Reconnect 2021-2022
12-months' Kent Children's University
family membership - 50% discount for the months of August and
September!
Kent Children's University celebrates children's
out-of-school achievement by encouraging and rewarding learning
through engaging activities.
Whilst Children's University used to be a solely school-based
programme, we opened it more widely to families, where a child's
school was not involved or if the child was electively home
educated.
Working in partnership with
Kent County Council's Reconnect programme this Summer, we
can offer children not involved with Children's University through
a school a discounted enrolled fee of £12.50 for the year.
When children join, they are given a Passport to
Learning, together with a login for Children's University
Online.
Children and families use Children's University
Online to search for fun and enjoyable learning activities
that take place outside normal school time. Activities range
from trips to tourist destinations, music lessons, sessions in
sports clubs, learning a language and much, much more.
Families can also access a range of free or low-cost materials to
complete at home, such as a number of seasonal Children's
University Challenges. The list of learning activities is
growing so the opportunities are endless.
Children's University is all about developing practical and
personal skills, building confidence, and discovering new interests
and talents beyond the classroom.
We believe that learning outside school plays a vital role
in helping children's development as young learners, confident
individuals, and responsible citizens - as well as being vital to
their wider well-being. That is why we work hard to bring together
a network of high-quality learning providers in the areas we work,
and to engage and support children to take part.
Children who participate in Children's University can learn in a
rich range of contexts at home or further afield, experience new
places, visit universities and attend their own graduation
ceremonies. This adventure introduces children to the joy of
learning, brings a sense of wonder in the world around them and
develops their confidence and aspirations for the brightest
futures.
Where might your family's adventure with Kent Children's
University take you this year?
What is included in this £12.50
membership?
This particular Reconnect KCU Membership package will last for
12 months* from the date of purchase and will include:
- Reconnect Welcome Pack containing a uniquely numbered Passport
to Learning - to log hours of participation at Learning
Destinations across the country and validated at-home
activities
- Children's University Online account to log hours of
participation in learning
- Access to fun learning activities at a range of national
visitor attractions
- Occasions for discounted, or free access, to a range of
activities with tourist destinations nationally
- Free activities for families to complete in the home, such as
Challenges and competitions
- Termly eNewsletters offering information about new Learning
Destinations, discounts, achievements and opportunities
- Certificates at national milestones
- Gowned Graduation Ceremonies at one of three Universities in
Kent
- CU lectures and workshops (potentially from 2022 onwards)
* Should you wish to continue with KCU beyond September 2022,
you will be emailed with details for how to renew your membership
in the August.
What is Children's University™?
The Children's University™ (CU) aims to promote exciting
learning opportunities and experiences outside normal school hours
for children aged 5 to 14. At the heart of its work is the ambition
to raise aspirations, boost achievement and foster a love of
learning, so that young people can make the most of their abilities
and interests.
What is a Learning
Destination?
Learning Destinationsare places and organisations to which
children can 'travel' with theirPassport to Learning. They
provide high quality learning activities and experiences with a
'wow' factor andhave passed the Children's University's™ own
quality assurance process. As well as being an after-school
or holiday activity organised by the school, aLearning
Destinationcan range from a museum to a farm, or from an airport to
a school.There areLearning Destinationsacross the country.
Validated sites display Learning Destination signs to
demonstrate that they have been Quality Assured by Children's
University.
You can find out more about them by visiting www.childrensuniversity.co.uk
Recognising and rewarding
participation
Children's University™ students usePassports to Learning,in
which they record the number of hours of completed CU validated
learning activities. Children are encouraged to progress through
the national certification scheme, based on the number of hours of
attendance throughout their involvement with the Children's
University™.
In Kent and Medway, children can earn Learning Credits in five
ways:
- Through their school's Validated extra-curricular activities
(if their school is part of Kent Children's University™).
- 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.
- By taking part in activities with organisations that are
Validated Learning Partners. These Learning Partners can be found
on the National Children's University™ website too.
- Through completion of at-home tasks and Challenges. These are
promoted through the Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as the
eNewsletters.
- Looking to be re-established in 2022: By participating in
a CU Live! lecture and workshop. These sessions are organised by
Kent Children's University™ and are open to all children across the
country. The activities would take place during the school
holiday periods.
Information about past and future activities can be found
through our Social Media channels and eNewsletters.
What does a Children's University
Graduation ceremony look like?
Children's University graduation ceremonies are held at real
'grown-up' universities. Children wear real caps and gowns as they
step onstage to receive their awards and certificates. It is a
great evening out for the children, their families, friends, and
teachers.
These are inspirational and memorable events that send a
powerful message of encouragement to children and parents:if you
enjoy doing something, and persevere at it, you can achieve great
things!
Learning outside school plays a vital role in helping children's
development as young learners, confident individuals, and
responsible citizens - as well as being vital to their wider
well-being. Children's University works hard to bring together a
network of high-quality learning providers in the local area and
nationally, and to engage and support children to take part.
Regardless of how far a child progresses through awards,
Children's University recognises and celebrates the individual
journey they took to get there: the commitment and perseverance
they showed, their willingness to try new things, and the new
skills and interests they built along the way.
What is Children's University
Online?
Children's University Online is our new digital platform that is
a fun, safe, and secure online space for participants to record
what they are doing. Children will be able to use this alongside
their Passport to Learning, collecting Learning Credits in their
passports that can then be posted online where they will unlock
additional information about their activities.
When children take part in a Children's University activity,
they make a note of it in their Passport to
Learning. Then they log-in to Children's University Online
to claim their digital Learning Credits. By adding their
Learning Credits to Children's University Online children will
unlock further information, showing them the interests and skills,
they are developing through participation. All children will have
their very own dashboard which will help them see how they are
progressing towards the next award level; reflect on the skills
they are building and help them find new activities. There are also
online-only exclusive badges that can be collected between
graduations.
Why become involved with Kent Children's
University?
Children's University is a charity that works in partnership
with schools and families to develop a love of learning in
children. This is achieved by encouraging and celebrating
participation in extra-curricular activities in and outside of
school. An
EEF evaluation has shown the impact of these activities
leads to an additional two months of progress. This positive
evidence is why Children's University is a valuable tool in
creating a level playing field of opportunity and opening-up access
to children of all backgrounds.
By the time a child turns 18,
they will have spent just 9% of their waking life in a
classroom. Children's University is about making the most of
the remaining 91%.
Research shows that participation in extra-curricular activities
can positively impact on attainment, increase a pupil's positive
identification with school, build self-confidence and resilience.
Research also shows that children that do not have access to these
opportunities fall behind, lack confidence, and fail to develop
career aspirations. The resulting attainment gap is so significant
that 25% of children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds
achieve below expected attainment levels.
Children who participate in Children's University can learn in a
rich range of contexts, experience new places, visit universities,
and attend their own graduation ceremonies. This adventure
introduces children to the joy of learning, brings a sense of
wonder in the world around them and develops their confidence and
aspirations for the brightest futures. Children's University know
what it does works and has an incredible impact on the lives of
children.
For every child that takes part in Children's University, we
want the following outcomes:
- Feel they have grown in confidence and self-belief
- Enjoyed new experiences, in new places and want to keep
exploring
- Believe they have a broader range of essential skills
- Feel empowered to make positive choices about their future
- See learning that is fun, aspirational and lifelong
- Feel their eyes have been opened to a multiplicity of learning
activities and opportunities
- Feel celebrated for their commitment to learning by their
family, school, and community.
You can find out more about Kent Children's University
here.
