Children's University is a programme for encouraging, tracking, and celebrating participation in learning beyond the classroom. By the time a child turns 18 they will have spent just 9% of their waking life within a classroom. Children’s University is all about unlocking the potential for learning, skills development, and positive change in the remaining 91% of time. Any kind of activity that is voluntary, fun, and has elements of structured learning can count towards a Children’s University award – including many of our great ootiboo projects!

Children aged 5 and above can take part either through their schools, or by signing up for an online subscription. Each year around 100,000 children in the UK take part in activities as part of Children’s University! There is robust evidence that taking part in Children’s University and engaging with informal learning has a positive impact on both attainment within the classroom, and skills development. For more information, visit childrensuniversity.co.uk

Children’s University have validated a number of ootiboo projects, meaning that participants can collect Children’s University stamp codes for taking part. Just look out for the Children’s University logo across our site, and email us evidence of your activities to be sent a stamp code in reply. Here at ootiboo we will be working with Children’s University to share and develop new projects. Whether you take part in Children’s University alone as a subscriber, or as part of your school, there’s plenty to do.