EYFS

Since 2023 Bradford Museums have started to include a programme for early years as a new offer. To make sure that we are approaching our young visitors the best way, we are collaborating with early years experts from 50 Things to Do When You’re Five.

The core of the early years programs are free stay and play sessions for children 0-5 years old and their parents/carers, ‘Museums for Play and Growth’ sessions are organised in each of our venues once a month, offering up to two hours of free and quality play, learning and creative time for children and adults. Museums’ stay and play sessions can include messy play, loose parts play, simple craft activities, rhyme time or outdoor activities.

Sessions ‘Museums for Play and Growth’ are on every:

1st Saturday of the month in Bradford Industrial Museum (11 am – 1 pm)
2nd Friday of the month in Cartwright Hall (10.30 am – 12.30 pm)
3rd Wednesday of the month in Bolling Hall (10.30 am – 12.30 pm)
4th Thursday of the month in Cliffe Castle (10.30 am – 12.30 pm)

Our EYFS Workshops

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery

A Fairytale Gallery

Duration 1 hr

Price £81

Based on traditional fairytales and using artwork from our changing exhibitions in 2025 this workshop has lots of opportunities for speaking, listening, mark-making and working collaboratively together with providing a great introduction to looking at real artwork.

Bradford Industrial Museum

Museum Explorer

Duration 1 hr

Price £81

Children become explorers to see and discover machines, cars and even trains using drawing, movement, sticking and printing ! Ideal for a first visit to a museum in Reception or year 1.

Cliffe Castle Museum

Cave Baby

Duration 1.5 hr

Available between 24 June to 18 July 2025 . In this fun workshop using the ‘Ice Age Art Now’ British Museum exhibition as inspiration pupils will immerse themselves in the world of ‘Cave Baby’ through storytelling, drama, movement and painting.

Cliffe Castle Museum

Dinosaur Explorer

Duration 1.5 hour

Price £102

Pupils will go on a dinosaur adventure! They will explore dinosaur features by looking at and handling real dinosaur fossils.

Cliffe Castle Museum

Museum Explorer

Duration 1.5 hour

Price £102

Pupils will meet a Victorian Explorer and discover some of the fascinating world objects in the museum.

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery

Gallery Explorer

Duration 1 hour

Price £81

Pupils will discover what an art gallery is and will spend time looking at different pieces of art, exploring colours and shapes and recording what they have found out in their very own detective notebooks. A great introduction to visiting a gallery or museum site.

Our Learning Offer

Image shows a young girl with a clipboard in the housebody at Bolling Hall

Learning on Site

Bradford District Museum and Galleries’ Learning Team are taking bookings for on-site workshops.

Learning in the Classroom

We offer a range of classroom resources that allow your pupils to connect to, experience, and be inspired by our collection.

entrance hallway of Cliffe Castle - ornately painted walls, portraits on the wall and various objects

Visit Virtually – Cliffe Castle Museum

Cliffe Castle Museum has a feast for your eyes with their new virtual reality tour.

Artsmark

Artsmark is the creative quality standard for schools and education settings, awarded by Arts Council England, recognising their commitment to high quality arts and cultural education.

Donate

Could you support our work by sponsoring, donating or volunteering?

All opportunities have flexible commitment requirements and aim to provide a rewarding and enriching experience for all.

About Us

Bradford District is home to some of the most exciting museums and galleries in Yorkshire. Come and see for yourself.