Kent Children's University Shortlisted as an EEFective Kent 'Promising Project'

The EEFective Kent project is a three-year project running until August 2022 aiming to bring evidence-based programmes to Kent and improve educational outcomes. Kent County Council is working with the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and have created a joint funding pot worth £600,000 to support the implementation of evidence-based approaches and interventions in Kent.

The Promising Projects are the first part of the project to be launched and schools across Kent are invited to bid for match funding to implement. Promising Projects are programmes for schools that have been evaluated at a large scale and the EEF are confident can improve outcomes for children and young people. The full list of Promising Projects available to Kent through the EEFective Kent are suitable for Primary, Secondary and Special schools.

There will be three opportunities from January 2020 to apply for match funding to implement one of the Promising Projects. Applications can be made using the application form at the following times:

• Round 3 - Opens for applications at 8am on 19 April 2021 and closes at 5pm on 3 May 2021.

They will also be holding a Virtual Roadshow event to support applications across the county, which will be your opportunity to find out more specific information about any of the Promising Projects you are interested in and ask any questions you have about the process:

• Virtual Roadshow - 22 April 2021

To find out more about applications or the Virtual Roadshow, please email [email protected].

Kent Children’s University (KCU) is part of a national initiative that encourages and celebrates children and young people who take part in learning activities outside of school hours.  Learning can be at either CU subscribed schools in Kent, at home or at registered activity providers across the county, called Learning Destinations.

At the heart of our work is the ambition to raise aspirations, boost achievement and foster a love of learning in children and young people.

The Social Mobility Commission’s July 2019 report (“An Unequal Playing Field”) highlights disparities in children’s participation rates across a wide range of extra-curricular activities depending on their social background.

One of the main findings was that children from the poorest backgrounds are 3 times more likely to not take part in any of the extra-curricular activities examined compared to those from the wealthiest backgrounds

By the time a child turns 18, they will have spent just 9% of their waking life in a classroom.  Children’s University is about making the most of the remaining 91%.

Children’s University students use Passports to Learning in which they record the number of completed CU validated learning activities they have participated in. 

Children are encouraged to progress through the national certification scheme.  One credit is awarded for every hour of learning, adding up to awards such as certificates.   We hold special Graduation ceremonies in schools and universities across Kent.

For every child that takes part in Children's University we want the following outcomes: 

• They feel they have grown in confidence and self-belief
• They have enjoyed new experiences, in new places and want to keep exploring
• They believe they have a broader range of essential skills
• They feel empowered to make positive choices about their future
• They see that learning is fun, aspirational and lifelong
• They feel their eyes have been opened to a multiplicity of learning activities and opportunities
• They feel celebrated for their commitment to learning by their family, school and community.