Important Information about the Passport to Learning

You may have seen that we recently achieved the magnificent total of 2 MILLION HOURS of extra learning undertaken by the children and young people who are CU members in Sheffield – a fantastic achievement for the thousands of members across the city!

Even as our CU grows (we now have around 37,000 children who have taken part in CU in Sheffield), we continue to face increasing pressures on our budgets as part of the City Council. The day-to-day costs of all our resources including card and printing for certificates, badges, award ceremonies etc. continue to increase alongside other costs and ultimately this does impact on us, and the service we provide. Of course, we work really hard to minimise the impact of this on schools, Learning Destinations and families but sometimes this is just not possible.

We introduced the Passport to Learning over 6 years ago and in that time, we have been able to keep the cost exactly the same. However, a significant price increase from the CU Trust a few years ago means that Passports now cost us a lot more to buy in. Whilst we have been able to absorb some of these costs since then, we are now in a position where we need to increase the price of the Passport in order to be able to deliver our service.

As such, from 1st April 2017, the price of each Passport to Learning will increase to £3.50 each. They are currently £2.00 each.

As always, Passports to Learning are available for the new price of £3.50 each from all Sheffield Libraries. Some schools (which are subscribed to Sheffield CU) also sell Passports to Learning too.

This is a decision we have not taken lightly as we fully appreciate the impact this may have. However, in order to continue delivering Sheffield CU and all the activities, events and award ceremonies, we now need to introduce the price increase.

Don’t forget: there are a number of fantastic activities available at our Learning Destinations across the Easter holidays – take part and collect CU credits in your Passport to Learning! Download our Easter Newsletter here: https://goo.gl/FzyZh8 to find information about the events. You can also use your Passport to Learning to collect CU credits at Learning Destinations across the country too!

Planning your Easter fun?

Are you planning your Easter fun? The Children's University Passport to Learning newsletter which includes details of activities happening across Sheffield during the Easter is now available!

Click HERE, or the link at the side of this blog to start planning now!

Children and young people who take along a Passport to Learning to all the activities listed in the newsletter will be able to earn additional CU credits at these activities. There's also an up to date list and contact details of our validated Learning Destinations. If you don't have a Passport to Learning yet, don't worry! You can pop into Sheffield libraries across the city and buy one for the bargain price of £2!

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2 MILLION HOURS - we did it!

With your fantastic help and continued support, we have reached another very significant milestone here in Sheffield and it’s time to CELEBRATE!

Children and young people in Sheffield have clocked up over 2 MILLION HOURS of learning in their own time.

Children from Prince Edward Primary School

Since Children’s University arrived in Sheffield, 37,000 children and young people from across the city have been taking part in a wide range of exciting and fun learning activities out of school time. These activities have taken place in and around school, or in the community at ‘Learning Destinations’ across the city and every single hour has been recorded, awarded, and celebrated by Sheffield Children’s University.

Children from Southey Green Community Primary School & Nurseries

That’s because we feel it’s really important to add value to existing activities and reward and celebrate children and young people for choosing to learn in their own time. Not only does it increase their confidence, self-esteem and motivation, it has a real impact on their learning. Extensive local and national research shows a clear link between participation in CU activities and increased attendance and achievement at school. Children and young people who take part in CU activities not only do better in school than non CU students, they also do better than they were expected to.

Children from Fox Hill Primary School

We love to celebrate here at Sheffield CU, and we have lots of reasons! Just less than 3 years ago we celebrated achieving 1 million hours with over 24,000 children and young people involved, 50 schools subscribed, 100 Learning Destinations, 25 ceremonies, 5,000 Gold Award winners, 30,000+ Bronze and Silver Awards and 10,000 Passports to Learning in circulation.

Today with over 2 million hours recorded, rewarded and celebrated, there are a whopping 37,000 children and young people with CU credits! We currently have 70 schools subscribed to CU and over 200 Learning Destinations! We have hosted 54 special Award Ceremonies and presented over 10,000 Gold Award winners (100, 200, 300 hours etc) and 50,000+ Bronze and Silver Awards. There are 15,000 Passports to Learning in circulation too! WOW!!!

Children from Hartley Brook Primary Academy

Of course, none of this would be possible without our fantastic schools, Learning Destinations and partners. Through their hard work, dedication, and willingness to go above and beyond, we have been able to grow and develop CU in Sheffield to reach this magnificent achievement. And to the army of children, young people and families of our city who are part of CU in Sheffield - you are an inspiration.

There will be a press release shortly, but we couldn’t wait to share this special news with you first!

Katie, Helen, Sakina and Molly

The Sheffield CU Team

The Sheffield CU Acorn Fund

Towards the end of last year, we were thrilled to be able to offer another round of the Sheffield CU Acorn Fund to children and young people at our CU subscribed schools. 

Students from Yewlands Academy receive their cheque to fund their Animation Club

For those who don't know, the Acorn Fund is awarded to groups of children and young people from any Sheffield Children’s University school to use to develop out of school clubs and activities in school. The idea is that just like a tiny acorn grows into a huge oak tree, children and young people can use a small amount of money from the Acorn Fund to grow a wonderful club or activity in their school. The opportunity to bid for funds through this project is one of the many benefits for schools who are part of Sheffield CU, and enables us to empower children and young people to take ownership of their out of school programme and encourages consultation and good practice.

Children from Oughtibridge Primary School receive equipment for their Acorn Funded Nature Club!

This time around, 15 groups of children and young people from our CU schools put together successful bids and were awarded with the funds requested to develop and deliver their own CU activities in school. We were very impressed with the amount of research and consultation that was evidenced in many of the applications we received and were delighted to be able to support the start up of 15 different CU clubs!

Children from St Mary's CE receive their Acorn Fund cheque alongside their Headteacher Lynn Thorne

Some of the fantastic activities this time included climbing/bouldering club, coding club, archery club, nature club, table tennis, gymnastics, sensory club and even animation club! Specially designed cheques were sent into schools to be presented to the children and young people who made the bid and many of the clubs are now up and running in schools. HUGE congratulations to all the children and young people who took part!

A pupil from Southey Green Primary proudly receives their Acorn Fund cheque!