Enfield children can unleash their inner ninja at brand-new coding dojo
This weekend, a brand-new kids’ coding centre is opening in Enfield. Code Ninjas - located right in the heart of the borough, on London Road - will teach kids aged five-14 how to code and promises to put the ‘fun’ in the fundamentals of coding.
The centre is owned by local parents and teachers, Neil and Renee Applewhaite, who have a combined 44 years in technology and education. Along with their software developer and digital manager, Symeon Eleftheriadis, they hope to establish their centre as a home away from home for tech-loving kids living in Enfield.
“Children have more confidence when it comes to digital technology and gaming than we ever did, and that passion is something that’s worth encouraging,” explained Neil. “There are so many opportunities available in the technology sector and a real shortage of upskilled coders, so our programme sets the next generation of talent up for success. But first and foremost, our sessions are about fun through learning. Our ninjas - how we refer to students - build their own video games using software and existing games they love and are already familiar with, like Scratch®, Minecraft®, Roblox®, Python and Unity. If they’re anything like our own children, that’s all the proof they’ll need that Code Ninjas is for them.”
The new centre is one of the first of its kind in the UK - and with a name like Code Ninjas, it’s no surprise that they like to do things a little differently! Code Senseis help ninjas, the name for students in the dojo, progress through the programme by working towards coloured wristbands - or ‘belts’ - based on the colour system in martial arts. Ninjas work through the self-paced curriculum, collaborating with their friends to build robots and drones. At the end of the programme, ninjas will have developed a game or an app of their own, which their friends and family can buy on the app store. Imagine that on a university application!
And busy parents will be pleased to know that the drop-off and pick-up process is just as seamless and innovative as the very programme that Neil, Renee, Symeon and team will be delivering.
“Parents can either leave their child with us whilst they’re running errands, or they can hang around and make the most of our parents’ lounge - complete with free coffee and Wi-Fi,” said Renee. “As a busy working mum, I know first-hand just how much of a lifeline services like ours are for parents. Ninjas can attend sessions up to twice a week, but timings are flexible so they don’t have to attend at the same time, or even on the same day, every week. And kids will love how cool the coding dojo is. Not only do they enter and leave the dojo using a coloured wristband, but it’s a parent-free zone! At Code Ninjas, we really want to encourage our students to become independent learners, so the only adults with them will be our team of Code Senseis.”
To keep their ninjas and Code Senseis safe, Neil, Renee, Symeon have implemented a whole host of safety measures to ensure families can remain two metres apart at all times. Their number one priority is the safety and wellbeing of their community.
“We’ve brought both our boys up here so count our neighbours as extended members of our family. We take our commitment as local business owners very seriously and want to ensure we’re keeping children out of harm’s way, whilst the sense of fun in our dojo is perfect for improving wellbeing.”
Neil, Renee, Symeon and their team will be hosting an open day on the 22nd August but, in line with social distancing guidelines, it’s best to get in touch ahead of time to register your interest. Visit www.codeninjas.co.uk/enfield-london-uk to sign up or find out more.
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Editors notes:
For more information, or to speak with the Neil or Renee, contact Kelly Ayres at Rev PR on 07895 876745 or email kelly@revpr.co.uk
Images available: Photos of the Applewhaite and Eleftheriadis families.