Learning Destinations - parents' questions

Why should I encourage my child to take part?

The Learning Destinations scheme is an innovate method of helping children to see that learning does not only occur during school hours. It allows schools and providers to accredit learning and helps raise aspirations as well as empowering children and young people to take ownership and responsibility for their own learning pathways. It will enable your child to gain educationally from visits to a number of specially selected tourist attractions both locally and nationally, as well as acknowledging their commitment to clubs offered within their school either by school staff or external providers. Each activity, whether it is via direct tutor input or via activity booklet, will engage your child in informal learning and the scheme will boost your child's confidence when he or she gains accreditation for their work. The activity booklets can be completed at the child's own pace and we encourage you to help your child with any question which is perhaps too demanding for them.

How does my child join?

Each child that engages with the process will require a Passport to Learning. The Passport to Learning, which can be used at affiliated venues across the UK, costs £3.50. Some schools have used part of their budgets to subsidise this cost. If your child's school is not part of the scheme, but you would like a Passport, please send us: Your child's name, address, date of birth, school attended, and emergency phone number, together with a self-addressed-envelope and cheque, payable to KCC, to:

KCU, The Turret Room, Oakwood House, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8AE.

We regret that, at this time, we are unable to accept on-line payments for the Passports.

Each tourist attraction affiliated to the scheme will require its standard entry fee to allow access to the site, but the Learning Destinations activity books will be provided by the venue free of charge. Look out for special offers at some tourist attractions. You may be able to gain entry for a reduced rate if you show the Passport to Learning.
Individual schools and external providers have separate charging policies for their clubs. Please speak with your child’s school to discover what costs may be involved.

To discover more about joining please email any questions to KCU@kent.gov.uk

What places can I visit?

Each activity is held either at a public or restricted venue. A public venue is one where anybody can attend. For example Dover Museum would be a public activity. A restricted venue is one which is only available to a specific target audience, for example an after school drama club would only be available to pupils from the host school.
Kent attractions will be listed on the Kent host venues page, national attractions can be found on the National Children's University learning destinations page.

What safeguards are in place to protect my child?

Each activity which is part of Learning Destinations has signed the Kent Children's University service Level agreement. As a minimum each venue will have Public Liability Insurance and an up-to-date risk assessment in place. Kent Children's University, and KCC, cannot be held responsible for any accidents or injuries occurring to your family whilst visiting any tourist attraction.

Can I help my child with the activity booklets?

Yes, we encourage parental support where appropriate. Each activity booklet is designed for children of average ability between the ages of nine to eleven years. If your child is younger than this they can still take part in the scheme but may need a little extra help to complete the tasks.

How long does it take to complete the activities at each venue?

Each activity booklet has a credit value. One credit equates to approximately one hour of learning. Thus a venue which has a credit rating of one will take, on average, one hour to complete. Please note these are only rough completion times your child may complete the activities faster or slower than we suggest.  After school clubs accredit attendance at one hour = one credit.

How do I know these activities are high quality learning opportunities?

Kent Children's University is very proud of its on-going learning opportunities for its participants. We are only the second organisation in Kent to be awarded QiSS (Quality in Study Support) at Advance level. We have recently revalidated our QiSS status for a further 3 years. Each of the activity booklets has been produced in collaboration with a fully qualified school teacher. We are confident that the tasks required for completion will stimulate your child and help him/ her to gain valuable knowledge and research skills at each of the partner venues.
After-school activities offered by schools or external providers will all have been quality-assured before being allowed to affiliate to the scheme. Any issues concerning these should, in the first instance, be taken up with the host school.

How can I get my child's school to take part?

Many schools are now affiliating to the Learning Destinations scheme. Affiliation allows pupils from the school to collect stamps by attending after-school-clubs as well as visiting tourist attractions. The process is straight-forward. If you would like your child's school to consider affiliation please ask the head teacher to contact KCU at kcu@kent.gov.uk. We can then arrange a 30 minute briefing which will explain the process and benefits to the school and its pupils.

I am an external provider of after-school provision which isn't on your list, what can I do to affiliate to the scheme?

We are always keen to hear from tourist attractions or external providers (e.g. judo coaches etc.) who would like to join the Learning Destinations scheme. Please contact us and request an informal meeting to see whether we can work in partnership with you.

How do I sign my child up for the Learning Destinations scheme?

Please contact us, and request a Passport to Learning. These cost £3.50 including p&p.

How can I find out more about Kent Children's University?

Our web pages should tell you everything you need to know. If not, please contact us by e-mail or telephone.

Rosalind Turner, Managing Director for Children, Families and Education, with Gary Cooke, Deputy Cabinet Member and Guy Bartlett, Kent Children's University Manager at the official launch of Learning Destinations – July 2010.