'Hands-on Learning' with Reading Museum Service
Service Level Agreement Terms & Conditions

Contact

Julia Shelley. Learning and Access Manager (Service Manager)
Telephone: 0118 939 9800 (ex 3495)
e-mail: education@readingmuseum.org.uk

The aim of the service

The aim of the service is to offer the opportunity for schools:

• to borrow museum collections of the highest quality in order to support subjects across the curriculum, so encouraging children to recognise the importance of primary sources
• to take part in a range of gallery and classroom sessions, led by museum staff, based on handling objects from the museum collections

Service summary

'Hands on Learning' offers two levels of membership, each offering a choice of three options. These include the following :

• Loan service of museum artefacts to schools, over 1,500 collections available
• Interactive gallery sessions led by museum staff - duration two hours
• Interactive sessions at Kategrove Victorian Schoolroom, led by schoolroom staff
• Interactive sessions held in school classroom led by museum staff - duration one hour
• Free visit to school staff on request
• Free museum entry
• Help and advice as required
• For full information please see our 'Hands-on Learning' booklet

1. Services provided through retained funds

• Book a 30 minute introduction to museum resources including gallery sessions, general visits, classroom visits and loan material
• Free visits to school staff demonstrating various ways to use museum loan collections in the classroom
• Free visits to The Museum of Reading
• Loans-On-Line catalogue available for all to view at the museum web site : www.readingmuseum.org.uk

School Obligations

• Please book in advance for all group visits to the museum galleries

2. Services available for purchase from delegated budgets

'Hands - on Learning' with Reading Museum Service (applicable 1 April 05 to 31 March 06)

Loans On-line:

• Based in the Museum Of Reading, within the Town Hall Building
• A range of over 1,500 collections available
• An online catalogue is available for viewing and booking. Available as part of The Museum of Reading website - www.readingmuseum.org.uk - teachers can search the entire database, check availability and make direct bookings
• A paper format is available for those without Internet access
• Bookings can also be made by telephone, fax, post or email - loans@readingmuseum.org.uk
• Delivery to and collection from school; two levels of service, up to six collections available per half term
• Museum service updates, mailed to all schools in the area, every term
• The school is responsible for loan collections whilst they are on the school premises.

Sessions:

• Unique objects supporting the National Curriculum
• Handling objects is a key element in our gallery and classroom sessions - these are based around some of Reading's unique collections and all underpin the requirements of the National Curriculum and are in line with QCA recommended schemes of work

Online Resources:

• Online resources are available for purchase using electronic Learning Credits (eLC's), for more on eLC's visit the website at: www.curriculumonline.gov.uk
• Resources can be used independantly or to support sessions
• Reading Museum Service is a registered retailer with Curriculum Online

School Obligations

When using the loans service, schools are required to:

• Have objects boxed, ready for the van to pick them up as notified
• Look after the items, they are a finite collection
• Make one member of staff responsible for orders
• Order objects early - up to 2 years in advance if possible
• Have adequate cover under the Schools Insurance Policy (for the purposes of this agreement, each box and its contents is valued at £500. Charges for loss or damage of individual items will be based on replacement or repair costs; there will be a minimum charge of £15 to cover administration costs)

When booking gallery or classroom sessions, schools are required to:

• Book in advance of the date required - minimum three weeks notice
• Ensure five adults accompany the group to museum gallery sessions
• Do not exceed the maximum number of pupils agreed at time of booking

Service specific standards

The 'Hands on Learning' Team will ensure the following standards:

• Complying with National Curriculum requirements
• Check customer satisfaction - gauged through evaluation
• Telephone response time: within one working day

Service price

Two levels of service:
Membership Options as follows:

OR

Additional service available to purchase

1. Non Buy-Back Schools

All services from our 'Hands-on Learning' programme are available at individual prices as follows:

1. Online Resources (whole school access for one year) at £45 per topic
2. Katesgrove sessions - duration of up two hours, at £3.35 per child, minimum charge of £67 per group
3. Individual loans boxes per half term at £30 per box
4. Interactive gallery sessions held in the museum - two hour duration, maximum group size of 35 at £78
5. Interactive sessions held in your classroom - one hour duration, maximum group size of 35 at £78

2. Buy-Back Schools

• Additional services from our 'Hands-on Learning' range may be booked at individual prices

Service Level Agreement 2005/06