July/August 2016
Exciting children is a university challenge The Children’s University is an initiative that encourages children to gain a broader learning experience. It is an International charity that provides 7 to 14 year olds (and 5 to 6 year olds with their families) with access to exciting and innovative Children’s University Learning Activities and experiences outside of the normal school day. The Children’s University celebrates achievement and rewards participation through the award of Children’s University certificates. Raising children’s aspiration is important and the aim is to develop the understanding that learning can be the “satellite navigation system to better places in life”. Any child, aged 5 to 14 years can join and, when issued with a CU Passport To Learning, is able to take part in CU validated Learning Activities and experiences. Each hour of CU validated learning a pupil completes brings the child closer to a Children’s University graduation certificate, presented at a locally organised CU graduation ceremony. Celebrating achievement is important.
What is a CU Learning Destination and what kind of activities are CU Learning Activities?
There are opportunities for good quality learning experiences in many, many places. CU Learning Destinations are places and organisations that provide high quality CU Learning Activities. CU Learning Activities are activities that have been quality approved by the Children’s University. We validate any activity that will enable children or young people to develop skills or knowledge, as long as it relates to a subject that can be studied further in Higher Education. Generally, there are two types of Learning Destinations: •
Public Learning Destinations: These are places which provide CU validated Learning Activities that are publicly accessible, including places which offer activities in sport, leisure, theatre, arts, museums, heritage and libraries.
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Restricted Learning Destinations: These are places that are not publicly accessible, such as schools and clubs that require membership. Other examples of Restricted Learning Destinations
What is Is there a cost? The cost for the Children’s University Passport is £10.00 This is a one off cost involved in unless the passport is lost . New passports when completed will be replaced free of charge by the school. becoming Awards and certificates are also issued at no additional cost. a validated Where can children earn Learning Learning Credits? Destination? Through Ashdown school, children Children’s University wants to ignite many sparks of inspiration and aspiration in children and would like as many places as possible to become CU Learning Destinations, in order to support our aim in raising ambition and providing access to innovative learning activities across the globe. CU Validation and Quality Assurance With the support of Professor John MacBeath of Cambridge University, the CU developed an innovative national framework for quality assuring all CU learning called ‘Planning for Learning’. This framework sets out a rigorous process of self-evaluation for all our learning providers to ensure the highest quality of CU learning provision. The CU Validation process is not time consuming, but it does require a professional discussion. Some associated paperwork needs to be completed with the support of your local CU Manager on the proposed Learning Activities available at your Learning Destination. Once the validation procedure has been completed, children are eligible to collect hours of learning into their Passports To Learning.
can earn Learning Credits in five ways: 1. Through the school’s validated extra-curricular activities 2. By visiting one of the many hundreds of Learning Destinations across the country. These can be accessed via the National Children’s University’s website (www.childrensuniversity.co.uk) 3. By taking part in activities with organisations who are validated Learning Partners. These Learning Partners can be found on the National Children’s University website too
By Peter Chaste
4. Through completion of Virtual Credit tasks. These are promoted through the Facebook and Twitter pages as well as eNewsletters. These activities include Nature Detectives opportunities, Reading Challenges and much more! 5. By participating in a CU Live! lecture and workshop. These sessions are organised by Kent Children’s University but are open to all children across the country. These activities take place during the school holiday periods.
Get the App The Children’s University has an invaluable App for Apple and most makes of mobile telephones. The App enables children to identify and locate accredited learning destinations nearby.
What’s the CU Passport for? In the early stages Children will begin collecting learning credits in the hard copy passports. Usually one credit = 1 hour of learning. All activities will have the learning credit amount visible, so children can keep a tally on how many credits they are earning. Over the Summer Holidays Ashdown By Heather Dace Primary has prepared a Summer Challenge to get children started and Children should see Mr Pinard or earning credits. Information can be visit the website to make sure they found on the school website as well have their temporary passport. In as hard copies for children to take home and check off the activities they September these passports will be converted to a real passport – accomplish. please be aware that there will be In addition, you can visit other learnone off charge of £10.00, so paring destinations while on holiday, ents should know this before their simply look on the Children’s Unichildren start. versity website or download the app to find out what is going on. Often many learning destinations offer discounts and when you arrive, have worksheets ready prepared for you to complete. Before children undertake any learning activities or the Summer Challenge, they must get from the school their temporary passport to record your achievements. After the Summer holidays, you will be given a date and a place to bring along your completed activities and your passport which will be stamped and credits awarded.....if you do an exceptional piece of work, you might even get extra points!
COMPLETE OUR SURVEY LAUNCH EVENT To help us discover what it is you like to do most, we would ask that you complete the survey which again can be found on the website as well as below. Please complete the Survey to be entered into a draw for some vouchers courtesy of Teach Me Courses (a Children’s University accredited Learning Destination). Please complete the survey below and return it to Mr Pinard or the school office. 1. What places do you most like to visit? 2. What is the location? 3. Why do you like to visit?
There will be an event on 14 September where you will be invited to come along and find out much more about this exciting opportunity to discover a whole new world of activities and interests. This event will take place at the Junior School site at 7.30pm. Please SAVE THE DATE
4. Where do you look for places to visit? 5. What uniformed or groups outside of the school day do you attend? 6. We would like to expand the opportunities for children to learn within the local area and expand the learning destinations they could visit. As parents and employees would it be possible for children to visit your place of employment? 7. Would you or your employer consider becoming a learning destination?
8. Please would you tell us where you work and or the nature of your employment?
Please provide the following information so that we can contact you. Full Name Contact tel. E mail address
Tell us your news We would be delighted to hear back from you about any of the topics in this edition. Call Yolanda on 07770 347616 or email her at yhouston@ashdown.e-sussex.sch.uk