Most of your students are young, so the people who decide are often parents and teachers. If they trust you, your batches fill without much advertising. Trust is built by being clear, reliable and open, in small things done every week.
What parents want to know
- Will my child be safe, and who will be with them?
- What will they learn, and how will I know they are learning?
- What are the timings, the duration and the fee, and what is extra?
- What happens at the end: exam, certificate, next steps?
- How do I reach you if there is a problem?
The first conversation
Meet the parent with the student. Show the lab, introduce the instructor, show the course outline and the sample certificate. Give a written fee card and the batch timings. Answer questions plainly and do not promise results. If you do not know something, say you will find out and then do.
Keep parents informed
- Share the course plan and the exam date at the start.
- Send a short message at the end of the first month about attendance and progress.
- Call early if the student misses classes or falls behind.
- Invite parents to the exam result and certificate function.
- Share good news as well as problems.
Handling complaints
A complaint handled well often creates a more loyal family than no complaint at all.
- Listen without interrupting and thank the person for telling you.
- Write down the facts, the date and what the person wants.
- Look into it, speaking to the instructor and the student separately.
- Reply within a day or two with what you found and what you will do.
- Follow up later to see whether the problem is solved.
Respect privacy
A parent is entitled to hear about their own child. Do not discuss one family with another, and do not post a student photo, name or result online without the permission of the parent or guardian. See safety, discipline and data privacy.
Parent meetings
Once a term, invite parents of a batch to a short meeting of half an hour. Show what the students have done, explain what comes next and answer questions. Keep it friendly and on time, offer water or tea, and let students present something themselves. Parents who see the work of their child with their own eyes become your strongest supporters, and a meeting also gives you a chance to correct any misunderstanding about fees, attendance or the exam before it grows.
Approaching schools
Start with a respectful visit to the principal or a computer teacher, with a short note on who you are and what you offer. Ask what the school needs, rather than starting with what you want to sell. Many schools welcome a useful guest session, such as safe use of the internet, how to type properly or a simple introduction to a computer skill.
What you can offer a school
- A free talk or short workshop for a class, with the school permission and a teacher present.
- A project day or a science exhibition help session, using the project guides on this site.
- A robotics or electronics demonstration. See robotics and project classes.
- A small, clearly described activity during a holiday period, run with the school knowledge.
Rules for working with schools
- Never go to a class without the principal permission and a school teacher present.
- Do not distribute admission forms or collect money inside a school without approval.
- Do not criticise the school or its teachers.
- Respect the school calendar and exams. Avoid exam weeks.
- Send a thank you note and a short report after any session.
This guide is general advice for planning. It states no membership fee and promises no income, student numbers or acceptance of a certificate by any employer. Ask the head office for the current fee and terms in writing, and check local rules and tax with a professional. Use the planner to test your own numbers.