News and Updates from the CU team
January 2023 Update and Offer
Happy 2023 everyone!
Happy New Year Everyone!
Warmest wishes and greetings from Westminster Children's University.
Welcome to the New Year and we have lots of great stuff ready for you here at WCU. If you would like to have a relaunch assembly or any of our January offer please email me to book
If you would like any activity or hours added -Especially trial schools please email me the list the activities you'd like added to whole groups and individuals (in individual named lists if this helps by taking a class survey) and we will take care of the rest
If you took part in Finastra/First Aid as our colleagues in Soho Parish/Hallfield did we hope you had fun and let us know if you'd like to do more?
If you would like access to these this year please let me know and we can arrange this
We have art award hourly sessions available and Textiles begins in St Marys this New Year, so again please get in touch for these
Please let us know if you'd like mind Up Insets, author visits in your school as this is also possible
If you are a colleague who is taking over or new ,I am happy to arrange a personal meeting to keep momentum going again, please email me to book We are so proud of all you achieved in 2022-155,000+ hours of adventure and fun and can’t wait to see what this year brings. For our January offer we have lots of creative, STEAM/STEM fun for you including clubs, challenges and visits.
Vex Club with Chelsea Foundation
VEX Robotics is educational robotics for everyone. VEX solutions span all levels of both formal and informal education with accessible, scalable, and affordable solutions. Beyond science and engineering principles, VEX encourages creativity, teamwork, leadership, and problem solving among groups. It allows educators of all types to engage and inspire the STEM problem solvers of tomorrow!
We are working with Tyrone at the Chelsea foundation to relaunch our VEX project and already have our resources ready to go so watch this space in January/February for updates and opportunities.
Ibrick Topsy Turvy-Paid Activity
We spent three great days with our friends at Topsy Turvy this December and look forward to taking part in their projects this year. If you haven’t checked them out you can visit individually at weekends or book a class session through your coordinators.
When you visit you will find a separate dedicated 3 and under play area. A main multi-tiered play frame for under 12s, full of excitement and adventure with a new one way system, all padded for your safety.
Parking is in Brent Cross Shopping Centre Multi-Story Car park level 3. Our building is located opposite of the car park but you can get there easily by multipole buses, 189 is our choice from Querx Road Kilburn.
Holiday Opening
They are open every day. Check their website with available play sessions https://www.topsyturvyworld.com/#
Pre-book 1.45 hour sessions online Saturday and Sunday (to guarantee entry)
Term Time
Mon-Tue 10-4 pm
Wed-Fri 10-6 pm
Sat-Sun, Half Term and Holidays
Mon-Sun 9.30-6pm
KWC Lego Club
We all love to play! That’s the ethos behind the after school building brick programme. Young people can collaborate together to build brick models - making friends and developing skills all whilst having fun.
Run by trained facilitators, the programme offers children positive, meaningful social experiences in an understanding, playful and accepting environment. Brick Club (as it's known to children) supports its members to collaborate, communicate, problem-solve and share fun experiences all through collaborative building brick play.
We will be starting our club in January and if you would like one at your school we can help you to do that too, so remember to let your school coordinator know so that we can collaborate to get Building club in your school too.
Archimake Work Shops
Archimake workshops comprise of fun art, architecture, design and engineering courses in drawing and model making for children aged 7-16 to explore design and the built environment.
We are accredited to assess for national qualifications resulting in GCSE equivalent qualifications for young people. Participants have a 100% pass rate in passing Level 1 Certificate, which is a national qualification regulated by OfQual.
All the young people who passed their qualification were in year 7-9, so had not started GCSE at school but primary sessions and clubs are also available.
We have enjoyed a whole year of Archimake after school and would love you to join us remotely, if you would like to do this please contact your coordinators so we can set this up for you in your school from 4-5 pm on Mondays.
Excel for Schools
By learning Excel, you can develop strong analytical skills. Early Excel learners will be ahead of their peers and may be able to work faster, smarter, and better.
That's why we think you will find this Introduction to Excel page useful. The page is by Acuity Training and we think it could help students (and teachers) who want to flex their data handling muscles this New Year. Follow the lessons at the link below and let us know how you do.
We look forward to further collaboration with Acuity Training this year at Westminster Children’s University, who knows there may be zoom meets and lessons coming your way soon.
https://www.acuitytraining.co.uk/white-paper/introduction-to-excel/
You can enhance your math skills through use of the application's calculation feature. This encourages you to practice more math, and learn to correct their mistakes while using new to you, built-in error tools and help functions.
Perform for Schools
We are looking forward to our Anti-Bullying workshops with Perform for schools in January. Whether you’re looking for a fresh angle on a traditional topic, a fun weekly after school club or an inspiring INSET on using drama in the classroom, a visit from Perform for Schools could be the answer.
Every week, over 5000 children attend Perform after-school and weekend workshops at venues across London, the South East and South West. The classes focus on developing confidence and social skills in a fun and lively way via the performing arts. With over 15 years of experience, all our teachers are recruited, DBS and reference-checked, trained and employed directly by us. So, you can be confident that your pupils will be in the very best of hands.
Perform for Schools is the primary school division of Perform - the UK's leading provider of drama, dance and singing workshops for 4-12 year olds. The Perform4ALL project offers FREE drama workshops to primary schools across London, Nottingham and the South-East.
Last year, almost 350,000 KS1 children enjoyed these unique energetic and imaginative sessions at over 2,000 schools.
Facilitated by a DBS-checked trained professional actor, each workshop lasts 30 minutes and is designed for a class of up to 30 children in a large space such as the school hall. Teachers can book free introductory sessions which are always amazing so go over to the site to get yours book for the New Year.
https://www.perform.org.uk/perform-schools/perform4all-project/perform4all-project/about
FinEd/ FinTec
If you haven’t had the chance to book you’re your Fin Ed and Fintech sessions at Finastra, the New Year is a perfect time to learn new skills and develop better money habits. Sessions are available for all age groups and are free.
The workshops are a great way to see money and tech professionals at work while learning and shaping new habits and skills so get in touch with your coordinators if this is something you would like for your school and we will assist you to book in at Finastra, Paddington Central with our wonderfully clever friends.
Tom Half Penny Guitar
We have funded guitar lessons again this year and there are spaces for afterschool students so if you can get to us at Queens Park School and can get to us after school, let your coordinator know to book your free lesson space and start your musical journey.
Guitar lessons are a great tool for keeping you motivated. This is one of the key factors in whether or not you'll succeed with learning to play the guitar. It's equally as important as learning the right techniques, correcting mistakes and practicing your scales so why not give it a try?
Apple Field Trips Regent Street and Covent Garden
Apple Field trips are a great way to learn about technology and develop new skills and understanding. We are so glad to be visiting Apple again and can’t wait to help you all organise your trips too, we are starting in early February with: Design Lab: Draw your own Astronaut Inspired by Snoopy in Space and Art Tour drawing from Observation
Learning about Agriculture with Farmvention
The Farmvention: Climate Superheroes challenge is all about the problems that climate change creates for British farmers and how they are fighting it to become Climate Superheroes.
Explore our themed inspiration hubs to get you thinking. Each one is full of investigations to complete at home or school, alongside some exciting tours of our climate superheroes’ farms to inspire you. Don’t forget to share your ideas with us using the social media links below. We’d love to see them!
The Challenge:
Create an invention, innovation or idea to help British farmers continue to care for the environment and become Climate Super Heroes. The Engineering Educates Farmvention Challenge, our brand-new campaign that inspires learners to think as engineers, is now live!
To support your learners with their challenge, from next week, Becca and Lizzie will be introducing them to a host of inspirational role models from the world of agriculture and engineering.
Join us live on Friday afternoons, ready with your learners’ questions about all things food, farming, engineering and environment!
Have your learners ever met a robot engineer? Or a champion shepherdess? Would they enjoy putting their questions to someone who worked on the world's fastest tractor? Sign them up today!
Book your class meetings with those who work in Agriculture on Eventbrite for free