EARLY YEARS
Your children’s happiness and care is of the greatest importance to us and at The British School of Tenerife we do our best to create a secure and nurturing environment for your children to develop socially and academically.
We can offer your child a unique learning experience combining a broad experience of teaching following the English Early Years Foundations Stage (EYFS) developing core British Values whilst at the same time embracing the international culture of the communities that join us and of course the rich Spanish culture that surrounds us.
We provide a safe, caring and supportive environment where children and learning are valued. Our curriculum offers our pupils rich and exciting learning opportunities. We recognise that every child is unique and their individuality is valued, respected and celebrated in our school community.
The main aim of the school is to help our children to fulfil their potential in all areas of learning and development and to grow into happy, effective, caring adults irrespective of background, ability or gender.
Our school is committed to working in partnership with parents to ensure every child can succeed whatever their ability, interest or talent. It is our belief that fostering a positive relationship between parents, children and the school is an essential element in any child’s education.
Our Early Years department caters for children from the age of 20 months to 5 years old.
There are 5 classrooms:
One Playgroup class
Two Nurseries classes
Two Reception classes
General information
SNACK
At a cost of 110€ a year the school provides a daily snack for all the children, this consists of fresh fruit, biscuits, sandwiches, yoghurt, juice, water and milk. (Please see attached menu)
Our two qualified chefs freshly prepare meals and snacks on site every day.
Our three weekly menus provide children with choice and new foods to try. We aim to combine children’s 5-a-day fruit and vegetables into meals and snacks to promote healthy eating. All dietary requirements and preferences are met.
We have a 5* Hygiene Rating for our Kitchen.
LUNCHES
School Lunches are available; the lunches are made fresh on site by our school cooks (please see attached a sample of the menu). If you wish you can also send your child a packed lunch from home; Staff cannot warm food up so we ask you buy a good thermos flask to keep the food warm until lunchtime. Please ensure food is cut up, do not give the children food with bones and food should be brought in plastic containers not glass. If you have any enquiries regarding school lunches please contact Mónica or Merce, the school secretaries
HOME/SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP
Regular and effective communication is essential in helping to ensure your child feels happy and secure in their new environment. At the end of each day you are welcome to enter the classroom and ask about your child´s day, also on the notice board in the class there is an information sheet which tells you about your child´s day. Please inform us of any changes at home, no matter how small they seem to you. (a bad night’s sleep) If you have any concerns or doubts, please speak to the class teacher.
ILLNESS
Staff are not permitted to administer any medication; they may only administer medication for emergency situations.
We ask that if your child is unwell with a fever or sickness that you keep them off for a minimum of 24hours, this is to prevent spreading infection to the other children and staff. In case your child is ill and we need to contact you please ensure that you inform us of any changes to your contact details.
SNACK
At a cost of 110€ a year the school provides a daily snack for all the children, this consists of fresh fruit, biscuits, sandwiches, yoghurt, juice, water and milk. (Please see attached menu)
ALLERGIES.
If your child has any allergies or dietary requirements it is very important that you fill in the questionnaire attached. Please remember to keep staff and secretaries informed of any changes at all times.
MORNING CLUB
We have a morning club available from 7:45am for those parents who need to be at work earlier, if you are interested in this extended facility please speak to Mónica.
UNIFORM
Attached is a uniform policy, we ask that children come to school in the correct uniform. If your child has an accident, then children may be changed into their own clothes. You can buy uniform from the school office at La Luz, if you have any queries please contact Merce on 922 33 69 29.
BIRTHDAYS
Due to children with allergies we ask that you do not send cakes or sweets into school to celebrate your child’s birthday.
Also if your child is having a birthday party and you are inviting the whole class then staff are able to hand out invitations, however if you choose to just invite a few friends we ask that you give the invitations to the parents.
COLLECTION OF CHILDREN.
Children should be collected between 2.45 and 3.00. If by any chance one day you are unable to get here for 3pm then please contact the school office and we will make arrangements for your child to be looked after. The end of the day is a very busy time for us and we ask that when collecting your child, you leave quickly and not stay with your child to play in the playground. This eases congestion in the car park and will create more space for parents of older children who finish at 3.00 or 3.15.
On the attached questionnaire, it enables you to authorize someone else to pick up your child. If you need to send someone who is not authorized on the list, you must contact the school office and then this person must pass by the office to collect a paper which they then pass onto the class teacher when collecting the child.
HELPING YOUR CHILD TO BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT
To make the transition easier for your child, we ask that over the summer you work with your child to increase their independence, please help by encouraging your child to feed themselves, drink from a cup and take jackets and shoes off.
We encourage changing from bottle to beaker from the age of 12 months as extended use of a bottle can cause poor feeding technique, food refusal and speech problems in the future.
ASSEMBLY/END OF TERM SHOWS
On the last Friday of every month there is an assembly in the Early Years playground when the children do some singing and maybe share something they have learnt in class. We also sing Happy Birthday to the children who have had a birthday that month.