Home educators

We can't wait to bring back Home Educator Days in 2021. Watch this space!

Home Education Groups

Home education groups with a minimum of 20 children are eligible to book the all-inclusive school trip package. Find out more here and follow the school booking process.

Home Educator Families

Monthly Home Educator Days are available for individual families, including those bringing younger siblings.

What's included:

Home educator families are welcome to visit the science centre any time from 10am and make full use of the exhibition. Our team of Inspirers will be on hand from 14:00 - 15:00 to answer any questions you may have.
At 3:15pm we offer a live, presenter-led show, The Magical Mystery Tour, designed especially for home educator families. The presenter will tailor the show for the audience. This show can be added to admission for £3.50 per child with one accompanying adult free. Additional adults will be required to purchase a ticket.

Further Information:

Please be aware that the Centre will be shared with school groups until 14:00, so it may be busy during this time.

Whilst the Science Centre is still open to the public on these days, from 14:00 the schools will have left and almost everyone in the venue is expected to be a Home Educator.

There will be live planetarium shows and educational fulldome films running for schools earlier in the day. If there are spaces available, home educator families can book into these planetarium shows upon arrival at the Centre but please be aware that school shows carry an age restriction and are only available for children aged 4 and above.

There is no age restriction for public planetarium shows. However, please be aware that some younger siblings may find the planetarium rather overwhelming. We do ensure the show environment is as relaxed as possible so younger members of the audience feel comfortable to call out, ask questions or talk to their family about what they see. Just be aware that you may need to exit if they don't enjoy the experience and if so, other children may not be left unsupervised.

Home Educator ID is not required for entry before 3pm.

Children must be supervised at all times.

Home educator family groups must include:

At least one child of school age (5-18 yrs, or 4 yrs if their next birthday is 31 Aug or earlier).
One supervising adult

Home-educated children who look younger than school age may need to provide proof of age. Younger siblings within the home-educated child’s family are welcome at the same special rate.

Admission for home educator families:

Children (3-18 yrs): £7.50
Children (0-2 yrs): free
Supervising adult: free (one per group)
Additional adults: standard rate

Schedule (click for details)

10:00am

Doors Open

School groups will be present until 2pm (mustering downstairs from 1.45pm). The Science Centre is open to the public all day.

Arrival before 3pm: Home Educators can access the special rate at any time before 3pm (i.e. during school hours) simply by self-identifying as a Home Educator on arrival.

Arrival after 3pm: Home Educators will be asked to provide proof of status such as a letter from the LEA or a Home Educator card.

Children must be supervised at all times in the exhibition, planetarium and during activities.

2:00pm-3:00pm

Invention Studio Open!

Join our Master Inventors in the Invention Studio to try your hand at a variety of challenges related to engineering, programming and Newtonian physics. This area will be staffed specially for Home Educators and visitors on Home Educator days between 14:00 and 15:00.

3:00pm-3:45pm

Live, presenter-led planetarium show The Magical Mystery Tour:

(+£3.50 per child/additional adult)

No two shows are the same! Our expert presenters adapt each show to suit the abilities and interests of the audience.

4:00pm

Centre closes

Annual passes

Many of our Home Educator visitors buy Annual Passes to allow them to visit the exhibition whenever suits, and to take full advantage of all the free-with-entry special events that occur in holiday periods. Find out more here.