A message from Penny

On my last day with Sheffield City Council, I would like to say thank you for my cake, the flowers, my certificate and goodbye gifts, and most of all for eight amazing years working with wonderful people to grow the Children's University. It is a dream that has come true thanks to those who have joined forces with us to celebrate out of school hours learning and to try and ensure that allchildren experience the pleasure and satisfaction of investing their own time in developing skills that will lead to a lifelong passion for learning. There are now over 15,000 children in Sheffield who are involved in the Children's University, who have received certificates and badges and who are building their own impressive portfolios of achievement.  There is a brilliant team in Sheffield City Council spreading the message that learning is wonderful,  learning is fun. As well as Katie, Helen, Toby and Mark from the Extended Learning Team there are hundreds of other colleagues in the City Council, in schools, voluntary and independent organisations, linking into Children's University and working hard to create the best possible opportunities for children and young people. I am sure that in another thirty years or so we will be celebrating 50 years of a national Children's University that it is as widely known and valued as is the Open University.  CU is a university without walls, the first step to lifelong learning. And in Sheffield it shines.  Thank you and good luck.  Penny