Parents/Carers

Before you decide to join Children's Univeristy, please take some time to read about how the Passport To Learning works. The general Parents' Guide covers all school based membership.

We have recently started working with Home Educated children, and the guidance below illustrates how they can access our programe.

Children's University structure

Children's University is run by the Children's University (CU) Trust. It operates through more than 80 local centres, with a further 25 in planning. Local Children's University centres are almost always a partnership between several organisations, and membership is managed at school level. To find your nearest local Children's University please click here.

School membership fees and costs for children are decided by the local Children's University but are generally based on a contribution according to the size of the school and include a small charge for the Passport To Learning per pupil taking part in the scheme.

Children's University learning

Activities must take place outside the normal school day and are always voluntary. The learning is linked to Higher Education course provision as exemplified on www.ucas.com/students/coursesearch - in other words: if you can aspire to do a degree in it, the Children's University wants to know! Activities can include clubs which run before school, during lunchtime, after school or at weekends and during holidays. As part of the school's commitment to the Children's University, a small number of staff are required to become CU Validators and asked to assure the quality of learning offered as part of the local Children's University provision. Through this process the school becomes a restricted Learning Destination. 

In addition to school based activities, there is a growing number of recognised Learning Destinations in the wider community. Nationally there are over 1,800 public Learning Destinations which you can find by following the link on the home page.

Recognising and rewarding participation

Children's University students use Passports To Learning in which they record the number of hours of completed CU validated learning activities. Children are encouraged to progress through the CU Certification scheme, based on the number of hours of attendance throughout their involvement with the Children's University. bronze, silver and gold certificates are awarded at CU Undergraduate, CU Postgraduate and CU Doctorate levels. The certificates are usually presented at a graduation ceremony organised through the local Children's University. To find out more about CU Certification, please click here.

If your school is interested in becoming part of the Children's University, please contact your nearest local Children's University Manager in the first instance.

What does it all cost?

Your child's school will explain how it works locally. Many of the school-based clubs are free, but the usual charges will apply for public clubs and places of interest.

What do I do next?

You can find out more about the Children's University on this website. Use the search facility to locate your nearest local Children's University and the publicly accessible Learning Destinations in your area. You can also enquire at your child's school to find out if they are involved in the Children's University. If you have any questions, ideas or you are simply interested in supporting the work of the Children's University in your area, please contact your local Children's University Manager in the first instance.

Guidance Notes

Passport to Learning Guide for Parents & Carers

Elective Home Education Guidance