guide · programmes
Coding programmes, explained simply
Schools use a lot of names for their courses. Here is what each one actually means, and roughly what age it suits, so the jargon stops getting in your way.
ScratchJr
typically ages 5 to 7What it is: A tablet app where children snap together colourful blocks to make characters move and tell stories. No reading required.
Good for: The gentlest first taste of coding logic through play.
Scratch
typically ages 7 to 12What it is: Block-based coding on a computer to build games, animations and interactive stories.
Good for: The standard starting point. Teaches sequencing, loops and logic without typing code.
App development
typically ages 9 to 14What it is: Building simple mobile apps, often with tools like App Inventor, using drag-and-drop plus some logic.
Good for: For children who want to make something real they can use on a phone.
Web development
typically ages 10 to 15What it is: Learning HTML, CSS and a little JavaScript to build their own web pages and sites.
Good for: A first step into typed code, with visible, satisfying results.
Python
typically ages 11 and upWhat it is: A real, text-based programming language used widely in industry and schools.
Good for: The natural progression once a child is comfortable reading and with coding logic.
Robotics
typically ages 5 to 16What it is: Building and programming physical robots, often with LEGO Spike or similar kits, from simple builds to competition robots.
Good for: Hands-on and tactile. Great for children who like to build things they can touch.
AI
typically ages 10 and upWhat it is: Introductory workshops on how artificial intelligence works and how to use AI tools responsibly and creatively.
Good for: Timely, but best once a child has some coding foundation.
Ages are a rough guide, not a rule. Readiness matters more than a birthday, and a good school will place your child by ability, not just age.
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