Cogges Manor Farm – Education programme School visits

Each session is led by trained educational facilitators and our volunteers in line with the National Curriculum covering key subject areas including history, geography, mathematics, literacy, citizenship, science and design. Choose from one of the sessions from our existing education programme or work with us to create an engaging session bespoke to the needs of your school.

Half Day activities can be made longer by a visit to Cogges grounds and adventure playground, supervised by school staff. All half day visits are welcome to stay on site for lunch. There is a shop and café open March to November or bring a picnic. Cogges is an enclosed site. During the open season the grounds are open to the public from 9.30am.

Choosing a session

• Identify the curriculum areas that you want to focus on.
• Look through the list of sessions we can offer and identify those which you think might link to your curriculum areas.
• What is the topic you are studying? Which session(s) fits your topic?

Booking a session

• Give us a call or drop us an email to discuss your specific requirements.
  Let us know your school name, full contact details, what date you might like to book a visit and the age group and number of pupils you are planning to bring.
• Once we have taken your booking, we will send you a confirmation document along with information on how to get the best out of your visit. This information can also be found on the website. We will attach Risk Assessments for your specific sessions and copy in our Resources Manager to generate the invoice for the visit.

Preparation before your visit

• If you have any questions or want to arrange a pre-visit, just get in touch and we can arrange a time to suit you. You can also bring along family if it makes things easier.
• We are always available for questions you might have in the run up to your visit.
• Make sure that you are aware that handwashing and toilet facilities are not specifically just for schools.
• Ensure that your children are prepared for their visit. We suggest you show them where Cogges is on a map, discuss the programme of activity with them and perhaps cover some of the themes or aspects of the activity prior to the visit.
• Ensure parents know how to prepare their children for their visit. Most importantly, your group should ensure that they dress appropriately and wear sensible shoes.  This includes adults. Please ensure appropriate protection is provided for children in the event of a very wet or very sunny day.
• Discuss the visit with all your adult helpers beforehand so that they know what is expected of them and how it will support the pupils on their visit. We would like adult helpers to show an interest in the session, to encourage children to listen, to turn mobile phones to silent mode and remain with their group to help and make sure that children are safe at all times.
• You may want to bring along a device to take photos to record your visit - please ask facilitators and volunteers before taking pictures where they are included.

How to find us and arrival

• Cogges Manor Farm is signposted as Cogges Manor Farm Museum from the main road.  Coaches can park in the main car park - the postcode for the main car park is OX28 3FR. Please ensure that your coach driver takes you to the correct main car park for disembarkation (it is not off Church Lane). It can be difficult to return to the coach park from the site if you did not disembark at the main car park. The coach park is along a pedestrian path next to a school and onto a small lane. Once on the lane you take the next left into a yard in front of the entrance to Cogges. Gather the group together so that the leader can notify the staff at the entrance that you have arrived. The staff will ensure your facilitators (if they are not already waiting for you) are located.
• You will then be taken through to the farm, gathered together and given the opportunity for a snack break and for everyone to visit the toilet. A short Health and Safety talk and introduction will then be given.
• Usual time of arrival is 10am.

How to prepare your pupils for the visit

• Visiting a site like Cogges can be very exciting for children and their adult helpers. We expect children to be excited on their visit and we do welcome this but please remind children (especially if visiting between March and November) that there are other people enjoying Cogges too.
• Each small group of up to 12 pupils will have a dedicated facilitator to take them through their activities for the day. It is helpful to have organised the small groups of up to 12 prior to arrival as this helps to speed up the process of getting everyone started on their first activity.
• The day runs to a timetable which we are happy to share if you feel this would be useful, however we do warn you that if visits are affected by transport or traffic issues, we may have to change the planned delivery of the session.
• The session is usually five activities that each group rotates through and all groups get to do the same activities but in different orders. Half Day sessions mean activities are shorter.
• A reminder about behaviour - you are responsible for maintaining class discipline, but facilitators will support you with this where they can.

Lunch arrangements

• If you are visiting for a Full or Half Day session you are welcome onsite for lunch. Cogges has a number of picnic areas, including one that is under cover, and you are welcome to use these spaces for lunch. If the weather is particularly cold, we will try to accommodate you in a warm space.
• Lunch time varies. For half day sessions it is always following the end of the activities at around 12.30pm. We can reduce the number of activities if you want this lunch break to be earlier - just have a chat with us on booking.
• Please ensure all waste is taken home or disposed of in the bins provided.