"The Art Gallery Handbook" is an invaluable new resource for teachers that will generate stimulating lesson-plans and help schools extract the maximum value from gallery visits. Produced in collaboration with Tate's renowned education departments, this book offers exciting and creative ideas for activities both in and out of the gallery setting, all of which have been tried and tested. Until now there has been nothing available to assist teachers and pupils in engaging with works of art. Not only does the "Handbook" do this, it also specifically addresses the National Curriculum requirements for critical and contextual approaches to art, offering everything from a behind-the-scenes look at how work is selected and presented to contributions from contemporary artists about what a gallery means to them. Cross-curricular approaches and activities are outlined, in particular with such National Curriculum subjects as History and Citizenship, while links with the Literacy strategy are also highlighted. Illustrated throughout with lively and colourful practical examples, "The Art Gallery Handbook" has been developed with teacher groups and the QCA, and will provide a wealth of new ideas for teachers of art to age groups from Key stage 1 through to Key Stage 5, and will have a particular appeal for the non-specialist at Key Stages 1 and 2.

Helen Charman is Curator of Schools Programmes at Tate and sits on the board of the National Curriculum for Art and Design. Sir Nicholas Serota is the Director of Tate.