the environment. Please take your rubbish home with you and recycle it where possible. 

Photography
From 2010 National Trust allows non-flash photography in the houses it cares for.

For the safety of their possessions please do not allow children to bring cameras with them on their visit.

HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION

Wimpole Home Farm Health & Safety Information

Wimpole Park Health & Safety Information

Wimpole Hall

·      Schools visiting for directed activities (during the morning) are required to bring a list of all pupils and adults in the group. The teacher in charge must keep this list with them throughout the visit so that in the unlikely event of an emergency evacuation it is available so that a roll call can be taken.

·      On arrival a member of the Education team will ask you for the number of children and adults in your group so that you can be signed into the house.

General

·      Special needs: Please inform us in advance of your visit of any behavioural, educational or health problems that we should be aware of.

·      Risk assessments are available.  
Risk Assessment for Hall Directed activities 

Risk Assessment for Farm Directed activities

·      It is the responsibility of group leaders to ensure that their group has adequate Public Liability Insurance prior to their visit.

·      The National Trust reserves the right to change or cancel this booking at any time, in which case a refund of any fee or deposit already paid may be given at the absolute discretion of The National Trust.

·      The National Trust or its representatives will at no time be in loco parentis.

·      Visiting group leaders remain at all times responsible for the safety, discipline and behaviour of adults and children in their group.

·      The National Trust reserves the right to refuse entry to groups who, in the opinion of the National Trust are:

1.    not suitably dressed

2.    larger in number than previously agreed

3.    likely to cause unacceptable damage or disturbance.

For The Information Of All Education Groups Visiting Wimpole Park

These notes are issued to teachers in advance of a visit to advise of particular safety issues relating to a Park visit.  Please ensure that they have been read and understood by all the adults accompanying your group and that students have been briefed on all these points before visiting Wimpole Park .

General Information

The access to the Parkland is through the gate opposite the entrance to the Stable Block. Follow along the path passing in front of the church and then in front of the Hall. Continue along the path and through a gate.  Please note that this is the only access into the Park.

• Teachers intending to bring students on a visit to Wimpole Park are strongly advised to make a preliminary visit in order to ascertain routes and timings during the visit.

• The students remain the responsibility of the teacher in charge and their helpers at all times during their visit to Wimpole. All groups must be closely and adequately supervised.

• All visitors to the Park should observe the Countryside Code. See overleaf.

• A minimum ratio of one adult to ten students is required.

• Check and comply with all notices, both temporary and permanent.

• Teachers should bring a school first aid kit and are advised to bring a mobile phone in case of emergencies.

Health and Safety Information

• Please ensure that the group is well controlled on and near the bridges. The sides of the bridges must not be climbed on.

• Gates should be used.  Do not climb over fences or railings.

• Students must not be allowed to climb trees.

• Occasionally electric fences are used in the Park.  They have warning signs on them.  Students should be warned to stay away from these fences.

• Wimpole is a working Park and Farm.  Work areas should not be entered and students should be kept away from all machinery, even if static.

• Livestock graze in the Park.  Students should not approach livestock and should never come between a mother and her young. Students must walk calmly and quietly if in the vicinity of livestock.

• Farm animals are kept in the Park and so contamination of footwear, clothes and hands with animal faeces is possible, therefore sensible hand washing and hygiene precautions must be taken before eating and before leaving the Park.  Hand washing facilities are available in the Stable Block.

• Stout footwear and warm clothing should be worn.

• There is currently no public access into the area around the Folly, therefore please ensure that students do not approach the Folly.

• Water in the two lakes is deep in places.  Teachers and accompanying adults must be particularly vigilant when walking near the lakes with the students.

Any accidents or near misses must be reported to a member of Wimpole’s Staff.  Schools should bring their own First aid kit.

Countryside Code:

• Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work

• Fasten all gates

• Keep your dogs under close control on a lead

• Use gates and stiles to cross fences and hedges

• Leave livestock crops and machinery alone

• Take your litter home

• Do not light fires

• Protect wildlife, plants and trees