Formal Learning Volunteer

Formal Learning Volunteer

Posted for Epping Forest District Museum Trust CIO

Posted by Volunteer Essex

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Role description

This is an exciting role to support the Learning Officer with school visits to Epping Forest District Museum, which will include delivering sessions. Full training will be given, and sessions will be planned by the Learning Officer and ready for delivery, however, experience of working with children and a passion for introducing children to museums and heritage is essential.

What will the role involve?

Due to the nature of the gallery spaces, children on school visits will have to be split into 2 groups – one group will do an object handling session in “The Space” our community and education room, and another group will be exploring a gallery relevant to their topic. The Learning Officer will lead one group, and a Formal Learning Volunteer will lead the other. The sessions will last from 30 to 45mins depending on the age of the children, then the groups will swap. Children will be accompanied by school staff at all times at a ratio of 1:8.

Sessions will be planned by the Learning Officer so volunteers will only be expected to deliver. There will be several different topics offered to schools, but structure of the sessions will be more or less the same taking into account pitching the session at a higher level for older children.

School children could be any age from Reception to Year 12 – we completely understand that some people may have preferences on age groups they want to work with, this is not at all a problem. If you would prefer to work with a particular age group, please indicate this in your application.

What does success look like?

Children leave enthused and can recall and relay to others what they have learn. Teachers believe that the session was high quality, a useful learning experience for their pupils/students and has helped them in teaching in the curriculum. Volunteers and museum staff have enjoyed delivering the session, and feel that they have given children the space to use their imagination, inspired by the museum’s objects

What will be the impact?

Children will hopefully develop a love for museums, history and heritage and continue to visit museums and learn about the past throughout their lives. We also hope that making a visit to the museum, and being introduced to art, culture and heritage will enrich children’s education,

making it more well-rounded. Additionally, these visits will hopefully ensure that children will always feel welcome in museums and know that museums are places for them.

What is the commitment?

We are not yet sure how many school visits to expect each term, but we hope to get to a point where there is one a week. We would like to build a pool of Formal Learning Volunteers that we can offer sessions to, and individual volunteers can sign up to the ones they are available for. This is so we are not always relying on a small handful of people. Visits will often be in the mornings, although some may be in the afternoons. The volunteer would be needed for a 2-hour session probably either 10am – 12pm or 12pm – 2pm. The visits are more likely to be on Mondays and Thursdays when the museum is closed but could be any day of the week. Successful volunteers will need to be DBS checked.

If you have any questions about this role or would like to discuss this role with the Learning Officer, please contact 

What skills do I need?

What skills, experience and qualities are we looking for?

· Ability to deliver a high quality, engaging session to a group of children

· Willingness to respect and encourage children’s ideas and questions

· Experience of working with children

· Good time management

· Passion for sharing museums and heritage with children

· Belief in the power of objects to tell stories and bring history to life

· Belief in the importance of art, culture and history education for children