Home Education Day 2024

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Come and join us for a day of workshops and activities for children aged 5+ who are home educated.

The day will feature a range of activities and sessions exploring creative arts, nature and wellbeing.

Home Educators can book one of two ticket options:

  • A drop-in only ticket, giving you access to a range of drop-in activities across the day below, and entry to our Aquarium
  • A workshop ticket which includes access to our drop-in activities, the Aquarium, and a chosen workshop from the ‘Workshops’ list below

Drop-in activities

A drop-in ticket can be booked without a workshop, or is included with all workshops tickets.

Tickets for drop-in activities include entry to the Aquarium.

Art Portfolio

10.30am –12.30pm | Suitable for children aged 6+ years old

Explore patterns and shapes in nature, and discover amazing textiles crafted around the world. Learn about cultural significance of patterns and designs, and how they are created. Learners will have a fantastic opportunity to develop their observation and still-life sketching skills.

Explore and Connect – Meet our Community Team

1.30pm – 2.30pm | Suitable for children 7 – 16 years old

Our Community Team will guide you through a series of fun and insightful activities to help you explore and connect to some of the amazing objects in our handling collection.

Nature Explorers

11am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3pm | Suitable for all ages

Join us in the Gardens for active and fun nature challenges that will connect learners to the natural world and surprise them with its diversity and beauty.

Please note: This is an outdoor activity; in the event of adverse weather, it will be cancelled.

Workshops

Enhance your day by also booking one of our taught workshops.

Tickets for workshops include drop-in activities and entry to the Aquarium.

Music Around the World

  • 11am – 12pm | Recommended age range: 5 – 7 years old
  • 1pm – 2pm | Recommended age range: 8 – 11 years old
  • 2.30pm – 3.30pm | Recommended age range: 12 – 16 years old

In this hands-on workshop, learners will have a chance to play a wonderful selection of world instruments. Explore the names, sounds and cultural context of instruments from different parts of the world.

Tickets include free entry to drop-in activities and the Aquarium.

Plants, Seeds and People

11am – 12pm | Recommended age range: 5 – 7 year olds

2pm – 3pm | Recommended age range: 8 – 11 year olds

Explore a range of seeds, live plants and artefacts in this exciting, sensory workshop. Discover how seeds are dispersed, why we need plants and how plants are used by peoples around the world.

Tickets include free entry to drop-in activities and the Aquarium.

Under the Sea

12pm – 12.45pm | Recommended age range: 8 – 11 year olds 

1.15pm – 2pm | Recommended age range: 12 – 16 year olds

Join one of our aquarists to explore the hidden side of our aquarium. Discover the out of view work and ground-breaking research that goes on behind the scenes. Followed by an Aquarium tour highlighting some of the amazing species!

Tickets include free entry to drop-in activities and the Aquarium.

Ticket information

Each booked child and one free accompanying adult will receive:

  • Entry to the Aquarium
  • Access to three different drop-in activities
  • Access to a lunch room and break a-space
  • Tickets are non-refundable
  • Participants need to be supervised by accompanying adult at all times.
  • Four free places are available for children of parents or carers who are on low income or in receipt of Universal Credit, Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance. Please contact schools@horniman.ac.uk to request a free ticket. All free spaces need to be pre-booked.

Visit information

  • When you arrive on the day, please check-in at the Education Centre, which will be signposted.
  • When you check-in you will receive a wristband and timetable of the day.
  • Please arrive promptly to your taught workshop as late comers cannot be admitted to closed sessions.

Sibling policy

To help ensure that our learners get the most from their taught sessions, and as spaces are limited, only children booked onto them may attend (with their accompanying adult).

Babies in arms are permitted to all sessions, but we politely ask that you leave the session should they become disruptive.