Need some help, pupil numbers dropping any ideas how I can pull them back in my business?

[frenchmumma]

I run a childrens learning activity (dont want to say which one) and have noticed that many parents are dropping their children out due to credit crunch reasons etc.. .Ive thought of a few things I could do and was wondering if anyone has anymore ideas.

• Reduce class price
• Offer a reduction for siblings
• Offer a first free lesson

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first lesson free is good, can they pay on the day or do they have to book a term?

could you go into schools and do a free taster session or maybe a free afterschool session involving parents to give them an idea of your class?

Well, how expensive is it and for how long are the lessons?

Do you have a tough cancellation policy eg parents have to give a lot of notice otherwise they remain liable for fees?

Do you ask for fees upfront, and if so for how many weeks in advance?

parents are suppose to pay in term in advance but they never do I have to toughen up on this. £4.20 per lesson for half an hour.

Offer a discount for paying in advance? Maybe something like every sixth or tenth leson free.

I don't know what your activity is - but try to make it such good fun/so rewarding that it seems like a must have, not something that is easy to drop because it's not really "worth it" IYKWIM. Sell the benefits - a newsletter maybe, saying how graet it is and what children have achieved/how thay've benefitted.

No, I wouldn't toughen up on your term in advance. If you have tough cancellation terms then it is more likely that parents will drop it not less ime. I would have happily kept going with staegcoach lessons except I had to give half a terms notice or risk paying a full term. Ds wasn't 100% committed so I gave notice but actually by the end of term was loving it and we've never got round to being able to sign up at exactly the right time. In fact reading this makes me wonder whether we might be able to find a place again...

Is it a learning activity that can easily be done at home or is it one where you are providing specialist input? Is it one that relies on other children eg like drama, in which case a trickle out of existing pupils may be sending a worrying sign.

have you thought about offering your services to schools - as part of the school day? or approach the local county council to see if they have any more contacts that could help you.

some great suggestions here - thanks so much for your advice. Please keep them coming!