Welcome to Reception
RECEPTION LIFE AT THE BRITISH SCHOOL OF BRUSSELS
The Reception team are looking forward to sharing an exciting year with you and your child in Reception.
We know the transition between Kindergarten and Reception is a very important stage.
We hope you and your child have enjoyed the Welcome video to Reception!
CONTACT INFORMATION
Primary Secretary/Office:
primary@britishschool.be
Direct line: 02 766 0431
britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk
RECEPTION DAY
We have a welcoming, flexible open-door policy. Children may arrive into the classroom from 08.40 and the register is taken promptly at 08.55.
Any child arriving after registration should first sign in at the Primary Office.
The school day for Reception ends at 15.50 and children should be picked up from the Reception classroom.
WEDNESDAYS
School finishes at 12.00 for Lower Primary children.
PARKING AND DROP OFF
General on-campus parking will no longer be available from 8.15–9.00, Monday–Friday.
There is a designated priority drop-off lane for Lower Primary (Kindergarten–Year 2) in the Kiss & Go zone.
STAGGERED ENTRY PLAN 2026
We are committed to ensuring that your child settles into the new routine with ease. Therefore we have ‘staggered’ the first few days of school.
We hope finishing on the following dates and times will support a smooth transition into KG. Current (previous KG) children.
at 12.00
DROP OFF AND PICK UP
Supervision starts at 08.15 on the sports pitches and at 08.40 teachers will greet the children and go to class.
The register is taken at 08.45. Any child arriving after this should sign in at the Primary Office before going to class.
The school day ends at 15.50 and your child should be picked up from the designated pick-up area.
ABSENCES
If your child is sick and unable to come to school, please contact the Primary Office by email or phone as soon as possible on the day. A doctor’s note is required from day 3.
We ask that families do not take time off during term time as we have a very generous holiday allocation published in advance. If there are exceptional circumstances, please email Neil Ringrose, Vice Principal & Head of Primary: NRingrose@britishschool.be and the absence may be authorised according to school policy.
Please read the full information on MSP. britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk/view/document/10
SCHOOL NURSE
If your child needs to visit the nurse, they may be issued with a letter to bring home with more explanation. If your child becomes unwell during school time, the nurse will call you to discuss further or to inform you if they need to go home.
AFTER SCHOOL PROVISION
After school provision is available. Please read the full information on My School Portal (MSP).
britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk/login
BUSES
If your child uses the school bus, it is very important that you keep the class teacher and the Primary Office informed of any changes to the normal routine.
We utilise the BatOnRoute app to manage our daily bus services. Parents should use the app to track their child’s bus in real-time and, more importantly, to update their child’s daily bus usage. Keeping your status current on the app ensures our bus supervisors have accurate manifests at all time.
The children must know the correct information about their daily after-school routine. However, for any last minute changes, please phone the Primary Office.
Please read the full information on MSP. britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk/ forms/331
TAPESTRY
All children from Lower Primary to Year 3 have been set up with an Online Learning Journal, called Tapestry. It is a great way for you to see your child’s achievements with a click of a button, in a secure way. With a secure username and password, you will be able to log into Tapestry and view observations of your child, photographs and even videos of all their learning achieved. Please check and sign the Tapestry consent forms.
LOST PROPERTY
Please ensure all items of clothing as well as lunch/snack boxes and water bottles are clearly labelled with your child’s full name. Named property is easily returned.
The lost property room is next to Brel theatre near the Music department. Valuable lost property (such as watches, jewelry and mobile phones) is held by the receptionist in Jacques Rogge Main Reception.
Please read the full information on MSP. britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk/ page/317
BOOK BAGS
Each day your child will come home with their BSB Book Bag containing the Home/School Diary.
It is really important you check the bag daily so not to miss any information.
We are passionate about nurturing a love of reading and encourage families to read for pleasure as often as possible. Sharing books at home - whether your child is reading to you, you are reading to them, or you are discussing a story together - plays a vital role in building confidence, fluency and a lifelong enjoyment of books. We love to work in partnership with parents to create enthusiastic readers, sharing in the excitement of discovering new stories and ideas together. We offer weekly sessions for families in our Library where parents and children are encouraged to share stories together and can borrow additional books from our wide collection to share at home.
SNACKS/LUNCH TIME
A hot meal is provided at lunch time.
Please note: A healthy snack for the mid-morning session is required. It is important this is a healthy snack e.g. fresh fruit, raw vegetables, yogurt or breadsticks, with no nuts.
Please also provide a named water bottle, it would be helpful to bring it full at the start of each day.
CLOTHING
Please send your child in comfortable clothes that can be easily removed for toileting.
Although aprons are worn your child may get messy, so please don’t send them in their best clothes.
Please make sure your child has appropriate clothing for outside. Please supply a named, waterproof all-in-one suit/ trousers.
Your child will also need a named pair of wellington boots for outdoor learning and forest sessions.
CALENDAR DATES -
MY SCHOOL PORTAL (MSP)
All information and communications from school will be shared through the school’s parent portal, MySchoolPortal (MSP).
britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk/login
We encourage parents to consult the calendar on MSP for upcoming events in Primary. Britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk/events-list/352
Throughout the year, we hold a variety of school events, including class assemblies, exhibitions, music performances and year group productions, many which parents are invited to. Invitations are sent prior to the events. Please check the calendar regularly for the latest updates.
You can also see a quick overview of all upcoming events in one place on the MSP Calendar.
PARENTS AS PARTNERS
Across the Early Years the role of the parent is valued. We encourage many ways to ensure parents feel connected in all aspects of learning.
You will receive weekly updates of the skills achieved via an online journal named Tapestry.
Please ensure to sign and check the Tapestry consent forms. You will also receive a Weekly Learning Letter outlining learning and important dates for the week ahead.
CLASS PARENT
FoBSB has an extensive network of parent class representatives in both Primary and Secondary school. Class parents extend a warm welcome to new families, organise social activities for the parents in their classes, circulate FoBSB communications via class WhatsApp groups, and provide advice on non-curricular questions. Importantly, they also ensure that parents have a “voice” in school. Please read the full information on MSP.
britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk/page/373