A Sandford award for heritage education has been given to east London’s Geffrye Museum recognising its innovation learning programmes and facilities.

East London Advertiser: Sandford award-winning Geffrye Museum's education facilities praised for their innovation. Picture: Geffrye Museum TrustSandford award-winning Geffrye Museum's education facilities praised for their innovation. Picture: Geffrye Museum Trust (Image: Trustees of Geffrye Museum)

It comes in the year the Geffrye is about to start its £18 million modernisation project which closes the Shoreditch education centre and museum from January until 2020.

The Sandford judge beamed with praise for the museum in Kingsland Road, declaring: “The Geffrye is going through a redevelopment that has learning firmly at its heart.

“Its stimulating sessions will deepen children’s learning, whether teachers visit with their class now or after the reopening, or take part in outreach sessions with objects brought into school for children to handle and discuss.”

The redevelopment project expands the museum with new spaces for learning and discovery.

East London Advertiser: Sandford award-winning Geffrye Museum's education facilities praised for their innovation. Picture: Geffrye Museum TrustSandford award-winning Geffrye Museum's education facilities praised for their innovation. Picture: Geffrye Museum Trust (Image: Trustees of Geffrye Museum)

Museum director Sonia Solicari said: “We led the way with museum education in the 1930s and learning remains at the core of everything we do today.”

The Sandford award recognises a dedication in providing innovative learning opportunities and resources for all ages.