BSN Junior Schools Welcome

Welcome to the BSN

We know that moving to a new country and/or starting a new school is an exciting time. At The British School in The Netherlands (BSN) we do all that we can to help families feel settled and at home as quickly as possible.

We are very experienced in welcoming newcomers; not only in September, but throughout the whole school year.

We know that you will have lots of questions about how the school works and what day-to-day BSN life will be like for you and your family. This booklet is designed to help answer most of those questions, but please remember that if you are unsure about anything at all, you just need to ask – we are here to help.

At the beginning of each school year, new students and parents are invited to a welcome event during which there will be an opportunity to meet with your Headteacher and teaching staff. There will also be a chance for you to tour the buildings, familiarise yourself with the school and find out the location of your classrooms.

Day-to-day communication

Compass is the BSN’s password-protected website. It provides direct, personalised access to Notes Home, the school calendar, school news and curriculum information. Compass is our key method of day-to-day communication with parents. We do not send paper notes home in school bags, but rather use a system of electronic notes and messages sent through this portal. You will receive your personal log-in details within 24 hours of your child starting school with us. Please make sure that you log in and check for updates regularly.

For more information please refer to the BSN or email Compass@britishschool.nl for further assistance.

General enquiries

For general questions relating to your child’s wellbeing and progress in school, the class teacher is the first person you should speak to. You can approach them before or after school to arrange a suitable time to speak to them. Where necessary, the School Office will be happy to make initial contact with the class teacher.

The central communication point for all general questions and any messages relating to your child’s daily routine is the School Office. Feel free to phone, call in at any time or email us.

Larger issues or concerns

If your concerns or questions are more serious or confidential in nature, you are welcome to contact the Deputy or Headteacher who will help you as quickly as possible. You can either contact the School Office to arrange an appointment or email them directly –please refer to Compass for contact information.

What does my child need to bring to school?

One of the best ways to ensure that your child feels happy, confident and settled on their first day at school is to make sure that they have with them all the equipment that they need.

The exact days that some items need to be brought into school will be communicated via the class teacher in the first day or two of school. Please ensure that you check Compass for this information.

A library book bag

These are available from the online uniform supplier Trutex [link] and all students (except F1) should use one to transport their books to and from school.

PE bag

These are available from the school online uniform supplier Trutex and all students should use one for their PE kit. Bags with kit are generally left at school for Year 1 to Year 2, except when taken (or sent!) home for washing. In Year 3 to Year 6, they are taken home each day. Every piece of clothing must have your child’s name clearly marked.

Refillable water bottle

For use within lesson time; proper hydration helps to improve concentration levels.

Label belongings

Please ensure that ALL items are clearly labelled with your child’s name.

Snack and lunch

Children need to bring a packed lunch to school unless a school lunch has been ordered for them in advance. All children need to bring a separate morning snack. Lunch and snack boxes must be labelled with your child’s name. Hot (catered) school lunches are available to students in selected year groups at both Junior Schools.

Snack

We recommend a small snack, for example a drink and a piece of fruit. Further information will be sent home via Compass.

Lunch

Please provide something simple such as sandwiches, yoghurt, chopped raw vegetables, fruit, a biscuit and a drink. Some children like to bring warm food such as pasta in a food flask. No nuts, or products containing nuts, including nut butters and spreads like Nutella please. Sweets are not allowed in school and are only used for special celebrations.

Being healthy is both an important aspect of growing up and becoming a responsible adult as well as a part of the curriculum. Parents can help school greatly by providing a balanced and healthy lunch for the children. It is our joint responsibility and opportunity to educate them well in healthy living.

Student health

Each school has a School Health Care team whose primary role is to assist children who become ill or hurt during the course of the school day. For general medical advice, parents should contact their family doctor (Huisarts). The School Health Care team is on site from 08:30–16:30.

As soon as a child starts school, it is vital that the School Health Care team and class teachers are notified of all health-related problems such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes and allergies. Please ensure you complete the digital School Health Record form

available on Compass and return it to the School Health Care team.

All health information given is held in the strictest confidence and only shared on a need-to-know basis.

General health

If your child has diarrhoea, vomiting or fever, please keep them at home until they have been clear of any symptoms for at least 24 hours (for fever) and 48 hours (for diarrhoea or vomiting). This helps prevent the spread of infection to others in the school. If your child develops an infectious illness or condition, please inform the School Health Care team as soon as possible. If your child is sick, please inform the School Office by 08:30 via Compass, telephone or email.

Please ensure that your child is well enough to return to school after they have had an illness. Children should not return to school until they are well enough to participate in all school activities, including playtimes. If your child cannot do sport for any reason, e.g. Doctor’s advice due to illness or injury, parents should inform the School Office via email, both at the beginning of the exclusion and when they can return to normal activity.

Apart from chronic illnesses (asthma, epilepsy etc.) we request that all medication is given outside of school hours, where possible. Asthmatic children should be provided with an inhaler/medication to keep permanently in school.

Allergies

If your child has food allergies, please provide the school with their special food for snacks and treats. If providing any treats or food for events or birthdays, please include a list of ingredients so we can look after our children with food allergies. The school operates a no nuts advisory policy at all times.

Please do not hesitate to contact the School Health Care team or your child’s teacher at any time if you have any concerns or worries regarding this matter.

What should my child wear?

We believe that a uniform encourages a sense of unity and common purpose – a particularly important consideration as we endeavour to welcome children from a wide variety of countries and provide them with a true sense of belonging. Details of the school uniform you will require for your child can be found on the school website and on Compass.

Uniform is worn by students starting from Foundation 2. Children in Foundation 1 wear their own clothes.

The online uniform supplier Trutex (Trutex.com/eu) is an online service only and can be found via the BSN website or Compass. Orders can be delivered to you at home or via the School Office.

Customer support

For all your questions regarding the BSN uniform, please contact Trutex’s customer service department.

Tel: +31 (0)20 8088620

email: tdint@trutex.com

Labelling

All items should be clearly labelled with your child’s name and class. The online uniform supplier Trutex sells labels and name tapes.

Jewellery

In general, jewellery should not be worn in school. We do allow children with pierced ears to wear small stud earrings, but request that they are removed or covered over during PE lessons.

Helping you feel at home

Welcoming new parents

We understand that moving to a new country and culture can be an overwhelming experience – whether you are an experienced expat or this is the first time you have left your home country.

For many parents, school can provide a vital community link, offering a chance to quickly make friends and establish an important support network. We have various ways in which we help new families settle into life in the Netherlands and at the BSN.

The BSN Family Association

The Family Association (FA) is the backbone of our community and is run by parents, for parents. They are here to welcome, support, and help you and your family make the most of your time at the BSN. Moving to a new country or a new school system raises many questions and it can be an overwhelming experience. The school can provide a vital community link, offering a chance to quickly make friends and establish an important support network.

The FA includes several teams:

Welcome Team welcomes you and makes the integration into our community as easy as possible. With team members on each campus, they will help answer questions related to everyday living in the Netherlands. Some questions can be covered by the school, and others are better addressed by parents.

Social Team offers a wide variety of informal, social events and activities/workshops to cater to all interests.

Secondhand Uniform runs a shop and holds sales throughout the year to help parents acquire affordable uniforms.

The International Team aims to make contact with new parents of the same nationality or who speak the same personal language. A list of representatives from the team can be found on BSN Compass.

By joining the BSN, you are automatically a member of the Family Association and can join any event or activity throughout the year. The weekly parent coffee mornings are a great place to start! The FA also runs Facebook Community groups where you can connect with other parents online. You can find more information about the FA and their activities on Compass, in the Community section.

Getting involved at school

We are always grateful to the many parents who come into the school on a regular basis to help in a variety of ways.

Parents get involved in many activities such as art, computing, cooking, gardening, group reading, stories, special days and trips. If you have a particular skill or area of expertise to share we would also be delighted to hear about it.

In addition to this general volunteering we have a number of more formal ways in which you can become involved in school life. If you’re interested in volunteering on a regular basis, please contact the Deputy Head of your campus.

Parent workshops

During the year, the Headteacher and staff run a number of parent workshops. They are very popular and provide a great opportunity to discuss teaching and learning. You’re most welcome to come along to the school for the various sessions. Parents will receive invitations to Curriculum Evenings and some Curriculum Workshops during the year. These workshops explain how we teach, how children learn and cover some of the content of the curriculum.

What will my child learn?

This booklet is not intended to provide you with pages of detailed curriculum information. Information on what your child will learn during their time at the BSN is provided regularly via a Note Home on Compass. In addition to this curriculum information, you will also find helpful advice on ways that you can support your child on Compass.

Topics and themes for learning

The curriculum is taught partly as separate subjects but also through themes and topics which help to establish meaningful links across the curriculum. Information about the specific topics and themes is communicated to parents and children throughout the year and can be found on Compass. Outdoor learning is an important aspect of the curriculum. Foundation Stage, Year 1 and Year 2 have daily outdoor access. Forest School activities run throughout the whole school, from Foundation 1 to Year 6.

School trips and special events

School trips are organised as part of the curriculum. In this way, many subjects are enriched. The calendar of trips is different for each year group and detailed information is sent out via a Note Home on Compass prior to any trip. You can also look ahead to get an overview of key events by looking at the school calendar on Compass.

Alongside the trips, the children are regularly involved in a variety of activities and events. The traditional Dutch celebrations of Sinterklaas in December and Koningsdag in April are particular highlights. We also hold Sports Days in the summer and a variety of themed days (e.g. International Day) giving everyone a chance to enjoy the diversity of the BSN.

What about home learning?

We believe that parental involvement in a child’s education is not an added extra, but is an important part of the learning process. Young children need the interest and encouragement of their parents and lots of praise. They also need their rest and play.

It is important therefore to strike the correct balance between follow-up to the learning in school and introducing children to a wider range of activities out of school that will help develop the whole person.

It is with this in mind that the school follows a gradual build-up of ‘homework’ from shared activities such as reading together in Foundation 2, to more regular home learning in Year 6. In Year 3 to Year 6, we have produced detailed information on what to expect in relation to home learning. Every child in Year 3 to Year 6 will receive this information in September or on starting school.

How can I help?

Providing a supportive quiet environment at home, where the children feel positive and motivated to apply themselves, without distractions, is essential. As parents you can help encourage your child’s interest in their learning through discussion, by helping them to locate relevant materials such as books, photos, artefacts or useful websites and by taking them to visit appropriate museums, galleries or other places of interest.

How will I find out how my child is doing?

Parent school contact

We believe that excellent parent/teacher relationships are a priority. We do all that we can to ensure regular and open contact with you. You will be invited to parent-teacher consultation meetings where you can discuss your child’s progress, find out about their next steps and how you can support them. There are also other opportunities throughout the school year for you to find out what your child is learning.

We run various events – such as those listed below –to help you to understand how well your child is achieving, as well as learning about the curriculum.

● English as an Additional Language (EAL) coffee mornings

● Curriculum information evenings

● Subject workshops

● Individual parent consultations with written consultation record

● Written school reports

‘Tapestry’ is an online learning journal for children in the younger year groups. The journal records photos, video and observations which enable you to share your child’s experiences and significant learning moments at school.

Learning and Assessment

Children’s learning, achievement and progress is analysed week by week. Teacher Assessment is carried out in many different ways, including observation, discussion, questioning and by marking children’s work, identifying what it is that children need to do next to improve. Teachers also make use of standardised assessment materials in order to gain further information about children’s progress.

The information gathered from this adds to the overall picture of each child which teachers build up throughout the year. This is communicated to you through parent consultations, as well as reports.

What if I need to contact the teacher?

Teachers are always happy to see parents when they are available – the best time for enquiries is often immediately after school. Please note that teachers need to concentrate on their students’ learning and so will not always be available during the school day. It is always best to speak to your child’s teacher early if you have concerns so that a small issue does not become a large one. It is also possible to contact teachers directly via email if you so wish; email addresses are available on Compass.

Promoting positive behaviour

The school has a strong ethos of promoting positive behaviour. This is reinforced regularly through the following practices:

Assemblies

Assemblies are used throughout the school year. They often follow a theme, for instance sharing, loyalty or perseverance. The children’s achievements in and out of school are also reported and praised during assemblies.

A range of awards and certificates are given out to the children to encourage good behaviour and self-esteem. These can be given for such things as progress in academic work, kindness to others, helpfulness in class, extra effort, or good behaviour.

Class agreement

At the start of the year the children in each class will draw up their own agreement with some guidance from the teacher. This is displayed in class and the children regularly remind each other of their agreements.

House system

From Foundation 2 upwards, children will be allocated to a ‘House’ -

● Amsterdam | red

● Gouda | yellow

● Delft | blue

● Leiden | green

Various games, special days, sporting competitions and other rewards are run through this House system throughout the year. More information on the House system can be found on the website.

Playtimes

In the Junior Schools, we recognise that access to the outdoors and playtimes are an important part of every child’s day. Through play, children develop vital personal, social and physical skills, as well as have fun with friends.

Playing by our agreements

All children are taught to respect each other and our school playground agreements. The school’s behaviour code applies throughout the school, including the playground. Playground friends or buddies are children who help to support friendships.

In order to allow children to play particular kinds of games without being disturbed, or disturbing other children’s play, some parts of the play space are ‘zoned’. Zones vary during the year according to the weather but include football zones and quiet zones. There is also a variety of play equipment put out to add interest. The playgrounds reflect the importance of outdoor learning.

Playtime supervision

The school has playground supervisors who help the teachers or teaching assistants on duty to look after the children during playtimes.

Activities

In addition to the curricular opportunities available to BSN students, the school organises a large range of co-curricular activities (CCAs).

We are very proud of our CCA programme, which offers BSN students from Year 1 and above an opportunity every term to experience a wide and varied range of different activities. With activities ranging from academic clubs, sport and wellbeing and many more in between, your child has opportunities to pursue their hobbies and interests with other likeminded students, or simply to try something new. The exact programme varies from term to term. Details on which co-curricular activities are running each term are sent out via Compass and you can sign your child up online.

Please make sure club preferences/sign-ups are submitted in a timely manner to avoid disappointment.

If you have any queries regarding co-curricular activities, please contact the School Office in the first instance.

If your child is taking part in a co-curricular activity at another campus, separate travel arrangements will need to be arranged.

Academic Clubs

Language Classes

Creative Arts

Global Citizens

Music and Performing Arts

Sport and Wellbeing

After school and holiday care

As the exclusive Out of School Care partner of the BSN, Zein International Childcare offers an Englishspeaking After School Care programme during term time and a fun Holiday Care programme during all BSN holidays. At their spacious, state-of-the-art, ecofriendly facilities, they provide a fun and active award winning program, designed for international children.

After School Care

A healthy and nutritious fresh snack is provided on arrival to recharge the batteries, after which the activity programme starts. For the older children some time is made for home learning first, then it’s time to do what children do best – have fun! Set in a relaxed environment, the programme offers a range of both outdoor and indoor activities in a home-like environment.

Zein’s centres are run by qualified, caring childcare professionals, many of whom have an international background.

Childcare locations

Junior School Leidschenveen students attend ‘The Willows’ – conveniently located at the heart of the school’s campus. Students from Junior School Vlaskamp are collected by Zein staff and transported by coach to ‘The Estate’ – Zein’s prime location in the Benoordenhout area, at less than 10 minutes’ drive from the school. Both ‘The Estate’ and ‘The Willows’ locations also offer Day Care for children aged 0-4. Centrally located between the BSN Junior Schools, ‘The Little Castle’ in Voorburg is the third convenient Zein Day Care location for BSN families.

For further information, to schedule a tour, or to register your child for Out of School Care, please contact Zein’s friendly team on 070 326 8263 or info@zeinchildcare.nl, or visit www.zeinchildcare.nl.

Term dates

School year 2023 | 2024

Autumn Term

First Day of Term Mon 4 Sept 2023

Half Term Break

Mon 16 Oct - Mon 27 Oct 2023 (Inclusive)

Last Day of Term (midday finish) Tue 19 Dec 2023

Spring Term

First Day of Term Mon 8 Jan 2024

Half Term Break

Last Day of Term (midday finish)

Summer Term

First Day of Term

School closed

Mon 19 Feb - Fri 24 Feb 2024 (Inclusive) **

Thur 28 Mar 2024

Tue 16 Apr 2024

Thur 9 May, Fri 10 May (Ascension Day) & Mon 20 May 2024 (Whit Monday)

Half Term Break Mon 27 May - Fri 31 May 2024 (Inclusive)

Last Day of Term (midday finish)

Thur 18 July 2024

** Please note: On Monday 26 February, Junior School children and their parents will have Learner-Led Conferences.

The BSN Character Profile

We give our students the opportunity to develop:

● Courage

● Perseverance

● Creativity

● Curiosity

● Digital responsibility

● Compassion

● Environmental integrity

● Collaboration

We are proud that our students demonstrate wellrounded characteristics that enable them to succeed in all aspects of their lives. The BSN Character Profile (below) defines eight attributes that we believe are truly important for a BSN student to develop at the school. Courage, Perseverance, Creativity, Curiosity, Digital Responsibility, Compassion, Collaboration and Environmental Integrity are characteristics embedded throughout our curriculum irrespective of age, year group or campus.

Our Character Profile is a powerful tool that not only binds us together as a community, but equips us with invaluable life skills.

Mr Creative

Ms Collaboration

Ms Digital Responsibility

Ms Courage

Ms Curious

Mr Compassion

Mr Perseverance

Mr Environmental Integrity