School Groups Terms & Conditions

Booking your School Group Visit

• Face masks are no longer mandatory to enter Esplora and the use of masks is on voluntary basis. However, in order to limit covid-19 transmission, face masks are obligatory in the areas listed below:

– Planetarium Dome

– Multisensory Room

– Little Esploras Science Theatre

– Activity Centre Level 1 – Workshop and Lab Rooms

• All bookings made by schools over the phone and by email are provisional. A booking is only confirmed upon payment in full.
• Payment for school groups must be effected 30 days before the visit. If the request is made within a 30 day period of the booking, and slots for exhibits, science shows and/or workshops are available, payment will be required within 5 days.
• There are three possible ways for schools to effect payment:
  • Cash – A member of staff from the school may come to Esplora to pay the amount in cash.
  • Cheques – Should be payable to the Malta Council For Science & Technology. Cheques may be hand delivered or sent in the post to: Esplora Science Centre, Booking Office, Villa Bighi, Dawret Fra Giovanni Bichi, Kalkara, KKR 1320.
• It is the school’s responsibility to advise our staff at booking stage of any children with special needs. This is required so that the necessary adapted resources be made available whenever possible.
• Schools are responsible for issuing Data Protection Forms and Parent Consent Forms to all students. Esplora is open to the public and we encourage our visitors to take photos of their experience and share on social media.
• In the case of absent children, refunds will be issued against a credit note for the school to use in future bookings. Credit notes are valid for 6 months.
• In the case of a whole group cancellation, due to unforeseeable circumstances, refunds will be issued against a credit note for the school to use in future bookings. Credit notes are valid for 6 months.
• The number of students and supervising adults who arrive for a visit must not exceed the number of people booked. Schools may call to enquire if more students or supervising adults may attend and we will do our best to accomodate but no guarantee of acceptance can be made. Each activity is purposely designed by the Education Programme Team for a specific age range and respective development stage. Capacity numbers indicate the optimal number of visitors for each activitiy. We are unable to accomodate more visitors than the maximum capacity stated in the programme for quality and H&S safety reasons.

Making the most of your visit to Esplora

• School groups are requested to register at the Main Reception 30 minutes before any scheduled activity (i.e. science show, workshop or special event).
• Scheduled activities start and end on time as per programme. We are unable to allow visitors entrance into any scheduled activity once it has begun, as doing so disrupts the activity and reduces the quality of the experience for those who arrive on time. In the case of late arrival of school groups, the school will be able to experience the exhibitions, however, the booking for the scheduled event will be forfeited and no credit note for the booking will be issued.
• Esplora activities are delivered in English, however, Presenters and Explainers code-switch between English and Maltese according to demand.
• All mobile phones and devices must be turned off/put on silent during science shows and workshops.
• Children and supervising adults are requested to use bathroom facilities before and after, rather than during scheduled activities to reduce unnecessary disturbance.
• Children/students up to Year 2 (Year 2 included) are not authorised to use the escalators for health & safety reasons.
• Food and drink may only be consumed in designated areas. No food and drink is allowed during scheduled activities nor in exhibition spaces.
• Teachers and accompanying adults are repsonsble for the well being and behaviour of the children on site. We reserve the right to ask any visitor to leave Esplora should they pose a threat to harm themselves or others, or damage the exhibitions or site.
• All feedback regarding any part of your experience at Esplora should be sent to quality@esplora.org.mt.