Jack Taylor School is a special educational needs school in Swiss Cottage for young people with severe learning difficulties, as well as those with profound and multiple needs. The students often don’t like visiting unfamiliar places, so nearly all of their time is spent at school or at home – often meaning that their experience of the wider world is very limited.
Nereid Monument, the British Museum © wallyg, flickr.com
The teachers want to help their Key stage 2 students feel comfortable in new places. So, as part of the 2009/10 Engaging Places network, they are working with Camden Borough Council and the British Museum to develop a partnership project that will help the students to feel at ease in an unfamiliar environment.
This is my place too
The British Museum is a grand and domineering building, which can seem overwhelming and unwelcoming. Students at Jack Taylor School will explore the museum through sensory activities to help them feel at ease in the museum, be able to communicate more easily with different people and to express their needs.
Divided into three parts, the project will explore the British Museum building through textile and touch, light and sight, sound and listening. The students will prepare for their museum visits in the classroom and after each visit will be shown photos and videos to help them remember the experience and to celebrate their successes. Throughout the project they will create pieces of art, experimenting with different materials and techniques.
Room 18 of the British Museum, showing parts of the Parthenon © bram_souffreau, flickr.com
Measuring success
Jack Taylor School uses P levels to assess the performance of their students. The teachers will be observing changes in student’s behaviour to measure the success of this project. They will take video footage of the three visits to the British Museum to support their observations.
It is hoped the project will increase each student’s sense of belonging in both their local area and to new places, making students keen to explore and engage more with the places around them.
The project will take place before May 2010, so make sure you return to Engaging Places in spring 2010 to read about the end result.
Interested in taking your students to the British Museum?
Read about the British Museum and suggested activities for Key stages 2 and 3. And find out about their education programmes and access information.
To find out about other partnerships and projects developing through the Engaging Places network visit the 2009/10 Engaging Places network article.
