After Scratch: Moving to Python, for Australian Kids

Q: What comes after Scratch?

For most children, Python. It keeps every idea from Scratch, such as loops, variables and decisions, but is typed as text and can build much larger and more varied projects. JavaScript and Roblox Luau are other common next steps.

Q: Python vs Scratch for kids: which is easier?

Scratch is easier to start because there are no typing errors. Python is easier for large projects because code can be organised into functions and files. Children usually do Scratch first, then Python.

Q: At what age should a child move from Scratch to Python?

Usually between nine and twelve, depending on how big their Scratch projects are and how comfortably they type. Readiness matters more than age.

Q: What is the hardest part of moving to Python?

Usually indentation, mixing up = and ==, and remembering that typed input is text. These are new because Scratch blocks quietly prevented them.

Q: Is Python free?

Yes. Python is free to download from python.org, and beginners can also use free online editors.

Q: Can my child keep using Scratch while learning Python?

Yes, for fun. Many children keep a Scratch project going alongside, and moving between the two strengthens both.

Q: How long does it take to switch from Scratch to Python?

A confident Scratch coder can usually rebuild their own small games in Python within a few weeks of weekly lessons, and write new programs independently within a term or two.

Q: What should my child build first in Python?

Something they already built in Scratch, such as a guessing game or a quiz. Translating a known game means only the language is new, not the idea.

Q: Does the Australian Curriculum use Python?

It does not require one language, but expects a general-purpose language from Years 7 and 8 and gives Python, JavaScript or C# as examples. Python is a common choice.

Q: What does it cost?

The opening lesson is free and needs no card. After that there is a monthly fee for a group place or for private lessons, both shown under Fees, with no joining charge.

In short

The usual next step after Scratch is Python, a text language that keeps every idea a child already knows (loops, variables, decisions, input) but asks them to type it. Most children are ready somewhere between nine and twelve, once their Scratch projects feel cramped and they can type short words comfortably. The smoothest way across is to rebuild a game they already made in Scratch, line by line, in Python.

Start here

Courses for the move from Scratch to Python

Choose by age. Each one starts by connecting Python to what the child already knows from Scratch.

ASPY / 01

Python and AI for Kids

Ages 9 to 12 in the course's own words. Games, turtle drawings and small AI projects, starting from Scratch ideas.

Open the syllabus →

ASPY / 02

Python for Teens

Ages 13 to 18. A full year from first programs to confident, well-structured Python.

Open the syllabus →

ASPY / 03

Maths Through Coding

Ages 10 to 15. Python used as a tool for school maths, for children who enjoy numbers.

Open the syllabus →

Readiness

Five signs a child is ready to leave Scratch

Age matters less than these signs. A nine year old who shows four of them is often more ready than a twelve year old who shows one.

Signs of readiness for Python (our teaching experience)
Sign	What you might notice
Big projects	Their Scratch projects have many sprites and long scripts that are hard to scroll through
Variables used freely	They invent variables of their own for scores, speeds and timers
Frustration with blocks	They complain that something would be easier "if I could just type it"
Comfortable typing	They type short words and numbers without hunting for every key
Curiosity about real code	They ask what professional programmers use, or try copying code they have seen

Do not rush it

A child who moves to Python too early can lose confidence: every error message feels like failure. A few more months of ambitious Scratch projects is never wasted, because the ideas carry over.

If a child shows only one or two signs, we often suggest a bigger Scratch project first, or Roblox Studio, which introduces text coding inside a familiar world.

Do not wait too long either

Children who stay in Scratch long after they are ready can start to see coding as something for little kids. Moving to Python at that point re-energises them.

The free first class is a good test: the teacher tries a few lines of Python and watches whether the child is excited or deflated.

The Australian Curriculum makes the same move. Years 5 and 6 build "visual programs" with variables and input (AC9TDI6P05); from Years 7 and 8, students write programs "in a general-purpose programming language" (AC9TDI8P09). Doing it a little earlier at home just means school feels familiar. Families still deciding between languages can compare them on our page about kids coding languages.

A worked example

One Scratch game, translated block by block

Our favourite bridge project is a guess-the-number game. The computer picks a secret number from 1 to 100, the player guesses, and the computer answers "Higher!" or "Lower!" until the guess is right. Most children have built something like it in Scratch.

The translation table: Scratch block to Python line (block names from the Scratch Foundation's own block definitions)
Scratch block	Python	What changes
when green flag clicked	the program starts at the top of the file	No start block: Python runs from the first line
set secret to (pick random 1 to 100)	secret = random.randint(1, 100)	Needs import random at the top
set guess to 0	guess = 0	Exactly the same idea, typed
repeat until (guess = secret)	while guess != secret:	The condition flips: until equal becomes while not equal
ask (Guess a number) and wait	input("Guess a number: ")	The question is typed in quotation marks
set guess to (answer)	guess = int(input(...))	int() turns the typed text into a number
if (guess < secret) then say Higher!	if guess < secret: print("Higher!")	A colon and indentation replace the C-shaped block
if (guess > secret) then say Lower!	elif guess > secret: print("Lower!")	elif means "otherwise, if"
say You got it!	print("You got it!")	Output goes to the screen as text

Put together, the Python version is ten lines long, and we ran it to check it behaves exactly like the Scratch game. Python's documentation describes random.randint(a, b) as returning "a random integer N such that a <= N <= b", so 1 and 100 are both possible, just like Scratch's pick random 1 to 100.

The flip that catches everyone

Scratch says repeat until the guess equals the secret. Python's loop says while the guess does not equal the secret. They mean the same thing, but the condition is turned inside out.

Children who copy the Scratch condition straight across write while guess == secret, and the loop never runs. Spotting why is one of the most valuable ten minutes in the whole course.

A bonus question for keen players

How many guesses does a clever player need at most? If they always guess the middle of what is left, each answer halves the possibilities. Seven halvings cover 128 numbers, so 7 guesses are always enough for 1 to 100.

We checked this by running the halving strategy for all 100 secret numbers in Python. The worst case was exactly 7. Children love testing it against a friend.

Sources, read 7 October 2026: block labels from the Scratch Foundation's scratch-blocks repository (msg/json/en.json); Python documentation for the random module. The ten-line game and the halving check are our own code.

Four traps

The four traps that catch new Python programmers

Every Scratch coder who moves to Python meets these. None of them is a sign of a weak student; they are features of typed code that blocks protected them from.

Beginner traps when moving from Scratch to Python
Trap	What happens	How we teach past it
Indentation	Code inside a loop or if is not indented, so Python complains or runs it at the wrong time	Children colour the indented lines on paper first, matching each to the C-shaped block it replaces
= and ==	They write if guess = secret, and Python reports an error	One equals sign stores a value; two compare. We say "becomes" and "is equal to" aloud
Text is not a number	input() gives text, so comparing it with a number fails	We print the type of the value so they see "str" and know to use int()
Flipped conditions	A Scratch "repeat until" is copied straight into a while loop	Translating the guessing game, where the flip is unavoidable

Read the error

Python error messages name the line and the kind of problem. Reading them slowly, aloud, is the habit we build in the first week.

Change one thing

When something breaks, change one thing and run again. Changing five things at once hides which one mattered.

Predict, then run

Before pressing run, say what should happen. The gap between the prediction and the result is where the learning is.

Scratch and Python

Python vs Scratch for kids: what each does well

The comparison parents ask about most. They are not rivals; they are stages. But each has real strengths.

Scratch and Python side by side
	Scratch	Python
How you code	Drag and snap blocks	Type text
Typing errors	Impossible	Common at first, then rare
Graphics and sound	Built in from the first minute	Needs a library such as turtle or Pygame
Large projects	Hard to organise beyond a few screens	Split into functions and files
What it leads to	Mainly more Scratch	Web, data, AI, games, school and university computing
Cost	Free, in a browser	Free to download; the current release on python.org is 3.14.8

What children miss from Scratch

Instant graphics. A Scratch cat moves the moment you click; a first Python program prints text. We bring graphics back early with the turtle library, so children draw spirals and stars within their first few lessons.

Sharing. Scratch has its own community site. Python projects are shared differently, by running them for family or, later, publishing them on the web.

What children gain

Freedom. Python can read files, talk to websites, crunch numbers and run AI models. The ceiling is gone.

Respect. Many children find it deeply motivating to write the same language used by professional programmers. Our longer Scratch and Python comparison covers the decision for younger learners.

Stages

Four stages from Scratch coder to Python coder

With a weekly lesson, most children who arrive confident in Scratch reach the third stage within two terms.

Crossing from Scratch to Python
Stage	What your child can do
1. Translate	Rebuild a small Scratch game in Python with help, using a translation table
2. Write	Write a new Python program from a blank file, fixing their own error messages
3. Organise	Split a program into functions and reuse them, which Scratch made awkward
4. Extend	Use libraries for graphics, data or AI to build something Scratch could not

Should they keep using Scratch?

For fun, absolutely. Many children keep a Scratch project going alongside Python for months, and switching between them strengthens both.

In lessons we focus on Python once the move starts, so the new habits stick.

School terms and holidays

Lessons run through the four school terms if you wish and can pause in holidays. Billing is monthly.

The day and time are agreed in the free first class, in your own state's time.

The catalogue

Courses after Scratch

Grouped by where a child wants their Python to take them.

I

First Python

The core step

ASPY / FIRST / 01

Python and AI for Kids

From Scratch ideas to Python games and AI.

Open the syllabus

ASPY / FIRST / 02

Python for Teens

Beginner to advanced across a full year.

Open the syllabus

ASPY / FIRST / 03

Problem Solving for Kids

Logic and algorithms to sharpen thinking first.

Open the syllabus

II

Python for making

Games and web

ASPY / MAKE / 01

Game Development for Kids

Bigger games across Scratch, Roblox and beyond.

Open the syllabus

ASPY / MAKE / 02

Roblox Game Coding

Another text language, inside Roblox Studio.

Open the syllabus

ASPY / MAKE / 03

Web Development for Kids

Web pages, the other common next step.

Open the syllabus

III

Python for thinking

Maths and data

ASPY / THINK / 01

Maths Through Coding

School maths explored with Python.

Open the syllabus

ASPY / THINK / 02

AI Literacy for Kids

How machine learning works, ages 8 to 14.

Open the syllabus

ASPY / THINK / 03

Competitive Programming

Algorithm puzzles for confident teens.

Open the syllabus

How lessons run

Live lessons for new Python coders in Australia

We teach from India, a few hours behind every Australian state, so after-school and weekend lessons in Australia fall comfortably in our working day.

Weekday, after school

The usual choice for primary-age coders.

Weekday, early evening

Popular with high school students.

Weekend

Longer sessions for translating bigger projects.

A free first class

Your child translates a few Scratch blocks into Python with a teacher, which shows quickly whether they are ready.

Groups

Fifteen to twenty children making the same move from blocks to text.

One to one

For a child who wants to bring a big Scratch project across.

Their keyboard

The child types every line; teachers point, question and explain.

Parents can see

Lessons are live, so you can watch the first Python steps.

Bring a project

Children can bring their own Scratch game to translate.

Student work

Projects built by our students

Finished projects by students who once started in Scratch. Browse more in our student labs.

AI and ML

NutriLife

An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target.

by Bhavya · Open it

AI and ML

Misti

A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student.

by Harshit · Open it

AI and ML

GuardianX

An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online.

by Vivaan · Open it

Web app

SkyCast

A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location.

by Krish

Fees

Fees for Python lessons

Australian families pay a monthly fee in US dollars. There is nothing to pay to join and no fixed term.

Free first class

USD 0

no card required

A few Scratch blocks turned into Python
An honest view on readiness
No card or bank details

Book it

Group batch

USD 100

a month, billed in US dollars

Fifteen to twenty children per class
One teacher across the months
Classmates making the same move
Stop after any month

Start here

One to one

USD 150

a month, billed in US dollars

Focused on your child's own projects
Pace set by them
Good for translating a big game

Enquire

What families say

Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews

Taken verbatim from reviews on our Google profile.

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"Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease."

Samriddha Mondal

Student

★★★★★

"One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development."

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Student

★★★★★

"My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative."

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"Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation."

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"I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding."

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Questions from parents

What parents ask about the step after Scratch

What comes after Scratch?

For most children, Python. It keeps every idea from Scratch, such as loops, variables and decisions, but is typed as text and can build much larger and more varied projects. JavaScript and Roblox Luau are other common next steps.

Python vs Scratch for kids: which is easier?

Scratch is easier to start because there are no typing errors. Python is easier for large projects because code can be organised into functions and files. Children usually do Scratch first, then Python.

At what age should a child move from Scratch to Python?

Usually between nine and twelve, depending on how big their Scratch projects are and how comfortably they type. Readiness matters more than age.

What is the hardest part of moving to Python?

Usually indentation, mixing up = and ==, and remembering that typed input is text. These are new because Scratch blocks quietly prevented them.

Is Python free?

Yes. Python is free to download from python.org, and beginners can also use free online editors.

Can my child keep using Scratch while learning Python?

Yes, for fun. Many children keep a Scratch project going alongside, and moving between the two strengthens both.

How long does it take to switch from Scratch to Python?

A confident Scratch coder can usually rebuild their own small games in Python within a few weeks of weekly lessons, and write new programs independently within a term or two.

What should my child build first in Python?

Something they already built in Scratch, such as a guessing game or a quiz. Translating a known game means only the language is new, not the idea.

Does the Australian Curriculum use Python?

It does not require one language, but expects a general-purpose language from Years 7 and 8 and gives Python, JavaScript or C# as examples. Python is a common choice.

What does it cost?

The opening lesson is free and needs no card. After that there is a monthly fee for a group place or for private lessons, both shown under Fees, with no joining charge.

Elsewhere on this site

Related pages

More for Australian families making the move to text coding.

Coding classes in Australia

Our hub page for Australian families.

Kids coding languages

Python, JavaScript and Luau compared.

Coding for Year 7

When school starts using a typed language.

Coding for 9 and 10 year olds

The age when many children make the move.

Game development for kids

Python games and what follows.

Python for 10 year olds

A first Python course at ten.

Start here

Book a free first class

Send your details and we will ring at a time that suits. In the free class your child turns a few of their own Scratch blocks into Python with a teacher, and you hear honestly whether now is the moment to move.

Reading before you book? How we teach shows a lesson in detail, and the courses page maps out what follows Python.

WhatsApp us · +91 91233 66161 · connect@modernagecoders.com

WhatsApp is the quickest way to reach us from most Australian phones. The +91 prefix reflects our India-based team; we have no Australian office.

Want a class sooner? Book a priority demo

A priority demo is a full class of about 45 to 60 minutes. After the class the mentor sends a written skill report and a personal learning roadmap on WhatsApp. If you enrol, the demo fee is adjusted against your first month's fee. Share your demo Order ID with us on WhatsApp and we take it off.

Book a priority demo

Courses for the move from Scratch to Python

Python and AI for Kids

Python for Teens

Maths Through Coding

Five signs a child is ready to leave Scratch

Do not rush it

Do not wait too long either

One Scratch game, translated block by block

The flip that catches everyone

A bonus question for keen players

The four traps that catch new Python programmers

Read the error

Change one thing

Predict, then run

Python vs Scratch for kids: what each does well

What children miss from Scratch

What children gain

Four stages from Scratch coder to Python coder

Should they keep using Scratch?

School terms and holidays

Courses after Scratch

First Python

Python and AI for Kids

Python for Teens

Problem Solving for Kids

Python for making

Game Development for Kids

Roblox Game Coding

Web Development for Kids

Python for thinking

Maths Through Coding

AI Literacy for Kids

Competitive Programming

Live lessons for new Python coders in Australia

A free first class

Groups

One to one

Their keyboard

Parents can see

Bring a project

Projects built by our students

NutriLife

Misti

GuardianX

SkyCast

Fees for Python lessons

Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews

What parents ask about the step after Scratch

What comes after Scratch?

Python vs Scratch for kids: which is easier?

At what age should a child move from Scratch to Python?

What is the hardest part of moving to Python?

Is Python free?

Can my child keep using Scratch while learning Python?

How long does it take to switch from Scratch to Python?

What should my child build first in Python?

Does the Australian Curriculum use Python?

What does it cost?

Related pages

Coding classes in Australia

Kids coding languages

Coding for Year 7

Coding for 9 and 10 year olds

Game development for kids

Python for 10 year olds

Book a free first class

Want a class sooner? Book a priority demo

Keep exploring Modern Age Coders

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Free resources

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