frequently asked questions

 

On this page you will find questions that have been asked by people who have contacted us to find out more about the Children's University™.

 

 

What is the Children's University™?

 

The Children's University™ is a national organisation offering children aged 7-14 an exciting and innovative programme of high quality learning opportunities outside school hours, with a focus on rewarding participation, raising aspirations and encouraging engagement with learning.

 

Children's University™ provision is delivered after school, at weekends and in the holidays.

 

 

Who is the Children's University™ for?

 

The Children's University™ is aimed at 7 to 14 year olds of all abilities.

 

 

Is participation recognised and rewarded?

 

Children are encouraged to progress through the national certification scheme, based on their number of hours of attendance throughout their involvement with the Children's University™. Initially, they will aim to gain a Bronze certificate, awarded for 30 hours of attendance. Thereafter, a Silver is awarded for achieving 65 hours of attendance, and a Gold for 100 hours of attendance.

 

For information about CU certification click here. 

 

What is a Children's University™ centre?  

 

Local Children's University™ centres are diverse in shape and size: some may be quite small clusters of schools whilst others may involve much wider local partnerships of schools, universities and local authorities, as well as business partnerships, museums, galleries, theatres and other organisations. The national Children's University™ supports whichever approach will work best locally to bring benefits to children.

 

The strength of the Children's University™ is its flexibility to meet local needs through these local CU centres. Our different centres offer high quality learning in many forms. While this may be in ‘traditional’ academic subjects, the Children's University™ also seeks to complement the work of schools by offering diverse opportunities and supporting innovative approaches to learning. A centre may offer art, astronomy or drama, music or maths, science or sport, philosophy, poetry or photography, or any combination of these and other subjects according to the expertise available locally.

 

For information about the nearest CU to you click here.

 

 

How do I set up a new Children's University™ centre?

 

In the first instance you should contact the national Children's University™ for a discussion and advice. In the meantime, you can find out more about the national Children's University™ through the various sections on this website. You can also discover more about existing CU centres, where they are and what they do. Existing centres will more than happy to have an informal chat with you. To find out how to contact the nearest existing CU centre to you click here. You can of course contact us at the national Children's University™ any time. 

     

 

How do I become a member?

 

For details about membership, click here. 

 

 

How much does membership cost and what do I get in return?

 

It is planned for membership to be introduced from April 2009. The membership charges agreed in principle by the Trustees and discussed with national CU Managers are as follows:

 

Category
Example/Description
Fee
(£ per annum)
Beginner
Beginner CU; no children; status for a maximum of one year only.
  750
Small
Individual school/academy; small collaborative of schools of between
1 and 10.
1,000
Medium
Medium sized lead-organisation such as Playing for Success, higher
or further education institution, small unitary local authority working
with a number of schools between 11 and 50.
1,750
Large
Large organisation such as a local authority  working with a number
of schools between 51 and 200.
2,500
X Large
Local authority or other very large organisation working with a
number of schools between 200 and 350.
3,500
XX Large
Very large local authority working with more than 350 schools.
5,000

 

National membership gives local CUs:   

 

  • *Possible access to project funding for start-up, expansion and emergencies
  • *National certification
  • *‘Passport To Learning’ and ‘Learning Destinations’
  • *Validation of learning (‘Planning for Learning’)
  • *Quality assurance (‘Planning for Excellence’)
  • *Website www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/CUname   
  • *Email address forename.surname@childrensuniversity.co.uk
  • *National research and evaluation through Leadership for Learning
  • *Partnerships and networks at a national and local level
  • *A partner in a national voice for out-of-hours learning
  • *Attendance at CU managers’ meetings
  • *Training by national CU and partners
 

 

What about quality assurance? 

 

The national CU is in partnership with QiSS (Quality in Study Support). There is an expectation on local Children's Universities that they will achieve the first of three recognition stages ('emerged') within the first year of membership. This CU process is known as 'Planning for Excellence' and quality assures local Children's Universities organisationally.

 

'Planning for Learning' is a national framework for validating the quality of learning developed with Professor John MacBeath of Cambridge University. Validated learning provision will be awarded the national CUs 'Learning Destination' status. 

 

Children aged 7-14 who are members of the national CU can use their 'Passport To Learning' in validated 'Learning Destinations' to work towards national CU certificates awarded through their local Children's University™. For further information about national certificates click here.

 

 

What funding is available? How do I apply for it?

 

Funding may be available from the national Children's University™. To access this information and details about the application process click here. For more information about funding you can also contact us.

 

 

Who else is involved with the Children's University™?  

 

For a list of our partners, click here.

 

 

 

 

If you have any questions you would like to ask us, then …