Advice for playgroup-etud location. please comment!!

Pixie


Joined: 18/03/2009
Posts: 489

Message Posted:
27/04/2009 13:09

Hi

we moved to cyprus last october and Ive been commuting to Istanbul for work. Im thinking of opening an etud-like school activity center for primary school age children ages 5+ with lots of activities from properly qualified teachers.

Ive been teaching English to children aged 1.5 + and Im thinking of doing two playgroups in the mornings. One for 1.5-2.5 year olds (an hourly lesson + unlimited play in the playroom and garden) and one for 2.5+ (2 hrs plus fee play)

I originally thought about opening it in Nicosia but I would like to get some feedback from parents or caregivers, or anyone interested. What do you think? will it work in North cyprus? Would anyone be interested in enrolling their children in a place like this? Would kyrenia be a better option?Or is it a bad idea altogether?

Dont want to commute to Istanbul anymore as my baby is due mid summer, and have found absolutely no baby activity centers like gymboree, or my gym.

Any suggest

Pixie


Joined: 18/03/2009
Posts: 489

Message Posted:
27/04/2009 13:15

couldn't finish the sentence...

anyone with any suggestions would be most welcome

please just tell me what you think...

Im aware of the economic crisis.

maybe I should just get a job in a school.



thanks

the butler


Joined: 22/06/2007
Posts: 1958

Message Posted:
27/04/2009 13:34

Hi Pixie,



Although I have no small children, I think this is an excellent idea and something that is badly needed in the Kyrenia area. I am sure you will get a lot of positive feedback on this. Best of luck.



The butlers wife

vee123


Joined: 15/04/2008
Posts: 393

Message Posted:
27/04/2009 16:39

yes pixie i definitely agree with the butler. my son is 6yrs old and it would be great idea, although my son is in a local turkish school from 8am - 12pm, so not sure if you would consider afternoons some days maybe. I live in esentepe, so kyrenia would not be too far away from me. Nikasea would be too far for me to come. But you are right, there are no activity centres around here. Would be fantastic if you were to do this. do you know how much you would charge?

Pixie


Joined: 18/03/2009
Posts: 489

Message Posted:
27/04/2009 17:18

I thought I'd have 3 groups for after school between 12-4/5pm (ages 6-7, 8-9,10-12) which include daily english lessons from a native speaker teacher ,arts and crafts, cooking, yoga, music,dance and a qualified turkish class teacher.I would have a bus service. The English lessons would be based on the British national curriculum- not e.s.l. suitable for both native and non native speaking children.



I thought about doing this in Nicosia and getting children in from kyrenia.My first thought was that a lot of foreigners living in kyrenia would have their children enrolled in english speaking schools,so they wouldnt be interested in an etud- I would also offer after school courses after 5pm according to demand.



Ideally I would love to open a nursery as well but the costs are way too high, I will do the 2 morning playgroups to begin with.And Im not sure if people with children would like to bring them in for a couple of hours.



I havent got a definite price in my mind but Im thin

Pixie


Joined: 18/03/2009
Posts: 489

Message Posted:
27/04/2009 17:27

Im thinking somewhere along the lines of 250tl for 5 mornings a week for the hourly playgroup (9am-10am) which would include parent or caregiver participation , circle time, songs, nursery rhymes, art activities, stories,and free play before and after.Includes snacks.maximum 13 children.



350tl for 5 mornings a week for the 2.5-4yr old playgroup (1030am-1230pm) same as above, except children would participate alone.Parents could basically spend their mornings there.maximum 13 children



500tl for 5 afternoons per week for the etud (12pm-4/5pm) includes service bus from their school or home and back again in the evenings. a hot lunch,fruit &snacks,and desserts.Also all lessons included from fully qualified teachers as stated above.maximum 15 children.



Im still debating whether or not Nicosia would be a better area for me, as I will have the service bus. My only concern is that people with younger children might not want to come in to Nicosia.



What do you think?

Pixie


Joined: 18/03/2009
Posts: 489

Message Posted:
27/04/2009 17:42

These prices would be for september 2009. Obviously the prices would be lower for those children participating fewer days. I also havent got a price for the activity lessons after 5pm- I will know when I speak to the teachers about hourly rates.

vee123


Joined: 15/04/2008
Posts: 393

Message Posted:
27/04/2009 19:36

i was thinking of maybe 2 or 3 days a week, roughly how much would that be? But nicosia would be too far for me to travel, which would be a real shame as i am defenitely interested.

Jadefarrall


Joined: 26/09/2008
Posts: 112

Message Posted:
27/04/2009 21:18

Hi Pixie, if you do decide to go ahead with this venture could you please send me an email at jen2jade@aol.com as I would be interested in working for you and will forward on my CV. I have had 3 years experience helping to run an afterschool club in england.

Pixie


Joined: 18/03/2009
Posts: 489

Message Posted:
28/04/2009 09:19

vee123 , I havent actually sat down and done a feasibility so I don't know what my expences will be like rent,wages,overhead costs etc. But I'm sure that 2days a week should cost no more than 250 tl and 3days -350tl for the month. As I mentioned above these prices include the service bus to and from the center. Would you consider enrolling your son in Nicosia this way?



The location is very important for me because I want to do private english lessons in groups geared towards the Cambridge certificates (after 5 pm)and I think that mostly TCs would be interested in this for their children. Like I said above, Most families in Kyrenia speak english as a first language so I don't think I would get many children in for that.



Jadefarrall I will send you an email when I get a bit more feedback back from parents, thanks for your interest.