Frequently Asked Questions Foundation
Stage 1
What are the timings for the school day?
The school day starts at 7:15am. This is when external classroom doors open and children are free to enter their classroom independently. Doors will remain open until 7:30 am. At this point, our classroom doors close and any children arriving after 7:30am must sign in at the Front Office.
The school day finishes at 1:55pm and children can be collected from their classrooms. We also offer an alternative early pick-up time of 12:30pm in FS1 for any families who require it.
Will there be a phased start approach in September ?
To ensure that your child transitions seamlessly to Doha College, we have a phased start program in place for our FS1 students only. FS1 children will attend school in their phased start groups for the first week of term, following which they will start attending the full school day from the second week onwards. A letter with the phased start dates and schedule will be shared in June 2025.
What does my child need to bring to school?
Your child will need to bring their belongings in one small/medium sized rucksack each day. We ask that your child does not bring a bag on wheels as these do not fit inside our cubby holes. Inside their bag, they will need:
A full water bottle
Their food for the day, kept inside a secure bento or snack box
A DC branded hat
Library folder (provided by school)
Your child will also need a complete spare set of school uniform which will be kept at school in case of an accident. We ask that a spare set of underwear and socks are included within this.
Who can drop off and pick up my child?
The safeguarding of all Early Years children is our highest priority at Doha College. For this reason, EYFS children can only be dropped off and picked up by an adult. This may be a nanny or driver. Please communicate with your child’s class teacher who will be picking up and dropping off your child each day, particularly if there is a change to these arrangements on any given day.
Can my child take a nap at school?
We offer a nap provision in FS1 only for those children who require it and are staying at school for the full day. This takes place within an FS1 classroom in the afternoon for approximately one hour. If you would like your child to nap during the day, you will have the opportunity to let your child’s class teacher know this before the beginning of the term. Sleeping mats will be provided by the school and we ask that a blanket and/or small pillow are sent in from home.
Which CCAs (cross-curricular activities) do you offer inEYFS?
Cross-curricular activities take place after the school day. We offer a small number of CCAs for EYFS children, to ensure that we are balancing the demands of a busy school day, the age of our youngest children and the opportunity to partake in additional activities. Currently we offer Gymnastics, Singalong and Multi-Skills CCA sessions on specific days of the week. Further information about days, times and how to sign up will be sent to all parents at the beginning of the school year from our CCA team.
What does a typical day look like in FS1?
You will find an example timetable of a typical day in EYFS given below. You will see that the children are kept very busy!
Do you offer a bus service?
A bus service is available and there are several routes in place to pick up and drop off DC students across Doha. EYFS children are permitted to use this service. For more information, please contact Trilogistics or info@trilogistic.com / +97455907193 / +974 44020184.
Where can I find information on uniforms, term dates and other details?
Our parent handbook is a comprehensive guide that provides information on uniforms, term dates, policies, access gates, a school map and other relevant information. This will be shared by the Admissions department upon acceptance into the College.
What happens if my child falls ill during the school
day?
We have a full time team of nurses who are based within the school each day. If your child displays any signs of illness during the school day, they will be taken to the nurse’s station for an assessment of their symptoms. You will be contacted by phone and if your child has been assessed as unfit to remain in school, you will be asked to collect your child. Equally, we ask that if your child displays any signs of illness at home, they are not brought to school and are given sufficient time at home to recover and to avoid the possibility of other children falling ill.
When do the children eat and do you provide food in school?
Children in EYFS have two dedicated ‘snack times’ per day. These last approximately 30 minutes each, however flexibility is extended to any child who requires additional time to eat. We do not provide any food in school; all food must be sent in from home. We are a ‘no nut’ school due to children who have severe allergies so we ask that no nuts or nut products (such as Nutella) are included in lunchboxes. We also ask for a healthy range of foods to be included within your child’s snacks. Chocolate and sweets are not permitted.
My child has an allergy - how do I inform the school before they start?
To ensure we have all the necessary information and preparations in place, please contact our Admissions team at admissions1@dohacollege.com. All information provided on your child’s initial application form will be shared with the school nurse, however if you child has a medical condition or allergy, it is strongly recommend that you contact the admissions team to share any relevant medical documentation or care plans from your child’s doctor and arrange a time to discuss the details with the school nurse.
We recommend contacting the nurse prior to 15 June to allow sufficient time for planning and to ensure a smooth and safe start for your child.
If my child has a toileting accident in school, how do you help?
Children are required to be fully toilet trained before starting FS1. However, we understand that toileting accidents may happen, particularly as children become used to a new environment. Due to safeguarding requirements, our staff are unable to clean your child if they have a toileting accident. However, they will be fully supportive in assisting your child to clean and change if an accident does occur. You will always be informed if your child has had a toileting accident, and we will work with you to formulate a support plan if we observe toileting accidents happening on a more regular basis.
How do I communicate with my child’s class teacher?
We use an application called Class Dojo to communicate with parents on a daily and weekly basis. This can be downloaded onto your personal device, and instructions regarding login details will be provided at the beginning of the academic year. Teachers will post regular photos and updates related to the activities that have been taking place in the classroom, as well as notifications about upcoming events. Class Dojo also allows you to send a direct message to your child’s class teacher if you need to get in touch with them for any reason.
How often will I receive updates
about my child’s progress?
You will receive regular updates regarding your child’s progress and their next steps in learning. We use an application called Evidence Me which can be downloaded onto your personal device to do this. Through the application, you will receive feedback related to two observations of your child per fortnight. Photographs of your child, plus a detailed write-up of their engagement and progress in different areas of the curriculum, will be included within these observations.
Alongside this, we also hold two Parents’ Evenings within the academic year, where you will meet with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress and next steps. You will also be provided with an academic report at the end of the year.
Do the children have swimming lessons in EYFS?
We do not have swimming lessons as part of our curriculum in EYFS. Swimming lessons begin in Year 1. If you wish for your child to participate in swimming lessons outside of the school day, Evolution Sports based at Doha College run lessons for EYFS aged children. Their website can be found here: https://evosportsqatar.com/
For more information or additional questions, please contact our Admissions team, who are keen to ensure that you are fully supported with transition to Doha College.
As a not-for-profit British International School, Doha College develops confidence, creativity and intellectual curiosity in a safe, caring and inclusive environment for our students to make a lasting contribution to global society. MISSION VISION
For pup ils, not for
To enable personal grow th, instil a passion for learning and create aspirational minds.
Excellence for all, excellence from all.