Learning Destination Watch 9 - Spring 2015
Lynne Upton | 0161 907 5214
lynne.upton@childrensuniversity.co.uk|www.childrensuniversity.co.uk
Welcome to the Spring 2015 edition of Learning Destination Watch.
In this edition you will find:




An introduction to our new pack for Learning Destinations which we hope combines the best of the local ideas
you gave us with our refreshed national branding
The full new CU merchandise range
New partnerships for 2015 and a round- up of the Learning Destinations featured at our conference in
December 2014
The latest version of our Parents’ Guide to the Passport
Learning Destination Pack
We are now ready to unveil the two plaque packs available for Learning Destinations and Schools involved with the
Children’s University. The plaque packs make a great welcome to the organisation, providing key information to
Learning Destinations on how the CU works, staff guidance information, branding guidance, suggested text for their
website as well as electronic logos for use on their website and publicity materials.
Learning Destination Plaque Pack
School Plaque Pack
There are numerous benefits to the plaque pack for both public Learning Destinations and Schools including:

Advertising that they are part of the Children’s University, beneficial to Learning Destinations as it encourages
CU members to take part; beneficial for schools, especially in light of the Recent Ofsted reports citing the
positive impact of CU on pupils



Showing that they are provide quality assured, accredited learning
Promotion of their activity through the CU website and App through the interactive search facility as well as
social media
The packs provide a ‘go to’ source of information for new staff members and can be tailored to meet the
needs of individual CUs
The plaque packs are also a revenue stream as they are sold on a profit share arrangement supporting CUs to become
financially sustainable – further details can be found on the plaque pack order form and are summarised below, the
charge is a one off payment and lasts as long as the Learning Destination/School are part of the CU.
Plaques are already in place across the UK. The order form is attached as an appendix to this update and will be
available on the Members Area of the website.
If you would like to find out more or make an order please contact michelle.box@childrensuniversity.co.uk or 0161
907 5304.
Merchandise
Following the successful merchandise pilot project we have made a number of tweaks to the merchandise that was
presented at the Conference in December. The new and exciting range of merchandise will be available from the
middle of February and includes the following items:





Sports bottle
Key ring
Pin badge
Ruck sack
Wristband





Pen
Pencil
Pencil case
Eraser
Ruler
Some merchandise is displayed below; the rest is due to be ready in a few weeks.
Merchandise will again be sold on a profit share arrangement, further details on cost and RRP can be found in the
attached pricing structure document.
The order form is also attached to this update and will be available on the Members Area of the website.
If you would like any further information please contact michelle.box@childrensuniversity.co.uk or 0161 907 5304.
Children’s University partners with Pets at Home
We are excited to be planning a collaboration with Pets at Home which will see their Pet Pals workshops included in
the Passport to Learning for the first time. The partnership begins officially at Easter, but the in store workshops are
already validated for up to 1 hour and will be running over the February half term. Each workshop focuses on a
different group of pets and is led by an expert colleague – all of whom are passionate about sharing their knowledge
with children.
Check out the details with your local store – if passport holders do go along before Easter, they should keep their
certificate of attendance and take it into school so co-ordinator can update the passport.
Forestry Commission
Following the success of ‘Discover your Forest’, an activity designed specifically for CU and available at Forestry
Commission sites nationwide, the Gruffalo’s Child Trail, was subsequently made available to CU students in the
autumn. We have now validated more challenges and downloadable activities with the Forestry Commission – to find
out more go to www.forestry.gov.uk/england-learning
The idea of “Downloadable Challenges” has fired the imagination of several local CUs and thanks to their ingenuity we
are building a great selection of fun, accessible and low cost activities which can change with the seasons and offer
something for everyone. All ideas are welcome as long as they can be shared across the network. As well as seasonal
challenges, we want to develop “themed” challenges around e.g science, art, technology. Have a look and see what
you could add: www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/learning-destinations
Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge
We are keen to refresh our partnership with LoTC as holders of this quality badge are likely to be providing activities
which would fit well with Children’s University. Please check out the Quality Badge holders in your area by going to:
www.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk – click on the ‘Search for a Quality Badge holder’ box at the top of the home page to
take you through to a searchable database. We are hoping to validate all LoTC quality badge holders nationally and
now is your chance to let us have any feedback on your experiences to date and ideas for future development.
Comments please to Lynne.Upton@childrensuniversity.co.uk
More Learning Destinations featured at our December 2014 conference
CU and Social Action
We are keen to build on the momentum created by our Social Action project currently running in Blackpool, Blackburn,
Lancashire and Middlesbrough. In this project, CU activities are being developed to enable passport holders to use
their skills and learning “in the service of others.” We have produced a booklet of ideas for combining Social Action
and CU activities which you can access here
Among the partners featured are Free the Children who offer trained volunteers to work with groups of children to
identify a project which both excites them and brings positive change to others – with the added bonus of the
opportunity to be part of a national celebration event when the project is completed. For more information…
www.freethechildren.co.uk
The Outward Bound Trust are keen to work with us to offer 3 and 5 day residential opportunities at special rates for
CU schools, particularly at less busy times of the year. More details from Rebecca Randles
rebecca.randles@outwardbound.org.uk
To save you starting from scratch, a number of the partners in CU and Social Action have excellent low cost materials
that make an excellent programme for a series of after school clubs: The PDSA have now added a silver level to their
materials, with gold due to be launched at the Education Show in April. More details here: www.pdsa.org.uk/petprotectors/join/schools-club
Practical Action UK is an international charity which uses technology to challenge poverty in developing countries. If
you are looking to develop a social action focus for your CU STEM activities, these materials are inspiring and are also
linked to the Crest Awards, which are already part of the learning Passport. http://practicalaction.org/schools
Now that the new primary curriculum requires all primary pupils to learn to write computer code, Code Club offers
support, resources and access to trained volunteers who can help set up after school coding clubs – more details here;
www.codeclub.org.uk
Drumroll is the website behind an exciting new on line game E.A.K. where children can al improve their coding skills
playing this on line game. Although we want to encourage children to “get out there” some time spent on this could
be validated as part of an after school club. Curious – go to dee@drumrollhq.com
Clever Tykes is a series of children’s story books which encourages children to develop important life skills and
characteristics as they follow the story of young people who have some amazing entrepreneurial ideas. Find out more
here: www.clevertykes.com
Library Reading Trails are becoming increasingly popular as a way of encouraging reading all year round, building
momentum for the annual Summer Reading Challenge and other special events. The trails are organised in similar
levels to CU certificates e.g reading 10 books equates to 10 hours in the CU passport, 30 books=20 hours and 50
books= 30 hours, depending on which CU award they are part of.
Curious About is a new addition to our validated town trails. As you follow the walking route you are also introduced
to interesting facts about the people, places and events that have made the town what it is today. More information
here www.curiousabout.co.uk
Routes into Languages offers a series of 7 language challenges which encourages children to go beyond what they
might be learning at school and use their skills and ingenuity to find out more about the culture behind a foreign
language, or good tips for learning new languages and how languages can help you in the future. More information
here: www.routesintolanguages.ac.uk
Buglife – https://www.buglife.org.uk/activities-for-you/children-and-schools has a wealth of ideas for involving
children in protecting and nurturing all those creepy crawlies that are essential to our survival. They have also
developed a pilot project with Essex CU which offers new Buglife members a Children’s University Passport to
Learning. This could be introduced into other areas by negotiation.
Plotr is continuing to develop its interactive game to help young people discover how their skills and interests may
lead them to jobs they had never thought of. Plotr could easily be part of a CU “Careers Challenge” for older pupils –
and it’s free to use. More details here: www.plotr.co.uk
And finally……
Following your feedback, the Parents’ Guide to the Passport is now downloadable here. There will be a customisable
version in the members’ area of the new website.
ORDER FORM
School / Learning Destination Plaque Packs
Please complete and return this form to contactus@childrensuniversity.co.uk
Plaque Pack Costs and RRP information
£35.00 (+ postage £4.80)
School Plaque: cost to CU
School Plaque: CU RRP
Learning Destination Plaque for organisations with turnover of
less than £100,000: cost to CU
Learning Destination Plaque for organisations with turnover of
less than £100,000: CU RRP
Learning Destination Plaque for organisations with turnover of
more than £100,000: cost to CU
Learning Destination Plaque for organisations with turnover of
more than £100,000: CU RRP
£50.00
£50.00 (+ postage £4.80)
£65.00
£60.00 (+ postage £4.80)
£90.00
Name:
Title:
Children’s University:
Telephone:
Email:
Billing address including
postcode:
Delivery address If different to
above
Order number:
Quantity
required
School Plaque pack
Learning Destination Plaque pack
(organisations with turnover of less than 100K)
Learning Destination Plaque pack
(organisations with turnover of more than 100K)
Please return the completed form to the CU head office by email using the address stated
above. An invoice will be raised and sent to you via email. The plaque packs will be delivered
to the specified address within 28 days. Reduced postage rates will apply on orders of more
than one plaque being delivered to the same address.
(Please contact the CU head office on 0161 907 5389 if you have any queries)
For office use only
Date received:
Date processed:
ORDER FORM
Children’s University Merchandise
Please complete and return this form to contactus@childrensuniversity.co.uk
Merchandise Costs and RRP information
Product
Pin Badge
Key Ring
Sports Bottle
Sports Bag
Rainbow Wristband
Pencil Case
Pen
Pencil
Ruler
Eraser
Cost to CU
75p
1.05
1.65
1.25
65p
1.15
70p
35p
80p
60p
CU RRP
1.00
2.00
2.50
2.00
1.00
1.50
1.00
50p
1.00
75p
Order Quantity
Name:
Title:
Children’s University:
Telephone:
Email:
Billing address including
postcode:
Delivery address If different to
above
Order number:
Please return the completed form to the CU head office by email using the address stated
above. An invoice will be raised and sent to you via email. The plaque packs will be delivered to
the specified address within 28 days:
Please note postage charges will be added to the invoice and if you would prefer items to be
sent by Second Class post please advise.
(Please contact the CU head office on 0161 907 5389 if you have any queries)
For office use only
Date received:
Date processed: