The University of the First Age (UFA) is for Children and young people aged 8 and above, their Parents/carers and  adults who support young people in a learning environment.

The UFA is a National organisation that develops, enriches and extends enjoyable learning activities for young people and offers professional development training for young leaders and adults who support these opportunities.

Comments from recent attendees at UFA workshops with adults and young people in Spring 2010 described them as:

• "Very motivating and inspiring"
• "It's given me more confidence to broaden teaching styles"
• "Able to implement ideas/activities into classroom practice"
• "Very positive impact - pupils are proud to be part of UFA"
• "Fabulous, positive impact on learners, thought provoking, great professional development"

How can UFA activity help young people?

• If a young person enjoys learning they're likely to do better - so it can raise their achievement in their schoolwork and other areas of their life.
• UFA helps young people to develop their self-confidence, self-esteem and motivation.
• UFA hopes to show young people that there are many different people in the world that they can learn from including their teachers and each other.
• UFA equips young people to feel empowered to take control of their learning and life choices.
• UFA trains young people to share their learning by supporting other younger learners.

Activities include:

• Peer Tutoring: developing lead learners in schools
• Student Leadership programme: OCN (Open College Network) accredited course for Key Stages 2 to 4 delivered in partnership with National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services
• Super Learning Days: an interactive day focusing on the brain and learning
• Challenge Clubs: targeted activity using the UFA approach to meet school objectives
• Parents/carers workshops: "Helping my child to learn". Exploring how we learn, how our children learn and ideas for supporting homework and wellbeing
• UFA Fellowship: Professional development workshops for adults

The UFA also offers interactive workshops on a variety of subjects relating to learning available individually or in combination as twilight, half or full days.

• My amazing brain - brain development and impact of stress on learning
• Using our memory (techniques and strategies)
• Learning styles and exploration
• How we are all intelligent
• Involving games in learning
• Learning environments
• Revision tips (including mind maps)
• Emotional wellbeing and learning (including issues surrounding self-belief and self esteem)

Expected outcomes and benefits

• To raise confidence, motivation and self esteem through a variety of interactive activities and workshops
• To understand more about how we learn
• To experience and develop fun learning opportunities
• To challenge and empower young people
• For participants to understand and develop their own skills

For more information e-mail: ufa@northamptonshire.gov.uk.