The Manor House has now reopened! Come and explore the new storytelling of 1,000 years of history.
for Early Years Foundation Stage through to KS2
Visit Cogges for a unique, hands-on learning experience and your pupils will take away much more than just a memorable experience, be that baking, crafts, seeds or new skills. Our selection of indoor and outdoor hands-on sessions provide huge scope for follow up work back in the classroom too.
To book a session or arrange a preview visit, please contact our Learning & Community Engagement Manager Pete Stubbs: Tel: 01993 772602 | Mobile: 07483 441240 Email: learning@cogges.org.uk
Our aim is to harness the unique environment at Cogges and create interactive learning experiences to inspire children of all ages. Our sessions bring children and young people into contact with the tranquillity of nature, our animals and historic environment, and promotes outdoor learning and wellbeing. All of our sessions are adaptable for children with additional needs.
Each session is led by trained educational facilitators and our volunteers in line with the National Curriculum covering key subject areas including history, geography, mathematics, literacy, citizenship, science and design. Choose from one of the sessions from our existing education programme or work with us to create an engaging session bespoke to the needs of your school.
Half Day activities can be made longer by a visit to Cogges grounds and adventure playground, supervised by school staff. All half day visits are welcome to stay on site for lunch. There is a shop and café open March to November or bring a picnic. Cogges is an enclosed site. During the open season the grounds are open to the public from 9.30am.
We still had all the experiences that we had on previous visits and we felt very safe with all the measures that were in place - St Hugh's School, Faringdon - September, 2020
Download our list of Education Sessions for EYFS through to KS2. Or read more about each education session below. KS3 resources are currently under development. Contact us to discuss your options.
To provide a light hearted exploration of Cogges, using the imagination to find ‘fairies’, create woodland creatures and environmental art, plant seeds and build shelters.
The cost of the programme is £78 per group for the full day. Groups of 12 children, maximum 5 groups or 60 children.
To immerse and engage children outdoor learning. This could be seen as a taster day to a Forest schools experience, it is all about learning in a practical way outside. From building a shelter to cooking over a fire to how to have fun with sticks and create art in nature.
The cost of the programme is £78 per group. Groups of 12 children, maximum 5 groups or 60 children.
To engage younger children in the exploration of the story of Jack and the Bean stalk. Children will look at growing from a seed, making a bed, finding some eggs, creating baked impressions of the giant’s footprints and milking the model cow. This is a lively and interactive session where all children are involved. Including a special puppet surprise at the end!
This is a half-day session and costs £54 per group. Groups of 12 children, maximum 5 groups or 60 children.
To give younger children a fun and interactive tour of the farm. Learning through stories and rhymes about the different animals and the different aspects of farming. Children take a tour of the whole of the site and are introduced to and learn about the different animals. They take part in stories, songs and rhymes associated with the animals and their journey is tied together through Old MacDonald had a farm. This is a fun and stimulating session and brings a host of key learning areas to life. Including a special puppet surprise at the end.
To give younger children confidence in creativity. To look at specific books such as ‘Stanley’s Stick’ and ‘Stickman’ and to engage with them at a deeper level, immersing them in the idea that sticks can be anything. Children will create shelters with sticks and create breadsticks to take home. This is a creative session to encourage children to have fun outdoors, including a special puppet surprise at the end.
This is a half-day session and costs £54 per group. Groups of 12 children, maximum 6 groups or 60 children.
To enhance the children’s understanding of farming and the provenance of healthy and environmentally sustainable food production. Considering how our choices impact the planet e.g. air miles and ethical choices that need to be made to feed an ever increasing population.
This is a full day session £78 per group. Groups of 12 children, maximum 5 groups or 60 children.
To establish in children an understanding and appreciation of the natural environment around them. The interdependence of all creatures and food chains. Seeking out animal habitats, learning about plants and taking a hands-on role in planting their seedling and making their own compost. This is a fun, outdoor session which can be tailored to the different seasons of the year.
The cost of the programme is £78. Groups of 12 children, maximum 5 groups or 60 children.
To immerse and engage children with maths on a practical level. Maths is everywhere we look, and finding shapes throughout the farm, measuring ingredients and weighing animal feed are all practical ways that maths is used in everyday life.
To give younger children an understanding of where food comes from and how it is made. Based on the story of Little Red Hen, children look at growing from a seed, grinding flour and baking bread. This is a lively and interactive session where all children are involved. Including a special puppet surprise at the end.
To immerse and engage children in our historical past and leave them with a feeling of awe and understanding at how our ancestors lived their everyday lives. This is an interactive and lively history based session, which keeps children fully engaged. The programme is flexible and can be tailored to focus on the Anglo Saxon or Victorian period as well as on local history if required. Sessions include hands on activities such as Victorian Laundry, making the bed, decoding and making runes, making Welsh cakes or flatbreads, grinding grain, shelter building. Please discuss your specific requirements with us.
The cost of the programme is £78 per group for the full day and £54 per group for the half day. Groups of 12 children, maximum 5 groups or 60 children.
Key stage 3 programmes are currently under development. Contact us to discuss your options.
"Thank you for our recent Little Red Hen visit. Whilst the weather was not pleasant, it didn't deter the boys excitement and enthusiasm. All but one was asleep on the short journey home! Thank you for making everything as safe as possible for us, we all felt completely safe."
Linda Gaskell, Abingdon Preparatory School, October 2020
"I just wanted to thank you and your team for our visit today. The children had a great day and learnt so much. We still had all the experiences that we had on previous visits and we felt very safe with all the measures that were in place. The weather was an added bonus!"
Judith Fisher, Year 1 teacher, St Hugh's School, Faringdon - September, 2020
"We were very impressed with our visit to Cogges Farm. It was very well organised, and beautifully resourced. Children were highly engaged, and enjoyed every bit - but particularly the natural art session. I don't know why we haven't been before!"
Francesca Jenkins, EYFS Coordinator St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Oxford
"It was a lovely trip, the children were wowed by how much they found out. The activities were engaging and exciting and we had lots of fun. Thank you to all the staff they were great and very helpful. We will definitely plan on coming back next year."
Sophie Monk, Wheatley CE Primary School
We’re looking for teachers to join our Teacher Panel to help shape our Schools Education Programme. Cogges Manor Farm is a much-loved heritage resource for local schools and we’ve created this community to keep in touch with teachers and leaders in education. Your opinions and feedback will help us make sure we continue to meet the needs of all children, from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to Key Stage 2. We anticipate the need for no more than one contact per half term to feedback on resources or participate in surveys and discussions. *In return for your commitment to the Cogges Teacher Panel, we'd offer you free admission to Cogges plus 25% off one visit per term for your school. *Terms and conditions apply.
Register you interest by emailing learning@cogges.org.uk
Download our Teacher Panel leaflet for more information or see below
We have put together some helpful tips for you to plan your visit to Cogges. You can also download our school resources.
