How to Start a Kids Coding Club
Parents want their children to understand technology, not just use it, and many schools have little time for coding beyond the basics. A kids coding club fills that gap with weekly sessions where children build games, animations and small inventions. With the new term underway and parents planning spring activities, now is a good time to start yours.
Key takeaways
- Choose a clear age range and format first: after-school club, weekend sessions, holiday camps or online classes.
- Safeguarding comes before marketing. In the UK, people working with children usually need a DBS check. In the US, background check rules vary by state and by client.
- Plan projects, not lectures. Children stay engaged when every session ends with something they made.
- Sell in termly blocks with simple online booking, and keep parents updated on what their child built.
You do not need to be a professional software engineer to run a great coding club. You need a solid grasp of beginner programming, patience, good classroom management and a genuine liking for children's ideas, which are often wilder and better than anything in a textbook. Many successful clubs are run by teachers, former developers, students and parents who started with one small group.
This guide covers the decisions in order, from choosing your format to planning a term. A quick note: this is general information, not legal or safeguarding advice. Rules for working with children vary by country, state and venue, so check official guidance and get professional advice where you need it.
Choose your format and age group
A club for 6-year-olds and a club for 14-year-olds are almost different businesses. Pick one age band to start, usually spanning two or three school years, so you can plan sessions that fit everyone in the room.
Common formats
- After-school clubs. Run in a school after lessons end. Parents like the convenience, and the school may help promote you. You will need to meet the school's safeguarding and insurance requirements.
- Weekend sessions. Run in a library, community center or rented room. You control the timetable, but you must fill the room yourself.
- Holiday camps. Half-term, spring break or summer camps run for several days in a row and can be booked as a block.
- Online classes. Small live groups on video calls. You can reach families anywhere, but younger children may find it harder to stay focused.
Match tools to age
Younger children usually start with block-based coding, where they drag and snap together instructions. Older children can move to a beginner text-based language and build simple games, websites or projects with sensors and small electronics kits. Choose tools that are free or affordable for families, run on the devices you have, and have clear privacy policies suitable for children.
Pro tip
Run a free taster session before you launch a paid term. You will learn how long activities really take, which projects excite children, and which parents are ready to book. Ask parents for permission to contact them about the full term.
Put safeguarding and the legal basics first
Parents are trusting you with their children. Showing that you take safety seriously is not paperwork, it is part of what you sell.
- Get the right background checks. In the UK, people working with children usually need a DBS check. In the US, background check rules vary by state and by client, and schools often have their own requirements. Anyone who helps you should be checked too.
- Write a safeguarding policy. Cover who supervises children, how you handle concerns, collection and drop-off, photography and online safety. Many venues and schools will ask to see it. Local authorities and education bodies often publish guidance you can follow.
- Arrange insurance. Ask a broker about public or general liability and any cover that schools or venues require. Professional indemnity may also be worth discussing.
- Register the business. Choose a structure, register it and open a separate bank account. Licenses and permits vary by location, so check what applies to running classes for children where you live.
- Plan first aid and emergencies. Know the venue's fire procedures, keep emergency contacts for every child and consider first aid training.
- Handle children's data carefully. Collect only what you need, store it securely and get parents' consent for photos and for any online accounts children use. Privacy laws for children's data can be strict, so check the rules where you operate.
Common mistake
Posting photos of children's projects with the children in shot, or with their names and school visible, without written consent from parents. Even proud parents may not want their child online. Ask on the registration form, keep a record and default to photos of screens and projects instead of faces.
Find a venue and set up your equipment
The right venue makes everything easier. Look for a space with reliable Wi-Fi, enough power outlets, tables at a comfortable height, a safe drop-off point and toilets nearby. Schools, libraries, community centers, coworking spaces and makerspaces are all good places to ask. Some will offer a discount if you also run a session for their own community.
For equipment, decide early whether children bring their own devices or use yours. Providing laptops or tablets gives you control over software and settings, but adds cost, storage and charging. A bring-your-own approach costs less, but devices vary and some children may not have one. Many clubs start with a small set of shared laptops and a clear list of what children can bring.
Set devices up with child-safe settings, a separate guest network where possible and accounts that do not need children's personal email addresses. Keep spare chargers and a printed plan in case the internet goes down, because at some point it will.
Plan a term of projects
Children come back when they leave each session proud of something. Structure your term as a series of projects that build skills step by step, ending with a showcase.
A simple term planning template
Copy this table and fill in one row per week. The examples below are for a made-up club for children aged 8 to 10.
| Week | Project | New skill | Extension for fast finishers | Take-home moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Animated name badge | Sequences and events | Add sound when clicked | Show parents the badge at pickup |
| 2 | Catch the falling fruit game | Loops and keyboard controls | Add a score counter | Share a link to play at home |
| 3 | Quiz about a favorite animal | Variables and if statements | Add a timer | Family plays the quiz |
Keep each session to a predictable rhythm: a quick warm-up challenge, a short demo, building time with plenty of help, and a few minutes for children to show what they made. Plan an extension for fast finishers and a simpler version for anyone who is stuck, so nobody is bored or left behind.
Hypothetical example
Imagine Amara, a former web developer who starts a Saturday coding club in her local library. Her first term has eight children aged 9 to 11. In week four, two children finish early every time while others struggle. She adds a "challenge card" for each project and pairs confident coders with newer ones for the last ten minutes. By the end-of-term showcase, every child has a working game, parents are asking about the next term and three families have booked holiday camp places.
Keep parents informed and involved
Parents are your real customers, even though children are the ones who decide whether they want to come back. A little communication goes a long way toward renewals.
- Send a short weekly note. Two or three sentences on what the group built, plus a link or screenshot where consent allows, gives parents something to ask their child about at dinner.
- Share a home challenge. An optional five-minute activity keeps keen children practicing without turning the club into homework.
- Hold an end-of-term showcase. Invite families for the last 20 minutes of the final session so children can demonstrate their projects. It is also the best moment to open bookings for next term.
- Ask for feedback. A two-question form at the end of each term tells you what to keep and what to change.
Keep messages professional and send them through a business account rather than your personal phone, so communication stays transparent and easy to review.
Price, book and fill your sessions
Most clubs sell places by the term rather than by the session. Termly blocks give you predictable income, help children build skills week to week and reduce no-shows. Research what other activities for children in your area charge, such as music lessons, sports clubs and tutoring, then set a price that covers venue hire, equipment, insurance, checks and your preparation time.
Make booking easy. Tools such as SimplyBook.me, Acuity Scheduling or Square Appointments can handle class places and payments, and form builders like Google Forms, Jotform or Tally can collect registration details, medical notes and photo consent. Check current features, pricing and privacy policies, especially for how they store children's information.
Ways to find your first families
- Offer a free taster at a library, school fair or community event.
- Ask headteachers and school administrators whether they would share an after-school club flyer.
- Set up a Google Business Profile with photos of projects, your timetable and a booking link.
- Join local parent groups online and share useful tips, not just adverts.
- Offer a sibling discount or a referral thank-you for families who bring a friend.
If you email parents about future terms, include a clear unsubscribe option and a valid postal address to meet US CAN-SPAM rules, and follow PECR and GDPR consent rules in the UK and EU.
Your kids coding club launch checklist
- Choose one age band and one format to start
- Pick age-appropriate tools with child-friendly privacy policies
- Get background checks for yourself and any helpers
- Write a safeguarding policy and emergency procedures
- Register the business and arrange insurance
- Find a venue with good Wi-Fi, power and safe drop-off
- Decide on shared devices or bring-your-own
- Plan a full term of projects using the template
- Set termly prices and open online booking with consent questions
- Run a free taster session and invite families to book
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a teaching qualification to run a coding club?
Usually not for a private club, but schools and some venues may have their own requirements. What matters most is solid beginner coding knowledge, good classroom management and the right background checks for working with children.
How many children should be in one group?
Keep groups small enough that you can help every child during building time. Start smaller than you think, especially with younger children, and add a checked helper before you increase numbers. Check any supervision requirements from your venue or local authority.
What if a child has never used a computer much?
Plan for it. Start the first session with simple mouse and keyboard tasks, use block-based tools and pair them with a patient buddy. Mixed experience is normal, so always have a simpler version and an extension ready.
The bottom line
A kids coding club succeeds on two things: parents trust you, and children love what they make. Put safeguarding, insurance and consent in place first, choose one age group and format, and plan a term of projects that each end with something children can proudly show off.
This week, pick your age band, sketch three projects in the template and ask a library or school about a free taster session. One good term is often all it takes to build a waiting list.
