Epsom families go retro at Martin’s Church House to celebrate the launch of kids coding studio
On Saturday 7th May, local children and their loved ones gathered at Martin’s Church House to celebrate the launch of a brand-new kids coding studio. Launched by former teacher, Lee Richards, Code Ninjas brings children together through a love of coding and gaming. And this weekend’s retro gaming-inspired grand opening party provided a great reason to celebrate!
“We’ve been inundated with enquiries since we opened our doors, and to see so many familiar faces on the day of our launch party really showed how far we’ve come,” said Lee. “To see children being fully invested in the curriculum and most importantly having fun together is a wonderful sight to see.”
Code Ninjas is the first of its kind in Epsom and, as proven by the success of Saturday’s launch event, a much-needed addition to the local community. With an appearance from local MP for Epsom and Ewell, the Rt. Hon Chris Grayling, and the Mayor of Epsom, Councillor Peter O’Donovan, it is clear the community is keen to support Lee in his new venture.
“I really wanted to make it a memorable launch for the community and give families a nostalgic experience, so I created a retro gaming arcade and welcomed guests to play on old-school systems like the Sega Mega Drive and PlayStation 1,” explained Lee. “I wanted local parents to see for themselves just how fun and exciting the Code Ninjas atmosphere is because that’s a vital and sometimes underappreciated component of learning. It’s important to let our Ninjas – the name we give our students - develop through the exploration of practical activities, like building their own video games, so they can develop at their own pace. Learning about computers at such a young age is essential in the modern world, but children will only develop a love for coding through a welcoming and exciting atmosphere, and that’s what we have built at Code Ninjas Epsom.”
Since hosting his launch event on Saturday, Lee and his family have been overwhelmed by the positive response from parents. Hannah Coxon, a local parent, was particularly impressed with the range of activities on offer, saying, “Both of my sons attend the Dojo and they love their sessions. It’s great they can work at their own pace and, although they’re always well supported, they’re able to work independently, which we really value. Having two hours across the week works really well in terms of what they are learning. Having a belt system also is a fantastic feature.”
And Riccardo Cestari celebrated a pretty significant milestone at Saturday’s grand opening party. “My son received his White Belt at the launch party and was awarded with his certificate from the Mayor. I’m so happy that we signed him up for sessions with Lee and his team - it's great for the children to start learning coding in a friendly environment.”
The Rt. Hon Chris Grayling had this to say about the grand opening: “I didn’t know what to expect before coming, but now that I am here, I understand perfectly. This really is a fantastic family business.”
Now that the studio is open and ready to welcome Ninjas from across the region, the kids can work towards achieving the highest Code Ninjas’ honour of becoming a black belt! “We’re here to guide the children of Epsom through our exciting curriculum and truly put Epsom on the map as a go-to location for coding education for kids,” said Lee.
To sign up or find out more about Code Ninjas, visit: www.codeninjas.co.uk/epsom-sry-uk