ALN visits to National Museum Cardiff

In Amgueddfa Cymru there are lots of different ways that visitors with additional learning needs can engage and learn in the museum. 

At National Museum Cardiff, the formal learning programme delivers interactive school workshops that consist of various activities where pupils can create their own artwork, explore the museum galleries and learn about art and natural history. 

Some sessions take place in the galleries for pupils who prefer to explore and some sessions take place in a closed learning space filled with objects that can be touched and offer a more independent learning experience.

By communicating with our staff when booking a museum session, workshops and activities can be adapted to suit the themes being studied in school and the needs of each group of learners. For example, National Museum Cardiff offers sensory packs which can be requested prior to your visit which contain resources such as sensory toys and ear defenders.

In five of National Museum Cardiff’s galleries, sensory toy boxes are placed in the spaces and are themed around the exhibition content, a previous blog about these boxes can be found here: Sensory Toy Boxes at National Museum Cardiff. These boxes offer another way for visitors with additional needs and sensory needs in particular, to engage with the stories told in each gallery. The boxes include items such as soft toys, books and replica objects and offer an opportunity to stop and pause as visitors make their way through the museum. 

All Amgueddfa Cymru sites also have a ‘Visual Story’ for pupils and staff to familiarize themselves with the museum buildings and how to make the most of their visit: Visual story: A trip to National Museum Cardiff