Millie's Passport Adventures!

Our lovely Millie has been out and about with her Passport to Learning all summer and has been having lots of fun collecting CU credits both in and outside of Sheffield!

She has met the Gruffalo in both Sherwood AND Dalby Forest, had fun pond dipping and taking part in a barefoot walk at Conkers, been on a bear hunt at the Botanical Gardens, met Victor the polar bear, the newest addition to Yorkshire Wildlife Park and travelled to London to meet the Queen (although unfortunately she was on holiday!). She will soon receive a Bronze Award for all the hours she has collected, and we can't wait to celebrate her achievements!

To all those fantastic children and young people who have been sending in photos for our summer competitions showing the credits they have gained both in and outside of Sheffield, just like Millie - thank you! The closing date is for submission is Monday 1st September, so please ensure you send any photos in over the weekend to be in with a chance of winning some CU goodies. Stay tuned for all the entries which will be posted here soon!

Calling all Parent/Carers...!

If you and your children have been busy taking part in activities at Learning Destinations outside of Sheffield, please fill in a Learning Destination Diary Sheet so their credits can be included. This is incredibly important, as its the only way we know where you have been, and how many credits to add in!

To ensure they can be included in the next round of awards, which will be issued in October/November, please send all diary sheets into us by 1st September 2014. Please note we cannot guarantee that any sheets received after this date will be input in time for the Autumn ceremonies. You can find the diary sheet by clicking the link of the right hand side of the page.

Also if your child attends an activity at one of our Sheffield Learning Destinations, please remind the activity leader to send in their registers by the 1st September too! Thank you!

The Golden Rules - Passport to Learning

If you have your Passport to Learning and are busy taking part in lots of fun activities this summer, don't forget the golden rules to make sure your credits count!

1. Learning Destination - the Passport to Learning can only be used at activities that take place at CU approved activity providers. Visit http://bit.ly/1AaKfav for a full list! If someone is not on the list, tell them about us, and us about them!

2. Consent sticker - make sure the consent sticker is signed by a parent/carer before you take your Passport to any Learning Destination

3. Register - your name MUST be put on a register at a Learning Destination in Sheffield. They send it to us, and without it, we can't award your credits!

4. Diary Sheet - if you visit a Learning Destination beyond Sheffield you need to complete and return a diary sheet and we'll know to award your credits. You can download one here: www.sheffield.gov.uk/cu

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the team by emailing cu@sheffield.gov.uk

Evidencing the impact of CU in Sheffield

Any school, or Learning Destination will tell you that being part of CU and being celebrated and rewarded for taking part in out of school activities makes a difference.

Here in Sheffield, we do lots of work looking at the impact of participation in these activities, through lots of data analysis, but also through case studies and anecdotal evidence collected from schools, providers, parents and the children themselves. For the first time we will publish a complete report which outlines the real difference being part of CU in Sheffield can make.

This will be our most detailed report to date and includes in depth analysis of the impact of participation in CU activities on attainment and attendance, using a variety of measures including progress and Fischer Family Trust estimates. Impact of the most vulnerable children and young people in our city is also examined.

This report will be published VERY soon, but in the meantime, here is a sneak peek at the front cover which is hot off the press! We can't wait for you to see it!

Sheffield CU Summer Competition!

Don't forget about our 2 summer competitions and be in the running to receive an extra special Sheffield CU goodie bag!

Competition 1: Take a photo of you with your Passport to Learning at any Learning Destination outside of Sheffield and email it into us, telling us where you were (CU@sheffield.gov.uk) no later than Friday 5th September 2014 and the best photo will win a Sheffield CU goodie bag!

Competition 2: Whose Passport to Learning will travel the furthest? Whoever sends us their photo from the Learning Destination furthest from our office in Sheffield, will win a Sheffield CU goodie bag!

We have already received some fantastic photos - send yours in as soon as you can!

*please note: the photo must not contain images of anyone else (even in the background) and by emailing it into us, you agree to it being used for promotional purposes both in publications and on the internet.

Lots more Passport fun right on Sheffield's doorstep!

We hope you are enjoying the summer holidays so far, and managing to get out and about collecting credits in your Passports to Learning! There are LOADS of activities happening at our Learning Destinations here in Sheffield – why not click the link to the right and download our Passport Activity Newsletter for some ideas and also for the list of Learning Destinations?

Wanting to venture further afield? Then why not try a few of these Learning Destinations below? They’re all no further than about an hour from Sheffield, so easy to visit in a day.

DON’T FORGET: to collect your credits from Learning Destinations BEYOND Sheffield, get your Passport stamped/signed and you MUST download, complete and return one of our Learning Destination Visit Diary sheets for each place you visit. Once we have received your diary sheet, we’ll be able to award you with your well-earned credits! If you click the link to the right, you can download one of the diary sheets now!

Please email us your photos of you at the Learning Destinations with your Passport to Learning (to CU@sheffield.gov.uk). The best photo will win a special CU goody bag and there’s also a prize for the Passport to Learning stamped at the Learning Destination furthest from our office!

Have fun and let us know what you learned!

*please note: the photo must not contain images of anyone else (even in the background) and by emailing it into us, you agree to it being used for promotional purposes both in publications and on the internet

- The Deep, Hull

The Deep is one of the most spectacular aquariums in the world and is home to a whopping 3,500 fish including Europe’s only pair of green sawfish, spectacular sharks and rays and NEW FOR 2014 - a colony of Gentoo penguins.

Located in Hull, The Deep tells the amazing story of the world's oceans through stunning marine life, fun interactives and audio-visual presentations making it a fun-filled family day out for all ages. As an education and conservation charity, The Deep is dedicated to informing visitors about the world’s oceans and the challenges they face.

- Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster

The UK’s no.1 walkthrough wildlife adventure! Wander around this fantastic park, learning brilliant facts about all the animals from the tigers and leopards, to giraffes and lions! 

Get up close and personal to the lemurs in lemur woods, and stand face to face with the meerkats. You might even get to hold a snake or spider…if you’re brave enough!

- Peveril Castle, Castleton

Explore the ruins of Peveril Castle standing high above the pretty village of Castleton in the heart of Derbyshire’s Peak District. Mentioned in the Domesday survey, Peveril Castle is one of England’s earliest Norman fortresses. 

The keep was built by Henry II in 1176. An energetic climb to the castle at the top of the hill will reward you with the breathtaking views over the Hope Valley. Explore the remains of the keep including the garderobe (medieval toilet)! DON’T FORGET: download and print the Step Inside activity pack before you go!

- Chatsworth House, Derbyshire

Explore the historic house, discover fascinating stories and enjoy one of Europe's most significant art collections. Discover 105 acres of garden with giant water features, sculpture, beautiful flowers and magnificent views of the park – perfect for a picnic! 

Meet the animals in the animal farm, see how the farm is run and enjoy adventurous fun in the playground, including the climbing forest. The 1000 acre park, the Farm shop and its restaurant are open all year round, for everyone to enjoy.

- Heights of Abraham, near Matlock, Derbyshire

Looking for a great day out, in the Peak District, Derbyshire? Then a day out at Matlock and an exciting ride ‘up the mountain’ on the cable car is just the start!

When the cable car arrives at the summit you have FREE ACCESS to the Caverns, Exhibitions and Hilltop Park.

- Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Sherwood Forest near Mansfield

Sherwood Pines Forest Park is a fantastic and inspiring place to experience the outdoors. There is something for everyone all year round, from walking and family cycling to mountain biking, Go Ape and adventure play.  

Oh Help! Oh no! It’s a Gruffalo! Yes, really! Until the end of September, you can go on your very own Gruffalo hunt around the deep, dark woods!

- Yorkshire Sculpture Park, near Wakefield

The only one of its kind, Yorkshire Sculpture Park is an international centre for modern and contemporary art, experienced and enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year. Explore open-air displays by some of the world’s finest artists, enjoy fascinating exhibitions throughout four stunning galleries, be inspired by the natural beauty of an historic estate, and get involved in a dynamic line up of events and activities. 

Take along a picnic to enjoy in the beautiful parkland! Only 10 minutes from the National Coal Mining Museum – why not combine the two in a day?!

- National Coal Mining Museum, near Wakefield

The National Coal Mining Museum for England provides a great day out with a unique opportunity to travel 140 metres underground down one of Britain's oldest working mines. Situated in a rural setting, it offers an unusual combination of exciting experiences, whilst providing a genuine insight into the hard-working lives of miners through the ages. 

A visit to the National Coal Mining Museum for England is a unique day out – whatever the weather! A highlight for many visitors, is the chance to go back in time and deep underground to discover the hidden world of mining through the centuries, but there is also so much more to see and do across the Museum, above ground, indoors and out! Only 10 minutes from the Yorkshire Sculpture Park – why not combine the two in a day?!


- Conkers Activity Centre, near Swadlincote, South Derbyshire

Enjoy the Great Outdoors at Conkers! Take it slow and explore the 120 acres of maturing woodlands, lakes, ponds and play areas - or go wild and take the 18 stage Assault course challenge. Indoors there’s lots and lots to experience - and the weather can’t spoil your fun. 

Delve into the life of a British Woodland with over 100 indoor interactive exhibits in our four seasonal zones. Or experience the Enchanted Forest full of adventure and discovery climbing through the treetops and along rope walkways!


These are just a sample of the hundreds of Learning Destinations beyond Sheffield. For even more, visit the national CU Trust website: www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/maps

Did You Know?

We have been uncovering lots of exciting facts about Sheffield CU this week after some analysing of our data. Some of them have even surprised the team here at Sheffield CU HQ, hopefully they will surprise you too!

Here are 5 fantastic facts about Children's University here in Sheffield:

- EVERY school in Sheffield now has at least 1 child who has CU credits! That includes primaries, secondaries and special schools.

- 38% of all Sheffield children and young people on roll have CU credits - thats over a third of all school age children!

- There are now 25,811 children and young people in Sheffield who have CU credits


-There is a almost an even split between girls and boys, there are currently 12,895 girls, 12,916 boys who have CU credits in Sheffield.

- Collectively, they have clocked up a massive 1,127,083 hours of learning in their own time at one of our 56 schools, or one of our 114 Learning Destinations using the Passport to Learning.


Don't forget you can keep up to date with all things Sheffield CU on Facebook or Twitter. You can also find out more info about Sheffield CU by visiting our website: www.sheffield.gov.uk/cu