Wednesday 23 April 2014

We're going on a bear hunt...

Would you like to go on a bear hunt? Head to Sheffield Botanical Gardens today and pick up your free trail from the Little Nature Shop and hopefully you'll find a big one!

Take your Passport to Learning along too, and you will be able to collect CU credits for taking part. Our lovely Millie is ready and waiting with hers!



Trails are available for two age groups: 4-7 and 8-11. Storytelling from Michael Rosen's "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" will take place outside the Pavilions at 10.30 am and 2.00 pm.

Children who complete the trail will receive a little bear prize.

For more details about Children's University activities in the Botanical Gardens, visit: http://www.fobssheffield.co.uk/childrens_uni.html


Monday 21 April 2014

Sheffield Children’s University – supporting the Queen’s Baton Relay!

With just under 100 days to go until the 2014 Commonwealth Games begins in Glasgow, Sheffield City Council today announced the three Batonbearers selected to carry the Queen’s Baton when it arrives in the city. They are Elizabeth Sorsby, aged 17, Tricia Memmott, aged 24, and Joanne Strong, aged 33. The three Batonbearers have been selected in recognition of their contribution to sport and the community.


The Queen’s Baton Relay will tour Sheffield on 1 June, visiting local landmarks and acting as the centrepiece for events happening to celebrate the countdown to Glasgow 2014. The Batonbearers will carry the baton to a variety of events and activities organised by Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Hallam University, South Yorkshire Sport and SIV to introduce the public to new sports.

Sheffield’s leg of the relay will begin at the 10th century St Nicholas Church in High Bradfield. From High Bradfield, the baton will travel to Concord Leisure Centre in Shiregreen which will host an array of sporting activities and participants can catch a glimpse of the baton before it heads to its next stop.

It is at this stage that you can come along and find loads of CU activities happening at Concord Sports Centre! Some of our Learning Destinations will be there, providing an opportunity to try your hand at a few strategy games, dance workshops, science experiments or musical instruments – and to catch a glimpse of the Queen’s Baton on its journey to Glasgow! Don’t forget your Passport to Learning to earn yourselves some CU credits at the same time.

The final part of Sheffield’s baton relay will be held at the English Institute of Sport (EIS) – Sheffield where local clubs, athletes and schools will join forces to celebrate the arrival of the baton.
SIV will also be offering swimming, gym, classes, skating and sports for £1 on 31 May and 1 June to coincide with the relay.

Paul Billington, Director of Culture and Environment at Sheffield City Council, said: “The baton is hugely symbolic throughout the Commonwealth nations and I’m sure it will help inspire people of all ages and abilities to try out a new sport or activity, just as the Olympic and Paralympic flames did when they lit up Sheffield’s streets in 2012.
“This is our opportunity to cheer on Team England and enjoy the excitement and anticipation in the run up to the games.”

Dame Kelly Holmes, President of Commonwealth Games England, said: “Our England Batonbearers are going to play a crucial part when the Queen’s Baton Relay arrives in England on May 31st.

“They have all been selected due to their passion for sport and the way in which they share this with their communities and look to get people involved and active.

“I’m encouraging everyone in Sheffield to get involved when the Queen’s Baton Relay comes to your city – find out what event is taking place and if you can be there then please go and cheer on your batonbearers and be part of the Team England send-off to Glasgow!”

The baton will have visited 63 of 70 Commonwealth nations and territories when it arrives in the British Isles on Sunday 10 May. Landing in Jersey, the baton then journeys through Guernsey, Isle of Man, embarks on a four-day tour of Northern Ireland and then spends a week in Wales. It will arrive in England on 31 May to begin the penultimate leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Manchester, visiting 16 different locations en route to its final destination through Scotland and the start of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The Queen’s Baton Relay in England is supported with National Lottery funding from Sport England.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games takes place in Glasgow from 23rd July to 3rd August. Commonwealth Games England is sending a 400-strong team to compete across the 17 sports.


Wednesday 16 April 2014

Celebrating our magnificent milestone!

WOW! The response to our 1 million hours news has been AMAZING! We are overwhelmed by the kind words and support received from our schools, partners and Learning Destinations. Thank you! Don't forget to watch our celebratory video if you haven't seen it already!



To further celebrate our magnificent 1 million hours milestone, Katie recorded a short interview with Howie Pressman for BBC Radio Sheffield which was broadcast on Tuesday, 16th April.

For those who missed the interview, there is still time to listen again! Follow the link below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01w6jg3.

Katie makes an appearance around the 1:47 mark!



Tuesday 8 April 2014

1 MILLION HOURS - We did it!



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

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

Follow this link to view our special celebratory video press play above or visit http://youtu.be/wKZJRpdEYJ8

Since Children’s University arrived in Sheffield, 24,300 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. Whether it has been Breakfast Club at Hartley Brook, Art Attack at Angram Bank, Code Club at Firth Park, Campfire Cooking with Wild Wood Activities, or Streedance with Razzamataz, every single hour has been recorded, awarded, and celebrated by Sheffield Children’s University.

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.

It was a student at Firth Park Academy who pushed us over that magical milestone of 1 million hours. Like all of our CU schools, Debra, Gordon and the team have developed a fantastic programme of activities to ensure they provide a wide range of activities that not only enable students at their school to develop their skills but also collect CU credits. Many students also utilise their Passport to Learning to collect credits away from school out in the community.

We love to celebrate here at Sheffield CU, and we have plenty of reasons;

1 million hours. 24,300 children and young people. 50 schools subscribed to CU. Over 100 Learning Destinations. 25 special Award Ceremonies. Over 5,000 Gold Award winners (100, 200, 300 hours etc). 30,000+ Bronze and Silver Awards. 10,000 Passports to Learning in circulation.

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.

To celebrate and express our sincere thanks, we have created this special video: http://youtu.be/wKZJRpdEYJ8 Please do share this link, post it on your website, and show it to children and young people to help us celebrate this very special achievement. There will be a press release shortly, but we couldn’t wait to share this special news with you!

Katie and the CU Team.


Monday 7 April 2014

Easter Fun at Wincobank Chapel!

On Saturday 12th April, our fantastic friends at Upper Wincobank Chapel are holding a Family Easter Fun Day! 

Taking place between 10am - 1pm at Upper Wincobank Undenominational Chapel, Wincobank Avenue, S5 6BB, there will be lots of arts and crafts to celebrate Easter AND you can collect CU credits with your Passport to Learning! 

Places are limited - please ring 07958 754631 or 07980 143776 to secure a place.

Friday 4 April 2014

Lego Education Innovation Studio

 An innovative new teaching environment that uses LEGO® Education resources to develop advanced engineering, science and technology skills has been launched at The Sheffield College. The new LEGO Education Innovation Studio consists of a wide range of science, technology, engineering and maths related resources, including robotics, and aims to develop the practical and problem solving skills of tomorrow's scientists, engineers and computer programmers.


What's more the LEGO Education Innovation Studio has now been accredited by the Sheffield Children's University so activities can be used to build up credits to earn CU Awards!

Following on from the huge success of the first computing camp in February The Sheffield College will once again be opening the doors to our LEGO Education Innovation Studio for half term fun and learning on the 15th & 16th April 2014.

Building on the great feedback received children will have the opportunity to build and programme robotic models and showcase their achievements in a special end of camp activity! A great opportunity for children to engage with technology in a productive and innovative way!
Places on the camp are limited, so don't miss out! Book your place here no later than Wednesday 9th April!

Date: 15th & 16th April 2014
Time: 9.15am - 3.15pm
Venue: LEGO Education Innovation Studio, Sheffield City College
Contact: Lucy Eckhardt, 0114 260 2158, or email lucy.eckhardt@sheffcol.ac.uk

To find our more about the LEGO Education Innovation Studio click here.




Tuesday 1 April 2014

Planning your Easter fun?

Are you looking for some 'egg-citing' activities to do over the Easter holidays?




The Children's University Passport to Learning newsletter which includes details of activities happening across Sheffield during the Easter is now available! Click HERE to start planning now!

During the Easter holidays, we will be running a special FREE CU LIVE! Young Curators activity in partnership with Weston Park Museum and Museum Sheffield. If you would like to find out more about what a curator does in a museum and how to handle and display objects, as well as correctly label artefacts, check out the newsletter for more details!

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 any local library across the city and buy one for the bargain price of £2!