Dear Families,
WELCOME TO NURSERY
Welcome to Nursery! We are excited that your children will be joining our Nursery classes this year and can’t wait to meet them.
In Nursery we support children aged 3-4 years old to acquire new skills, build confidence and independence as well as set up a life-long love of learning. Your child’s time in our classrooms will be spent mastering foundational skills in mathematics, literacy and other creative pursuits, as well as guiding their personal and social development. Among the many highlights of a typical day in Nursery, children can expect to:
● Make friends from around the world
● Play in a large outdoor setting, with ready access to nature
● Find appropriate levels of challenge and risk
● Develop their imagination and creativity following teacher-led activities, stories and games
The schedule of our week, as well as the setup of our learning environment, will change as the year goes on. We progress from a free-flowing day focused on the children's interests to following more structured routines. Our curriculum grows with your child accommodating and adjusting to their learning needs.
At BISP, we prioritise fostering strong and supportive relationships, recognising that clear and regular communication between home and school is paramount for ensuring your child's success. Attached to the letter, you will find key information about what to prepare for the start of our new school year. If you have any questions relating to this, or feel there is anything else we need to know about your child in advance, please do let me know.
We are greatly looking forward to meeting with you and your children in person, as we start a year that will be filled with adventure, fun and learning.
Best regards,
The Nursery Team.
MEET THE NURSERY TEAM
Neil Griffith Year Leader ngriffith@bisphuket.ac.th
NURSERYRED
Emily Price Nursery Teacher eprice@bisphuket.ac.th
NURSERYBLUE
Ed Davenport Nursery Teacher edavenport@bisphuket.ac.th
NURSERYYELLOW
Miss Kwan TeachingAssistant
Miss Jit TeachingAssistant
Miss Pla TeachingAssistant
Miss Mam TeachingAssistant
Miss Hayley Learning SUpport Teacher
Miss Jam TeachingAssistant
THE SCHOOL DAY
Nursery children attend five full days from Monday to Friday. The school day begins at 7.50am and we ask that an adult take the children to their classroom door. It is very important for your child to be on time as this prepares them for the rest of the day. If children arrive after 8.05am, parents must register their child at the Primary Office. It is important that we have your child’s attendance recorded in case of an emergency.
Home time is 2.15pm and children should be picked up from their classroom door. Please inform the class teacher if somebody else is collecting your child or you are running late. Children that are not collected by 2.25pm will be taken to wait in the Primary Office.
SETTLING YOUR CHILD
The first few weeks, when a child is settling into an Early Years setting, is a time of crucial importance to their later happiness. All children are individuals and while some children will adjust fairly easily to the new environment and new routines, others will take longer to feel comfortable and secure. Together with your child’s class teacher we will decide on how best to settle your child into their new environment. This may require you to stay with your child for a short time or for them to attend for shorter periods of time initially. Teachers will reflect each day on how well your child is adjusting and, with the child’s well-being in mind, will make plans for the following day/days. Should your child become very upset you may be asked to come and collect them early.
ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL
Parents are asked to email primary@bisphuket.ac.th before 7:30am if your child will be absent. All absences will be listed as unauthorised until notification is received.
DAILY REQUIREMENTS
All Nursery children are expected to wear a school uniform. The Early Years uniform is a blue polo shirt and navy blue shorts or a dress which can be purchased from the school shop. The polo shirt and blue shorts should be worn on the days that your child has PE lessons (no dresses, please).
Children should wear shoes that are comfortable and which they can manage themselves (no laces). We recommend that children wear a closed-toe shoe to school each day, with running shoes in their school bags for the days when your child has PE lessons.
Spare uniforms and underwear should be brought to school each day in a school bag, with a plastic bag for the return of wet clothing.
All items must be clearly labelled with your child’s name.
Hats, book bags and water bottles
All children are required to wear a hat when playing outside. These can be left in school during the week and taken home to wash at weekends. We also ask that parents apply sunscreen to their children before coming to school. Please also send your child to school with a simple and easy to use water bottle each day.
COMMUNICATION
It is very important that parents and teachers communicate regularly about each child’s learning and development. Teachers will meet with you during scheduled parent teacher conferences throughout the year. If you would like to speak to the teacher in addition to these parent teacher conferences please arrange a meeting with the teacher. If there are any changes in your child’s behaviour, health or general routines, please let your child’s teacher know. Often, simple changes to a child’s routine e.g. a family member visiting, can have an impact on their behaviour in school. It is good for the teacher to know any information so that they can understand each child better.
In Early Years, we use an application called ‘Toddle’ as a learning platform to document and connect families with their child’s learning and development. Teachers use photos and videos to record and track each child’s individual learning and progress. Teachers will give new parents a link to join and you will be able to access your child’s journal. It is important that parents check Toddle regularly so that they don’t miss any photos or important announcements. Please note that teachers may not be able to check Toddle during the day so if you have an urgent message please contact the Primary Office.
Alongside the Toddle communication, parents will also receive regular information emails from the Primary Principal and the Head of School. Each term, teachers will invite parents to individual Parent Consultations to discuss the play and learning of their child. Over the year, Teachers will arrange learning workshops for parents and play sessions so that parents can explore the environment with their child.
PLAY BASED LEARNING
Throughout the Early Years, children are actively encouraged to learn through play.
Through play, children can discover their own interests, abilities and limitations; they imagine, investigate and explore. They develop memory skills, build vocabulary, learn new skills and knowledge and learn how to get on with adults and other children.
CURRICULUM
The Early Years learning experience here at BISP is based on the EYFS 2021 framework and is supported by the non-statutory guidance of ‘Birth to 5 Matters’. It includes:
● The seven areas of learning and development (see next page)
● Assessment through high-quality, age-appropriate observations and discussions with the children
● A strong focus on English language development through quality interactions in a language-rich environment
● A strong focus on self-regulation and executive function to build strong foundations for learning and development
SPECIALIST LESSONS AND TEACHERS IN NURSERY
Library
Children visit the Library once a week to enjoy a story and choose a book to take and read at home. Children can choose a book that they are interested in and must return it the following week to change.
PE
Children will be attending two weekly PE lessons. The school’s PE department will run this. The polo shirt and blue shorts uniform should be worn on the days that your child has PE lessons (no dresses, please). Running shoes should be kept in your child’s bag.
Music
Each class will have one music lesson per week, run by a specialist music teacher.
Swimming
Nursery children will attend a swimming lesson one time per week. For this they will need a swimsuit and towel on the day of their lesson. Swimming hats, slip-on waterproof sandals and goggles are also recommended.
Swimming is a very important part of our curriculum and is not optional, unless there is a medical certificate or valid reason for not joining the swimming lessons.
SNACK and LUNCH
Please inform your child’s teacher of any allergies and food restrictions so that we can arrange for your child to have an appropriate meal. Children are provided with a snack every morning, this is usually a variety of fruit and a pastry. Children are always supported by Early Years staff when eating and staff members eat lunch with the children. At home time, children will be offered a fruit snack. Please do not send food to school in children’s bags or share food with any child apart from your own.
It is important to note that we have a strict ‘no nuts’ policy at our school.
TOILETING
We encourage the children to go to the toilet independently. Please let us know if your child needs support or reminding to go to the toilet. Please help your child by supporting them to be as independent as possible when toileting at home.
SLEEP
Nursery children are welcome to sleep in school. We supply a mattress and sheet and ask that parents please provide a blanket and pillow. These can remain in school all week and should be taken home on Fridays to wash. Please speak directly with your classroom teacher for more information about how your child’s sleeping needs can be accommodated.
BIRTHDAYS
We love to celebrate birthdays in Nursery. Please give the class teacher at least a few days’ notice and ask for a suitable time slot to bring in a treat for the children. Please ensure all food is nut free. If you are bringing cake, please provide plates, forks/spoons, a cutting knife and candles. For ease, we recommend cupcakes or doughnuts. Please, no individual gift bags.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
There are various after school activities available to children in Nursery. We ask that parents collect their children at 2:15pm to assist with getting them to their activity. Parents can sign up to these via the Schoolsbuddy. The Primary Office can give you more information about After School Activities. You can go to the office in person or email them on: primary@bisphuket.ac.th You are also welcome to email the activity providers directly for further details and costs:
● Learn to Swim: lts@bisphuket.ac.th
● Tennis: glemore@bisphuket.ac.th
● Gymnastics: info@phuketgymnastics.com
● BISP Dance School/Ballet/Cheerleading: swilson@bisphuket.ac.th
SICKNESS
If your child is sick, please keep them at home until they are well again. If they have had diarrhoea or a fever it is school policy that they should be free from medication or symptoms for at least 24 hours before returning to school. We have a Nursing Team that is always present on campus and they will be happy to assist and offer advice. If we believe that your child is sick after being brought to school, we will take them to see the nurse and the nursing team may ask you to come to school to collect them. If children have been prescribed medicine to take during the school day, it should be labelled and taken directly to the school nurse. Teachers cannot administer medicine.
If your child is sick and unable to come to school you can contact their class teacher via Toddle or the Primary Office (076335555).
DRESS UP DAYS
Through the school year we have days where the children dress-up. In November, we celebrate Loy Krathong where the children wear traditional Thai dress. We also have International Day where children can wear traditional dress from their home country, World Book Day where children are invited to dress as their favourite storybook character and Chinese New Year where children can wear something red or Chinese clothing. All of these events are well publicised before the event to ensure you have time to get a costume.
TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS
Teachers will regularly take photographs of children taking part in activities in school and add them to children’s Toddle journal. During enrolment you were asked to indicate your willingness for the school to use these photos of your child. Photography is an important part of our record keeping and communication. Please let us know if there is any reason why your child’s image cannot be recorded. When taking photos of your own child there are often other children in the photo. It is essential you respect their privacy by not using images with other children in them on social media platforms without their parent's knowledge or permission. This is a child safety issue and we ask that you respect this.
I.T. SUPPORT and COUNSELLOR
These services are available for your use. You will find the IT Department and Counsellor Office on the ground floor of the Main Teaching Building (MTB).
For further curriculum information, please contact your child’s teacher or visit the Early Years section of the school website: https://www.bisphuket.ac.th/inspire-learning/early-years/
CALENDAR
KEY TERM DATES
● Term 1: 18th August - 12th December 2025
● Mid Term Break: 14th - 18th October 2025
● INSET Day (School Closed) 20th October 2025
● Term 2: 5th January - 4th April 2026
● Mid Term Break: 16th - 20th February 2026
● INSET Day (School Closed) 23rd February 2026
● Term 3: 20th April - 19th June 2026
USEFUL LINKS
Parent Handbook Linked HERE
This handbook contains all the information you need about your child’s school experience.
Early Years Curriculum Booklet Linked
HERE
The Curriculum Booklet for Early Years contains the learning objectives for Nursery and Reception children.
Code of Conduct for Parents Linked
HERE
We ask all community members to behave with Respect, Compassion and Integrity. Full details can be found in this code of conduct.
Parent Portal Login Page
Linked HERE
The parent portal can be accessed through the school website. It contains information only available to parents. You will need your account and password details to login.
Schools Buddy Linked
HERE
SchoolsBuddy is where you need to book your child’s after school activities each term. You will need to use your child’s account to select activities. User account and passwords are required.
