These are our requirements in an ideal world for a GCSE medieval medicine or crime and punishment display, please let us know if any of these requirements are not possible for some reason and we will do our best to accommodate them:
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Book a large classroom or similar sized space, a hall would work equally as well. Please book it well in advance of the date and confirm you have the room booked, before returning your contract to us.
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Ensure that no other activities are taking place in the room during the display, also ideally for an hour before the display commences and for an hour after it finishes. We will need the space for the whole time we are there and will not be able to leave the equipment unattended.
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If possible book a room for the display that has convenient access to the outside so equipment can be unloaded and loaded easily, although this isn't quite as important for GCSE as for KS3 or KS1. If possible a room on the ground floor is preferable as stairs can be very awkward to negotiate and it will take much longer to load and unload. If it is not possible to avoid this, please inform us before hand. This way we can allow adequate time to set up and take down.
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Ensure that there are adequate teachers present during the entire display. At least 1 adult to be present at all times. If we are left on our own at any point during the display we will need to stop until a teacher returns.
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Any teachers present should give adequate discipline to the students where needed during a display as DM staff can not discipline your students.
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Make provision for somebody to be there to greet us an hour before the display commences to let us in and show us where to go. Such as a caretaker or teacher. Please ensure whoever lets us in knows which room we will be in. It will be impossible to move all our equipment on time once set up. Ensure that Discovering Medieval know which room they will be in, in advance of the date of the display.
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In your timings, please allow 5 minutes in between displays for the display to be reset.
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Ensure that the students arrive promptly at the appointed start time, otherwise we may need to drop an item from the display.
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Arrange somewhere suitable for us to park the van during the day.
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Brief the students and any teachers that are assisting, well before the date of the display with roughly what they will be doing and where they will be doing it. If they arrive at the display unaware of what they will be doing it can be confusing for them. And if you change the venue, don't forget to inform them of the change.
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Ensure that you return the completed contract promptly to ensure that your booking is secure. The booking will not be confirmed until we have the signed contract.
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Please ensure you have a cheque for the full amount owing to Discovering Medieval (made payable to Discovering Medieval) available on the first date of the display. An invoice for the full amount should be sent to you at least a week in advance of the display.
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If you are taking photos of the day, don't forget to get permission from parents to use the photos. If you could ask at the same time if it is ok for Discovering Medieval to use photos on our website it would be hugely appreciated. We regret but we do not allow filming of our displays although photographs are fine.
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Think about what the procedure will be should the fire alarm go off during the middle of a display. We do not wish to leave display items unattended so if possible usually wait near the fire exit in case it should be a real fire. If you wish us to exit the building altogether our insurance will become invalid and cover will be withdrawn.
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On the day, please identify the nearest staff or visitor toilets to DM staff.
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Although we often bring our own a glass of water is always hugely appreciated, as talking for hours on end makes you very thirsty and dehydrated!
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Please note that we charge a cancellation fee if you cancel a booking after signing our contract. This will be 10% if more than 30 days before the first date of the display or 50% if 30 days or less prior to the first date of the display. This is because we may have had to turn away other work for the date you have booked and we may not be able to refill the date at such short notice.