Why book
'Days trips to the National Emergency Services Museum' for School Trips and Educational Visits?
Our amazing historic home offers a unique sense of place that will bring learning alive like nowhere else. Your group can delve into the history of the fire service within the walls of a once-operational fire station, learning more about the brigade by exploring our historic engine house and our ‘Fiery Blaze to Fire Brigade’ exhibition. Or you might want to discover more about Victorian crime and punishment in the eerie confines of our original 19th century cells and our ‘Daring Detectives and Dastardly Deeds’ gallery, or experience life in World War II in our Blitz exhibition, complete with original air raid shelter. What’s more, the breadth of our museum archive lets your group get up close and personal with their topic in a unique way. From equipment that illustrates how the Great Fire of London was fought, to understanding the experiences of World War II through interaction with original objects, we can bring history to life for the youngest to the oldest visitor. Our fleet of amazing vehicles – from 200-year-old fire engines to a full-sized RNLI lifeboat – adds another exciting dimension for learners. Groups enjoying our guided learning workshops engage with their subject through hands-on interaction with real items from our collection, while costumed characters help visitors engage with the people of the past. The museum’s exhibitions – covering everything from the history of the fire service to the modern emergency services – add an extra dimension to every visit, providing an amazing and unique backdrop for your workshop.
What activities are available during group visits?
We offer a selection of in-house workshops suitable for early years through to GCSE, delivered by our learning and discovery team, which include time to explore the museum. We also welcome school trips wishing to undertake self-guided tours.
Our People Who Help Us workshop is ideal for early years and key stage 1 groups, as learners explore the stories of the everyday heroes that help in an emergency. Your group will learn about the police force, fire service, ambulance service, RNLI and coastguard, discover what they do and the equipment they use, and climb inside some of their vehicles. They will learn what an emergency is and when to call 999 for help and meet a character from your chosen emergency service as part of the visit. This workshop’s main curriculum focus is PSHE or personal, social and emotional development for Early Learning Goals.
Travel back in time to 1666 in our Great Fire of London workshop, aimed at key stage 1 learners. When the huge blaze ravaged London, how did the ordinary citizens of the capital fight it? Your group will learn how the Great Fire was extinguished and the legacy it left. They will handle our real and replica objects, dress up as soldiers fighting the fire and try some of the methods they used. Are they up to the challenge? This workshop’s main curriculum focus is history but also includes STEM subjects such as science and design technology.
How has Crime and Punishment changed throughout history? Step back in time and find out in this workshop, aimed at key stages 1 and 2. Learners will experience what it was like to be a prisoner in 1900 by having their fingerprints and mugshot taken, and can even spend some time in our original Victorian cells. There will be handling objects to investigate, letting them discover more about the equipment police officers used and walk in the footsteps of famous detectives. They will learn how crimes have changed and what has influenced these changes. This workshop’s main curriculum focus is history and also includes PSHE.
Experience life on the home front in our World War II and the Blitz workshop, for flexible ages. Groups will discover the plans for invading Britain and how children played their part in the war effort. They’ll learn how Sheffield’s steel industry made it a target for German bombing, the effects of raids on the city and how the emergency services coped with help from the civilian population. They can also come face to face with an incendiary bomb and handle a range of original artefacts from our WWII collection to discover how Britain played its part in defeating the Nazi menace. Using lights, sounds, smoke and smells, your class will be fully immersed with our bombed out house; don't forget to take cover in our original air raid shelter. This workshop’s curriculum focuses include history, design technology and science.
Extreme vehicles is suitable for flexible age groups and lets your group find out more about the engines, trucks and cars that power the emergency services. From a steam powered fire engine to a 47 foot Tyne Class RNLI lifeboat, our vehicles are something to behold. Visitors will marvel at the workings of historic and modern fire engines and discover how a regular car can be transformed into a police car, using what they learn to spark their imagination and design their own emergency services vehicle. This workshop’s curriculum focuses include history, design technology and science.
Guts and Gore; Medicine through time is the ideal workshop for students studying topics that include medical history at GCSE level, supported by our Blood, Bandages and Blue Lights exhibition telling the story of the ambulance service. Using the primary sources interpreted within the exhibition, students are given a hands-on learning experience in an engaging and alternative learning environment. They will engage with the objects and stories, challenging what they tell us and highlighting the relevance of history study within the wider world.
Which Curriculum Subjects do you cater for?
Curriculum topics available: Crime and Punishment.
The 'Crime and Punishment' option explores what life was like as a prisoner and police officer in Victorian England and explores how crime and punishment has changed over time. 'People Who Help Us' looks at the role of the emergency services past and present. See the full workshop description for more information.
Curriculum topics available: Mechanics and engineering.
Our 'Extreme Vehicles' option shows you a range of vehicles from a steam powered fire engine to a 47 foot Tyne Class RNLI lifeboat, our vehicles are something to behold. Marvel at the workings of historic and modern fire engines, discover how a regular car can be transformed into a police car and even design your own emergency services vehicle. See the full workshop description for more information.
Curriculum topics available: Right and Wrong.
The 'People Who Help Us' workshop focuses on the modern emergency services and how rescue teams work together to manage incidents. See the full workshop description for more information.
Curriculum topics available: The Great Fire of London, Great Plague.
The 'Great Fire of London' workshop looks at life in London in 1666 and how the fire effected the city. See the full workshop description for more information.
Curriculum topics available: Crime and Punishment.
The 'Crime and Punishment' option explores what life was like as a prisoner and police officer in Victorian England and explores how crime and punishment has changed over time. See the full workshop description for more information.
Curriculum topics available: How and why the War started, Air Raids Blitz and Battle of Britain, Evacuation, Drills and Marches.
The 'World War II: Life in the Blitz' workshop explores life in wartime Britain and what life was like under the bombs, including for children evacuated during the conflict. See the full workshop description for more information.
Curriculum topics available: Medicine.
'Guts and Gore: medicine through time' presents a wonderful opportunity to GCSE students studying topics that include medical history to see how medical care has changed through time. See the full workshop description for more information.
Curriculum topics available: Transportation.
Our 'Extreme Vehicles' workshop shows you a range of vehicles from a steam powered fire engine to a 47 foot Tyne Class RNLI lifeboat, our vehicles are something to behold. Marvel at the workings of historic and modern fire engines, discover how a regular car can be transformed into a police car and even design your own emergency services vehicle. See the full workshop description for more information.
What size groups do you cater for?
For guided workshops we can usually cater for single groups of up to 70, dependent on the workshop(s) required. Numbers for self-guided visits are dependent on availability and must be pre-booked. Contact the museum for more information.
Do you offer on-site classroom facilities?
Two fully-equipped learning and discovery rooms are available at the museum. Groups visiting us for guided workshops are given exclusive access to these during their visits for classroom work and as a space to eat packed lunches. They can also be made available as a lunch space to self-guided groups, dependent on availability.
Is there first aid on site?
Yes
Do you offer access for visitors with disabilities?
Yes
Do you cater for visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
Yes
Anything else?
A full day (10am-2pm) in-house visit with guided workshop costs £250 for groups of up to 35. For larger groups, the cost is £250 for the first 35 visitors and then £200 for every additional group of up to 35. For group visits NOT including a workshop (i.e., self-guided visits), group rates are £7.50 per adult, £5.50 per child. All group visits must be booked in advance.
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