Children’s University (CU) supports and encourages every child to reach their potential and become the very best they can be. Supporting children and young people to learn and celebrating their achievements has never been more important.

Local and national research shows that children and young people develop their confidence, aspirations and love of learning from the skills, characteristics and passions they develop both in and beyond the classroom.

CU motivates children and young people from the age of 5 to try new learning experiences in and outside of school; at breakfast, lunchtime and after school clubs and in their own time, in the local library, museum, sports club or exploring learning activities further afield.

Culminating in an inspirational graduation ceremony, this learning adventure gives children and young people the opportunity to enrich their childhoods, nurture a lifelong love of learning, unlock their skills and talents and develop their aspirations and confidence, regardless of their backgrounds.

How does it work?

Children and young people receive 1 CU credit per hour they participate in voluntary enrichment activities, and this is celebrated through a national award scheme from the CU Trust beginning with a Bronze award for 30 hours and progressing to a Gold Fellowship for 1000 hours. With 30 steps along the way, children and young people take control of their own learning journey, working through their awards at their own pace. CU credits can be earned at school-based activities or at activities delivered in communities by approved activity providers (‘Learning Destinations’) such as uniformed groups, sports, arts, music, outdoor activities or even visits to museums, libraries, animal parks and more.

At regular intervals, children, young people and their families are invited to celebrate their commitment to learning in their own time, by receiving their CU award from a VIP at a graduation-style award ceremony, proudly wearing their cap and gown in front of families, friends and school staff.

In addition to their CU awards, children and young people can see at a glance which of the Skills Builder skills they’re developing as a result of their participation in CU activities. The language associated with essential life skills is woven through all CU activities and events, emphasising their importance and supporting children and young people to understand their lifelong relevance from an early age.

Children’s University in South Yorkshire

Like many other local CU centres operating across the UK as part of the Children’s University Trust, there are CU centres in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, each having their local identity and priorities, and working to support the needs of children, young people, families and schools in their own areas.

However, thanks to current investment from Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield as part of their civic agreements, they have now joined forces under the ‘South Yorkshire CU’ banner to work collaboratively. This enables the four CU centres to share best practice, develop new and innovative opportunities for schools, and to support children and families to engage and participate in their local area and beyond.

How does it make a difference?

At Children’s University, we believe in providing children with a unique and enriching educational experience that goes beyond the classroom.

The CU adventure is more than just an educational journey; it’s a pathway to instilling the joy of learning in young minds, fostering a deep sense of curiosity about the world around them, and nurturing the confidence and aspirations that will shape their brightest futures. We take pride in the profound impact our approach has on the lives of children, as evidenced not just by local and national research but by the tangible results and testimonials from those who have experienced the magic of Children’s University.

Sheffield Children’s University – How does it make a difference?

Each year Sheffield Children’s University analyses the impact of Children’s University participation in Sheffield. This report provides an analysis of results in Sheffield comparing academic performance in Key Stage 2 SATS taken in year 6 at primary school, and Key Stage 4 GCSE’s taken in year 11 with participation in Children’s University activities. Year on year, results of this analysis have continually shown a clear link between participation in Children’s University and achievement and attendance at school.

Furthermore, a number of case studies and results of parent/carer surveys evidence the postive impact CU has all those who take part. In a recent survey, over 80% of parents/carers said being part of CU in Sheffield has increased their child’s confidence and self esteem as well as their physical and mental well-being and helped them develop the life skills they need to succeed.

Find the most recent published report here:

Sheffield Children’s University | Sheffield City Council Sheffield Children’s University | Sheffield City CouncilSheffield Children’s University | Sheffield City Council 

Learning Beyond The Classroom: The State of the Nation 2023

Since 2021 the national CU Trust has published an annual State of the Nation report, sharing insights into the state of learning beyond the classroom based on data from their digital platform, Children’s University Online (CUO).

You can find this report here:.

State of the Nation | Children’s University (childrensuniversity.co.uk) 

EEF - Children's University Evaluation

In 2017 the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) released an evaluation of Children’s University. Like us, their fundamental mission is to ensure that the education of young people offers a level playing field that enables each and every child to aspire, attain, and succeed.

Designed to assess the efficacy of extracurricular activities in increasing attainment and providing important life skills and attitudes, the project’s positive feedback serves to reiterate our firmly held belief in the worth and importance of learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Results showed that children participating in Children’s University made 2 months additional progress in maths and reading at KS2. For those on Free School Meals this was 3 months.

You can download a summary and the full report on EEF’s website here:

Children’s University | EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk) 

Nesta, University of Sussex and Skills Builder: The impact of Children’s University on the development of essential skills in children

In 2021 the CU Trust published the results of a research project into the impact of Children’s University on the development of essential skills in children aged 11+.

Funded by Nesta and supported by the University of Sussex, results from the project showed a direct link between participation in Children’s University and the use and improvement in essential skills development in line with the Skills Builder Framework. This is the first report that accurately illustrates and quantifies the impact that CU has on skills development.

You can find this report here:

full-report-the-impact-of-cu-on-the-development-of-essential-skills.pdf (childrensuniversity.co.uk) 

Children's University and Ofsted

Children’s University’s focus on activities beyond the classroom is a great fit for Ofsted’s revised guidance on character education and personal development.

In a recent South Yorkshire CU school Ofsted report, inspectors commented that ‘pupils enjoy taking part in ‘Children’s University’, where they learn to broaden their life experiences to better prepare them for adulthood.’  (Kiveton Park Infant School, June 2023)

Find the full report here:

50220658 (ofsted.gov.uk) 

Children’s University and Personal Development

Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework (July 2023) places a strong emphasis on personal development, encouraging schools to nurture pupils' interests and talents beyond the classroom.

Children’s University directly aligns with this priority by offering a structured framework that supports you to provide diverse and meaningful opportunities, helping your pupils develop essential skills, confidence, and a lifelong passion for learning.

By joining CU, your school can:

• Enrich      the Curriculum: Broaden your pupils’ horizons with extracurricular      activities that complement and enhance classroom learning.

• Celebrate      Success: Recognise achievements to build your pupils’ confidence,      pride, and resilience for future challenges.

• Foster      Citizenship: Inspire your pupils to engage with their communities,      develop their leadership skills and grow into responsible, active      citizens.

• Promote      Well-being: Encourage active lifestyles to support physical, mental,      and emotional health.

• Inspire      Lifelong Learning: Equip your pupils with essential life skills,      positive character traits, and a strong foundation for future success.

CU and Personal Development: A Winning Formula

Quotes from recent school Ofsted reports

“The school’s work with Children’s University, focusing on improving pupils’ life chances and promoting inclusion, has provided an admirable extension of opportunities for pupils, including a recent visit to learn about the work of a local hospital.”

“Pupils enjoy taking part in the ‘children’s university’, where they learn to broaden their life experiences to better prepare them for adulthood.”

Get involved

Children’s University works with many different organisations. To find out more, get in touch!

Schools

As well as the national CU certificates for your pupils, your school will have access to a range of detailed reports on engagement, skills developed & impact including target groups.

CU membership also entitles your school to access a number of bespoke projects, resources and exciting opportunities throughout the year as well as access to a full information pack, network sessions, training & support for staff to develop the school’s programme of enrichment activities.

Schools can sign up to their Children’s University centre by contacting their local CU team for more information.

Activity providers

CU are always looking for new activity providers to join Children’s University and become a validated ‘Learning Destination’.

This means that children and young people could earn CU credits at your learning activities. There are lots of opportunities for your organisation in addition to the external accreditation that CU brings, including free publicity and promotion of your activities in local activity newsletters covering school holidays, direct links into schools across the region, opportunities to promote your activities at graduation ceremonies for families and conferences and network meetings for school staff. They don’t burden you with lots of admin or paperwork, instead they give you access to resources, opportunities and much, much more.

The process to join is quick and easy, and FREE! Upload some basic information here, and your local CU Team will be in touch.

Businesses, Partners, and Other Organisations

Participation in Children's University activities has been shown to contribute to improvements in attendance, achievement, and attitudes to learning for pupils of all ages. This impact has also been observed in South Yorkshire. Beyond these outcomes, South Yorkshire Children’s University (CU) aims to help children and young people recognise their development of essential life skills through participation in CU activities. By embedding skill development throughout all CU activities and tracking progress as part of the awards scheme, the organisation continually reinforces the importance and relevance of these skills to its members and their families.

The business community in South Yorkshire plays a crucial role in supporting this mission. By introducing children and young people to a diverse range of career fields, businesses can help broaden their awareness of opportunities they may not have otherwise encountered.

This support could take various forms, such as the co-production of case studies featuring local professionals and their career journeys or their current roles.

Additionally, businesses and organisations can facilitate tours and visits to workplaces such as shops, factories, offices, zoos, hospitals, colleges, universities, fire stations, and police stations, offering inspiration to the next generation of workers.

Collaboration can also extend to larger-scale projects, such as the annual ‘Project in a Box.’ This initiative involves developing session plans, resources, and equipment, alongside providing basic training to school staff, enabling them to deliver CU clubs in schools.

At both local and regional levels, South Yorkshire CU is seeking sponsorship and in-kind donations to support various aspects of its work, including graduation-style award ceremonies, projects, and resources.

For further information, or to explore opportunities to support South Yorkshire CU’s mission—whether locally or regionally—interested organisations are encouraged to contact the South Yorkshire CU team.