Early Learning Resource – The Civic Loan Box

An exciting project between local primary schools and Daventry Town Council museum had its official launch on Thursday 5th February 2009.

Members of the museum volunteers group led by the voluntary curator Roy Sharp and staff at St James Infant School worked extremely hard to produce a “Civics Loan Box”. Everyone who helped to produce the resource had been invited along with Head teachers and History coordinators from local Primary Schools to the launch.

The box is complete with mayoral robes, hats and chains, a gavel and mace and a DVD of a mock town council election of mayor and deputy followed by a mock town council meeting.

The DVD was filmed by a local photographer and the cast for the meeting was made up of Town Councillors, volunteers from the museum and Town Council officers. Various members of the public were also encouraged to act as public and press for the filming.

Where possible all items have been made by local craftspeople which have included a wood turner, an enameller, a seamstress and a silversmith.

St James Infants School and The Abbey Primary School hosted pilot teaching sessions with children from years two and three trying out the resources. Both events were extremely successful and the feedback from both staff and children was very encouraging.

The project has been supported by MLA East Midlands through the CDMS and DCSF funded Strategic Commissioning “Learning Links” programme.