School Trips to Dinosaur Isle

Are there any considerations regarding infection control?

Hand sanitiser available throughout the building

How much time should we allow for a visit?

Usually a half day is sufficient. Many schools couple a visit to Dinosaur Isle with other activities in Sandown such as the Zoo, more independent time on the beach or a trip to the pier. There's also a dino-themed crazy golf course just along the road.

How does payment work?

We will pre-book your visit for you and your entry charges will be paid directly by Education Destination. All you need to do is show up at the agreed time, line the kids up outside, identify yourselves to staff and you'll be handling dinosaur poo in no time!

Is there space to sit and eat a packed lunch picnic?

You can use the grassed area outside the museum or in poor weather, subject to availability, you may use the education room inside.

Are there any special requests or processes for group leaders on arrival?

Assemble the students on the grassed area outside the museum, and send in an adult to check in.

Usually you will be assigned a staff member who will come outside to greet the group and take over from there. You will need to supervise.

The running order of your visit will depend on safe tide times. It may be that you undertake the indoor activities first, followed by the beach, or vice-versa.

Are there any special or unusual requirements I need to know about before visiting?

Dinosaur Isle includes a beach fossil hunt. Sturdy footwear and clothing suitable for the weather conditions are required. There is a small chance that feet may get wet, so spare socks/shoes might be worth packing.

Are there any special requirements?

Obviously for the beach part of the visit there's a chance of getting wet or sandy, so we recommend wellies or a pair of old shoes/trainers for this along with a spare pair of socks in one's rucksack just in case. Whilst the fossil hunt can be modified or curtailed in really bad weather, this is very unusual. They generally do go ahead in 'normal' rain so a quick check of the forecast is a good idea and come prepared. The biggest safety concern is of course tidal conditions and wind.

Are there any accessibility concerns?

Within the museum everything is on two levels connected by a lift. For the beach fossil hunt it is possible to arrange the use of a special beach wheelchair with large pneumatic tyres. However the distance from the museum to the beach is around a quarter of a mile each way so some walking is required.

What about toilets?

There are toilets within the museum and there are public toilets close to the area of beach used for fossil hunts.

Is there anywhere on-site or nearby selling snacks, drinks or ice cream?

No

Are there any toilets on-site or nearby?

There are toilets inside the museum building. At the beach, public toilets are available in the car park close to where you will enter the beach area.