Welcome to
University
for Children
Our Mission:
We enable academic learning through creativity, play, nature and hands-on experiences that improve children's holistic development, wellbeing, and education. We create space for children's own voice and empower them to understand who they are in the context of wider society.
At the University for Children, children dive into the real world through engaging activities, like plant growing, crafts making, scientific experiments, story telling, cultural expeditions, sensory exploration, while building their academic understanding through practice of making, moving and playing.
Our student-centred approach celebrates each child's uniqueness. We embrace neurodiversity and provide tailored support for children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND), ensuring everyone participates meaningfully and in alignment with their own ablities.
At the University of Children, all academic subjects are interconnected, while child's mind, body, and emotional condition are treated as equal. Through shared learning and play, children learn about the world as a whole and their own place within it.
We nurture curiosity and transform play into knowledge, confidence, and emotional independence, ultimately empowering children to become healthy, thriving adults who make a positive impact on the world around them.
At the University for Children a student will learn how to:
Understand the world | Become a whole person | Contribute to society and the planet
Message from the Director:
After more than 25 years as an educator, academic, researcher and educational leader, I have come back to where education begins: inspiring curiosity, independent thinking and passion for learning.
I have created University for Children because I believe children can develop critical thinking, independence and the ability to make connections from an early age, when learning is offered through experiences that are meaningful to them. Nature, play, stories, making, movement and collaboration can become powerful ways of discovering science, language, art, culture, history and ourselves.
A garden can become a laboratory and an art studio. A pumpkin can lead to biology, seasons, measurement, food and culture. An imaginary world can inspire writing, design, problem-solving and collaboration. This is interdisciplinary learning brought to life.
University for Children is my way of giving my experience back to children, young people and families through unique, creative and compassionate learning experiences. I want children to become confident and critically aware people who are curious about the world, able to question and explore it, compassionate towards others and conscious of their relationship with nature.
Our student-centred approach welcomes neurodiversity and SEND, with thoughtful adjustments and bespoke support. Children, young people and parents can learn with us individually or together, while parents and educational professionals can also access training informed by research and practice.
For me, education can begin with something very small, let it be a question, a seed, a story, which opens an entire universe.
Dr Marta Hawkins
Founder & Director, University for Children
CEO, In-Light-of Ltd
"Marta is a miracle worker!
When we started working with her, it was evident that she really wanted to embrace each individual's child's needs and to make their experiences positive and enriching, which was such a challenge with a group of five primary school boys gathered on Zoom! As a parent, I knew that my child would be able to express himself within the time they had together. All learning and knowledge was very creatively woven into each session.
Marta gave my child confidence as she recognised his personal contribution to the classes alongside ensuring all the participants were also valued for theirs.
I would highly recommend Marta to anyone who is looking for an educator that truly cares about their student and parents alike"
KAREN TRAVES
We have been using Marta's tutoring for over
7 years now.
Firstly we started with my older boy, who achieved great results on his GCSE exams. Later my little one ( 5 years old at that time) joined her URBAN GARDEN classes which were full of surprises and great fun, including learning Greek myths and dressing up, making a film based on Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. The children could even play with the camera and the light and shoot the scenes!
Martin still adores attending Marta's classes, now a combination of online and offline, and as parents, we are very pleased with his school progression.
Without no hesitation, I would highly recommend Marta and her passionate and professional way of teaching!