Your day with the BBKA will be led by a qualified teacher and an experienced beekeeper.  All our staff and volunteers have been DBS checked.

Important Pre-Visit Information

1.  Numbers:  We can accommodate one class at a time; maximum 32 children.

2.   Ratios:  Please have the appropriate ratio of adults to children for your trip. Please do not include the BBKA staff and volunteers in your ratio count.   It will be helpful if you can divide your class into smaller groups of c.8 children before you arrive with an adult allocated to each group. We will brief these adults about how they will be supporting their groups and look forward to them getting actively involved in the day!

3.   Break/Lunch:  Please ensure children bring a packed lunch and a bottled drink with them for the day. Children will have a lunch break and a short break in the morning. Toilets are available in the main building a short distance from the apiary garden. Children will be able to refill water bottles during the day.

4.   Clothing: We have an apiary garden with plenty of green space – a great place for your class to explore and learn about the world of bees, beekeeping and the importance of pollinators! Therefore, your class should wear clothing appropriate for forest school (clothing that might get muddy, waterproof trousers/jacket, wellies).   We have a garden cabin that we will use as base camp. This will also be the viewing area (from behind a bee-proof mesh) that your class will be able to see a hive being opened up.

5.   Adverse Weather:  If the weather is particularly adverse or there are other mitigating circumstances which we feel might compromise safety, we will amend the schedule of activities accordingly. We have a large classroom in the main BBKA building which will allow us to carry out most of the activities indoors. The observation hive can be taken inside so children will still have the opportunity to see live bees.

6.   Hot Weather:  Whilst the apiary garden has plenty of shade, we would advise children to bring and wear appropriate sun hats and sun cream (to be supervised by the lead adult in your group). Please ensure your class is adequately equipped with a water bottle and they keep hydrated!

7.   First Aid:  We have a basic first aid kit and our staff are first aid trained.  Visiting schools should, however, provide a first aider who is familiar with any specific requirements for their class.

8.  Emergency Procedure: Your class will be briefed on our emergency fire procedure on arrival.

9.   Special Needs:  We have disabled toilets/facilities and level pathways. Please let us know in advance if your children have any additional or special needs and we shall aim to accommodate these.

10.   Cancellations and Changes to Dates:  Please contact us as soon as possible should you need to amend or cancel your trip to us. 

11.   Insurance: The BBKA has full insurance cover but schools should also have their own cover.

12.    Photographs:  The BBKA would like to take photographs and/or videos during visits for publicity purposes. These images may appear in our printed publications, on our website, or both. They may also be used on our social media.  Schools will need to complete and sign a ‘Photograph/Video Release Form’ to confirm that the relevant permissions are in place for us to take and use any photographs and/or videos.  A completed form is required from all schools as a condition of booking.

13.   Risk Assessment:  Full risk assessments for the learning areas and activities will be available prior to your visit. It is advised that schools also have their own risk assessment for their day with us at the BBKA taking into account any specific needs of individual pupils. Please contact us if you would like to arrange a pre-visit.  Children remain your responsibility throughout the day.  We hope to engage your class fully so that they have a fun and memorable day learning about bees.

14.  Policies:  The BBKA safeguarding policy and school visit policy can be supplied on request.

15.   Materials:  We encourage you to bring along your recyclable materials to use in our creative activities.