Engaging schools and encouraging participation is part of the ongoing focus of the team. A series of pilot workshops to develop formal early years provision for under 5's has taken place in nurseries attached to primary schools.

This season also saw the start of the Learning Links Hospital Outreach project working with child patients and staff at University Hospital, Coventry, and a visit from the Coventry Pregnant Schoolgirls and Mothers unit who attended a session based on the Herbert's World War 2 collections.

The artist-led masterclasses inspired by the Street Art exhibition were a major attraction with schools, with all sessions booked and fantastic work produced. The upcoming blockbuster exhibition Secret Egypt is proving even more popular, with all the sessions in February and most of March already fully booked in advance of the exhibition opening.

The outreach assembly programme is more popular than ever, with all programmes booked as soon as schools find out about them. Recent assemblies looked at 'Coventry at War' using our WW2 collections, and the traditions surrounding a 'Victorian Christmas'.

Work is continuing on developing a session about Lady Godiva, using the 'Discover Godiva' gallery as inspiration for the children, and also utilising the historical cathedral quarter outside the Herbert to give the children a taste of medieval Coventry.

Robin Johnson Senior Learning Officer at the Herbert commented 'We are really pleased with the level of schools participation that we have developed over the last two years. Matching the needs of schools and the curriculum with the fun and innovation of inspiring young minds has led to many successful partnerships and even more engaged children. Providing inspirational learning to school children is topical in the news of late and we are glad, through the support of the local council, the MLA and other funding bodies, to be keeping this important offer at the core of our aims.'