Teacher’s Notes for Tour and Workshop
These slides have been put together to help students who may find a trip daunting or upsetting. It could be used in a whole class or individual setting.
Not every slide may be appropriate for your students and slides can be removed or language amended. Please ensure you have the correct slideshow for your visit programme as some visits are structured differently.
If you wish to print and bring slides with you on the day, you can take them on your visit to support your students.
At the end of the slideshow is suggested key vocabulary for pre-teaching.
Adjustments to your visit
Parliament is open and accessible to everyone and we want everyone to enjoy their visit.
Adjustments to tours and workshops in accordance with the specific needs of your group are possible. Please request a call back when booking your visit. A member of our team (often a member of staff delivering part of your visit programme) will contact you closer to your visit date.
Please feel free to ring us on 0207 219 4496 to discuss your visit.
In the past, adjustments have been made to timings, content, pitch, and forthose with visual impairments, hearing loss or physical disabilities. By sharing these needs with us in advance, we are able to provide the best experience possible.
Additional notes for slides
Slide 2:Phil is the Education Centre Manager and contact for queries on the day of your visit. For questions or to discuss any alterations that would be helpful to your visit beforehand, please call 0207 219 4496.
Slide 3: In front of Parliamentary Education Centre is a park called Victoria Tower Gardens. The tower visible behind the Education Centre is called Victoria Tower and houses the Parliamentary Archives.
Slide 5:If a student has been to an airport, they may have done this before and it is a similar style of security. Students should not bring sharp objects with them. Stay close to your student if they are concerned, and pass through security first so that you are able to support them should the alarm go off.
Slide 6: Visitors must pass through the security scanner one at a time. Should the alarm go off, staff will ask the student to put their arms out to scan them with a hand held scanner. In the unlikely event of a body search being necessary, please speak to the security officer present.
Slide 7:Employees at Parliament wear plastic passes. They have thorough security checks in order to work in Parliament. Different badges denote different roles within the House. If your student would have particular difficulties with the feel of a lanyard, the badge could be pinned to their clothing. Please let us know in advance if you feel wearing a lanyardmake the visit difficult or unpleasant for your student.
Slide 8:Teachers can keep their bags with them if they prefer. Bags will be stored during your visit because Parliament is very busy. It is not possible to visit the galleries with large groups with bags. The locked cages are also kept in a room with a pass operated door.
Slide 10:Tours are in groups of up to 16 and an adult will remain with each group. If the group is split then they will meet up again towards the end of the tour and return to the workshop in the Education Centre together.
Slide 11:The turnstiles are necessary for security and it is only possible to go through one at a time. Please inform us if your student will find these challenging so we can be sensitive to this.
Slide 14:There are armed police officers, security officers and doorkeepers in Parliament. Their presence is to ensure the safety of all those working in Parliament. Seeing these people around does not mean there is any danger. Greeting an officer is a good way to build positive associations with people in this role.
Slide 15:Every effort will be made to visit the chambers/public galleries. As Parliament is foremost a working building it will not always be possible to see these rooms, including during times set aside for vital security checks before sitting hours.
Slide 16:Everyone can sit down in the workshop. It usually lasts for an hour but this can be adjusted if your students have particular needs. It is helpful to the Education Assistants and Visits Officers to know of any individual needs beforehand so that they can be sensitive to these, sit students in particular places or organise the room in a particular way.
Slide 17:Students could think of a question or find out their MP’s name before they arrive. If the student wishes to bring the question written down, please keep it in a pocket or a bag that is remaining with the group. It will not always be possible for MPs to meet constituency schools on the day of the visit and sometimes they may have to cancel last minute due to Parliamentary business. We will inform the group whether the MP is able to meet them on the day of the visit.
Slide 18:The ringing bell image announces a vote. It is a red bell if the vote is in the Lords and a green bell for votes in the Commons. It will appear on all annunciators.
Slide 19:The MPs have to get to the chamber quickly and might need to leave abruptly to go to the vote. If anyone in your class struggles with loud noises, please inform us in advance. We are able to switch off the annunciator screens or turn the volume down in the workshop rooms. We understand that ear defenders can be helpful for those overwhelmed by loud noises, please let the Education Assistant and Visit Officer know if your student needs these with them in case of the annunciator bell.
Slide 20:The cage will be brought to the group in the Education Centre concourse. Everyone will have the opportunity to use the toilets, and badges will be distributed.