I'm thinking of starting a Lego robotics and coding after school club, how much would you pay?

[y2mum]

Hi,
I live in a deprived area in the UK and really feel like a club that teaches children how to build Lego robots that they can then code themselves would be a great skill to learn. It is a franchise affiliated to the official Lego brand so there are costs that I would have to pay. It would teach age appropriate science/mechanics, then they build the Lego robot and learn to code it. The coding system mirrors C++ so it would be transferable skills for the future. I am just unsure what to charge for it. What would you be willing to pay?

Well questions to ask are

• what age?
• do they come out with any kind of certificate or proof of knowing this?
• do parents have to bring them to the club and stay, or are you collecting them from school and providing childcare?
• how long is the session?

I wouldn't. I've various STEM events over the years as a volunteer. Lego doesn't need my money, and there are plenty of things you can do without them. (Having said that, the First Lego League events I was involved with were fun.)

What else is available in the area? If there's something similar but free, people are likely to go for that. If it's a deprived area, how much can people afford? What are the going rates for any other clubs - football, swimming, Guides, etc? If families can afford an activity, it may be thry can only afford one.

What would be the minimum you need to charge to cover your costs? Will that balance with what people can pay - and will pay?

We’re in a fairly affluent county and our Lego club (free build) is £8.50 for an after school session!!

Maybe try to get grant funding instead so it can be free.

I'd try and getting funding if you are aiming for working in deprived areas. There's little money for extra curricular activities.

Could you get sponsorship from engineering companies ? STEM is well regarded.

Years ago our primary school did the Lego League - it was amazing.

Don't make it free. People don't value free things and will mess you about

I agree. But you could apply for the grant and use it to subsidise the sessions so they can be offered at a lower price.

i am not in a derived area but I think your approach should be “what will it cost to run this” then work out what to charge.

Negotiate. A school may let you use a room for free if you promise to let looked-after kids and those on FSM have half the spaces for free.

How much Mumsnetters would pay is likely much higher than how much local families would pay. Mumsnetters are both wealthier and value these types of activities more than families in your area are likely to.

Most secondary school clubs are free and run by teachers and goodwill. The only paid clubs are sport and music-related at our school. Primary might be more open to paid childcare but not if parents are on a tight budget.

I'm not in a deprived area.

if I was I'd need to know if this was an after school club at my childs school thst I could rely on for childcare.

What age group/how many kids

N our area/situation I'd be prepared to pay for the class & if they were able to keep it at the end. I'd be presuming it was a well structured robotic that would withstand gentle/careful use & rebuilding?!

but I'm a LEGO fan 😬

My kid is into that type of stuff, there are a lot of free versions of clubs of that nature that he has gone to over the years. There is no way I would start something like that hoping to make money. I’m an engineer working in a uni. We put on free versions multiple times per year. I think it would be a poor investment for you.