What is Children’s University?
Essentially, Children’s University (CU) is an exciting way for your child to learn through having fun and be recognised and rewarded for it. CU is a national charitable trust designed to develop a love of learning by encouraging children to take part in a range of extra-curricular activities, led by their own curiosity and interests. Extra-curricular is anything outside of the classroom. Here in Doncaster, CU is delivered by our dedicated team at Doncaster College.
Who can join Doncaster CU?
Any child living in Doncaster can join. It is typically for ages 5-14 and up to 25 for those with SEND, but we are flexible and are willing to offer membership to children and young people outside of this age range if they take part in extra-curricular activities. If your child’s school has joined us from September 2020 onwards, your child will be set up with a free CU account. If their school joined before September 2020 and they do not have an account, please contact us and we will set them one up for free.
When does it take place?
Whenever your child is participating in a voluntary extra-curricular activity. This includes activities which take place within school either before and after lessons and during lunch time and breaks. It can also be outside of school at clubs and organisations your child visits including at weekends and holidays, and activities they do at home.
How does it work?
In a nutshell, children and young people:
- Are set up with a CU Online account
- They collect CU hours for each activity they do at CU ‘Learning Destinations’ and certain activities at home and enter a unique stamp code assigned to that activity to claim the hours earnt on CU Online
- If their school has joined CU, the extra-curricular hours they do in school (After-school clubs, trips and residentials) will be recorded by our team
- They are then rewarded with our bespoke CU certificates
- Providing they have earnt one certificate during the year, they are invited to a graduation ceremony at Doncaster College & University centre
My child’s school isn’t part of CU, how can my child become a member?
Simply fill in a membership form and email it to childrens.university@don.ac.uk. We will set your child up with a free CU Online account and will send you their login details along with some further information.
The membership form can be found in the downloads section of this page.
CU Online
You/your child will record and track their hours using their CU Online account. CU Online has now replaced the previous e-passport system and the physical counting of Passports to Learning. The use of a Passport to Learning is now optional and can be used if you/your child prefers to have a physical log of their CU hours but they will no longer be counted in school unless you are instructed otherwise by your child’s school. If you are unsure you can also ask the CU team and we will be able to advise.
Please see our CU Online: How to use guide (coming soon).
For a fully comprehensive guide to Children’s University, including detailed information on how your child can earn CU hours and how those hours will be monitored, please see our Guide for Parents (coming soon).
Volunteer for us
We are always looking for parents/guardians and other family members to join us as a CU Parent Ambassador. This involves minimal work but helps CU in your child’s school enormously and overall improves CU for your children. For more information and to get involved as a Parent Ambassador click here.