Children’s University: What Is it and How to Enrol?

Contents

1. What is Children’s University?
2. Children’s University stamps and awards
3. What do kids get out of Children’s University?
4. Who is Children’s Univerity for?
5. How to enrol in Children’s University
6. Children’s University Online

By the time a child turns 18, they will have spent just 9 per cent of their waking life in a classroom. So, how can we help them to make the most of the remaining 91 per cent of their time? Children’s University believes they have the answer. 🙋

There are plenty of ways to maximise your child’s experience from online tutoring to sports, creative hobbies and of course, taking time to relax and socialise. But, when it comes to extracurricular activities, Children’s University has it covered. Read on to find out if Children’s University might be right for your child. 👇

What is Children’s University?

Children’s University is a charity that works in partnership with schools to develop a love of learning in children by encouraging and celebrating participation in extra-curricular activities in and outside of school. 

Children's University is currently running in over 1,000 schools across 66 local authority areas in England. Check out their partner charity, Children's University Scotland, to see what support is available for children across Scotland.

Children typically sign up to Children's University through their schools. From there they can engage in all sorts of fun and activities – like reading challenges, nature safaris, sports and games, maths quizzes and much more – add stamps in their Passport to Learning and ultimately celebrate their successes with family, friends and teachers at awards ceremonies. 🥳

Children’s University stamps and awards

For every event or activity that a child completes or attends, they get a stamp in their Passport to Learning, which they save up to earn bronze, silver and gold certificates. Take a look at the different stamps, awards and certificates you can achieve with Children's University:

Children are generally presented with their qualifications in their school and then once they reach a gold level, they are invited to a 'graduation ceremony' held annually to celebrate their achievements. 🧑‍🎓

What do kids get out of Children’s University?

Children’s University is a programme that benefits children, schools and partner organisations in so many ways. It positively relates to many important topics currently on the national education agenda.

Research shows the difference participation in extra-curricular activities can make – positively impacting attainment, increasing a pupil’s positive identification with the school as well as building self-confidence and resilience. 💪

In fact, a 2017 evaluation by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) shows a direct link between participation in Children’s University and increased attainment in reading and maths. Children in Children’s University schools made two additional months’ progress in reading and maths compared to children in the other schools. 📚

Who is Children’s Univerity for?

As of May 2021, Childen’s Universities across the country have hosted 8,277 activities for children to choose from. Around 65 per cent of those validated activities are both publicly accessible to children locally and nationally and totally free to engage with. 👍

So, Children’s University is for everyone, especially children who want to:

• Grow in confidence and self-belief
• Explore and enjoy new experiences in new places 
• Expand their range of essential skills
• Feel empowered to make positive choices about their future
• See learning as fun, aspirational and lifelong
• Celebrate their learning with their family, school and community

Children’s University Online

Children’s University charity is currently in the process of introducing their own Children’s University Online platform – a fun, safe and secure online space for participants to record what they’re doing. Children will collect stamp codes in their Passport to Learning that they can then add online. 👩‍💻

By adding their codes to Children's University Online children will unlock further information about their progression and development through participation. All children will have their very own dashboard and their online-only exclusive badges can also be collected between graduations.

Once your child has enrolled with your local Children’s University you will have access to their localised online resources as well. In the meantime, it’s well worth taking a look at how other Children’s Universities manage their online resource areas – Devon and Cornwall Children's University is a great example. 🤩

How to enrol in Children’s University     

Children’s University is a network of partners that manage their activities locally, including relationships with schools and local members. Your local Children’s University is the best place to start when it comes to getting your child involved as they can tell you how they manage membership and whether they already work with your child’s school. 🚸

If you are looking for extracurricular activities to keep your child happy and engaged, why not try a free trial lesson with GoStudent? Our tutors are experts at bringing subjects to life, boosting academic success and having fun along the way. Get in touch and see how it can work for you and your child today.