Term-Time Courses
Spark4Kids offers computer coding courses – both online and in-person.
Term Dates
Saturdays
Autumn 2023
- – Start date: Saturday 23rd September
- – End date: Saturday 16th December (inclusive)
- – In-person and online classes both run 12pm to 1pm
There will be no coding sessions on:
- – Saturday 7th October – JAGS Open Day
- – Saturday 28th October – Half-Term Break
- – Saturday 4th November – Half-Term Break
In-person classes are based at James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS). Sessions are based in the 6th Form block within JAGS. Entrance is on Green Dale, off 144 East Dulwich Grove, LONDON, SE22 8TE.
Thursdays
Autumn 2023 – Scratch and Python, online-only
- – Start date: Thursday 21st September
- – End date: Thursday 7th December (inclusive)
- – Online classes run 6pm to 7pm
There will be no coding sessions on:
- – Thursday 26th October – Half-term Break
- – Thursday 2nd November – Half-term Break
All times are UK times – please convert to your local time to ensure the online classes work for you.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Attendance
Sessions for each course are held once a week, and children registered on a course will be expected to attend on a weekly basis, on the day and at the time chosen at course registration.
Available Courses
To make a booking, simply click on a link below, select whether you wish your child to attend in-person or online, enter your child’s or children’s details, add the bookings to your shopping cart and proceed to checkout. Courses available for booking term-time are shown below.
Book a Taster Session
Ages 6-7
Ages 7-12
- Coding 4 Kids (ages 7-10), formerly Scratch 4 Kids
- Python Intro 4 Kids (ages 8-11)
- Kodu 4 Kids (ages 8-12)
Ages 11-14
- Python 4 Kids (ages 11-14)
- Unity 4 Kids (ages 11-14)
- 2D Games Design 4 Kids (ages 11-14)
- JavaScript 4 Kids (ages 11-14)
Ages 13-17 (These courses are open to non-DofE Participants)
- ONLINE Python 4 DofE (ages 13-17)
- ONLINE Unity 4 DofE (ages 13-17)
- ONLINE Typing 4 DofE (ages 13-17)
Session Structure
With a tutor-to-child ratio of 1:6, each child completes their coding challenges in their own time, and at their own pace – and always with a tutor on hand to provide support. Sessions for each course are held once a week, and children registered on a course will be expected to attend on a weekly basis, on the day and at the time chosen at the time of course registration.
The fun nature of our courses enables children to learn instinctively, and at a pace they are comfortable with. Whilst we provide the environment for learning and remain on-hand for support, once guidance is provided, the children take ownership of the code they create, and they love it.
At the end of coding sessions, it is not uncommon to hear children asking for extra time because they want to continue working on their coding challenges!
Taster Sessions
We offer Taster Sessions for any child wishing to experience our courses before committing to attend for the rest of the term.
During the Taster Session, we will evaluate the child’s ability with a view to making a recommendation regarding which course they might want to consider. Of course, if the child (or parent) has their own views on what course they want to attend, we will do our best to accommodate or suggest a path towards being able to eventually take the preferred course.
- Further information about our Online Taster Sessions can be found here: Book an Online Taster Session
- Further information about our In-Person Taster Sessions can be found here: Book an In-Person Taster Session
Starting After Term Has Begun
With Spark4Kids, there is no such thing as a late start – your child can start with us any week during the term.
Our courses are designed to allow children to learn at their own pace, meaning that your child can join us after the term has started and not miss out.
The earlier you book your child on a course though, the more likely you are to obtain a space.
Pro Rata Term Fees
Children who register after the start of the term (or after a Taster Session) will have their fees calculated on a pro rata basis. The fee is dependent on each child’s individual start date, and will be automatically calculated during the booking process.
Safeguarding Policy
All of our tutors are DBS-checked, and our website as well as virtual LIVE! classrooms have high levels of security built-in, using standard security protocols to secure yours and our data.
All sessions are also monitored continuously, and our tutors will not tolerate bullying, bad language or inappropriate questions, conversations or content.
Follow this link to access our Safeguarding Policy.
Further Information
Attending a Course Multiple Times
You can re-book your child onto the same Spark4Kids course multiple times if they wish to continue working through the course material. We are constantly updating our courses and there are always new coding challenges to tackle. We are also able to tailor coding challenges to suit your child if they have a clear idea as to what they would like to work on (kindly email us about this prior to the course starting).
Discounts for Siblings, Friends and Multiple Bookings
We offer discounts on bookings that feature multiple course registrations, whether they be for the same or different children. A discount of 10% is automatically applied to every subsequent course at Checkout.
Please be aware that to receive discounts all courses must feature together in the same shopping basket and be paid for at the same time. They do not apply if sessions for siblings or other multiple sessions are booked and paid for in separate transactions.
Paying by Instalments
Spark4Kids accepts payment by instalments on some of our courses, provided that the booking is placed over a month before the course start date.
To pay for a course by instalments, kindly select the course you want, add to basket, and then proceed to Checkout by clicking “View Basket” (you may need access to your email account). At Checkout, choose “Pay by Instalments” as the payment option, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete your booking.
Childcare Vouchers
Spark4Kids accepts childcare vouchers as fee payment towards all of our courses from a variety of childcare voucher providers.
A full list is available here: Spark4Kids Childcare Providers
To pay for a course using childcare vouchers, select the course you want, add to basket, and then proceed to Checkout by clicking “View Basket” (you may need access to your email account). When at Checkout, choose “Pay with Childcare Vouchers” as the payment option, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete your booking (you will soon be emailed the voucher payment details for Spark4Kids in order to complete the payment.
We can also accept a fee payment that is split between a childcare voucher payment and a standard debit/credit card payment (e.g. if your remaining childcare voucher balance isn’t enough to cover the course fee). To do this, kindly get in touch using the contact details listed in the footer of this page.