SCHOOL INFORMATION 2021-2022
CONTENTS WELCOME FROM THE HEADTEACHER
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CONTACT INFORMATION
7
GENERAL INFORMATION
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SCHOOL UNIFORM GUIDE
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OUR PHILOSOPHY
18
SCHOOL DAY TIMETABLES
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TEACHING AND LEARNING
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• CURRICULUM AND CLASS TRIPS • ASSESSMENT AND REPORTS, SPECIALIST SUBJECTS • AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES/CLUBS (EXTERNAL PROVIDERS) • LANGUAGES, PE • MUSIC
HOUSE SYSTEM
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HOMEWORK
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COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS
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VOLUNTEERING
34
TRANSPORTATION
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• SCHOOL BUSES • PARKING AND DROP-OFF/PICK-UP
LIFE IN SCHOOL
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TERM DATES 2021-2022
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FEES AND INVOICING
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GLOSSARY
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Our Mission is to be a "World Leading School"
Dear Parents,
Welcome to The British School of Lisbon. My sincere hope is that you will become an integral part of our school community; working together to ensure the very best outcomes for our children. Our school’s mission is to be a ‘World Leading School’ which means having the highest of standards in everything we do. We are ambitious with the education we provide, ensuring our students thrive, not just academically but also personally and socially. Every child who attends our school is uniquely special to us and we endeavour to instil a love for learning, core values and experiences that will remain with them throughout their lives.
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The British School of Lisbon is dedicated to achieving a baseline of excellence in education but is also outward-looking and innovative in its approach. We will always aim to stay at the forefront of the latest educational developments and seek to integrate them into our pedagogical approach. Our vibrant and enriched extra-curricular programme also seeks to expose our students to high-quality tuition in music, drama, sports and the arts. I hope you find this booklet helpful, we have tried to include as much relevant information, relating to the day-to-day operations of the school. Communication with our families is very important to us so if there should be any queries that are not addressed in this booklet then we would encourage you to get in direct contact with the school. My door is open to all parents should you wish to come and chat with me. I look forward to welcoming you to the school.
With warmest regards, Zoë Hubbard Headteacher
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CONTACT INFORMATION Whether you are new to Lisbon or not, The British School of Lisbon’s Admissions Team is here to help you get up and running into the new school year as quickly as possible. We will provide helpful information for your transition to Lisbon.
PHONE
+351 211 511 942
EMAIL ADDRESS
info@britishschool.pt
FINANCE
accounts@britishschool.pt
ADMISSIONS
admissions@britishschool.pt
HEADTEACHER
headteacher@britishschool.pt
WEBSITE
https://britishschool.pt
List of emergency numbers to call in the event of an emergency in Portugal:
POLICE
112
AMBULANCE
112
FIRE
112
Child protection and safeguarding is of paramount importance for us and we encourage you to review the dedicated information section on page 34, but please always contact us for further information and help in this regard.
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GENERAL INFORMATION GENERAL INFORMATION SCHOOL LOCATION Rua de São Paulo 89, Lisboa, 1200-427 The BSL Campus comprises classes for Early Years up to Year 6.
SCHOOL DAY The school day starts at 8.40am. Students not travelling by school bus should be dropped off at school between 8.00am and
8.40am. The school day finishes at 3.30pm, except for Tuesdays and Wednesdays when students have After School Activities (ASAs) until 4.30pm. You will be notified when ASAs begin and end each term.
TERMINOLOGY You will sometimes hear the following terms used for our year groupings:
EARLY YEARS (EY)
Foundation, Nursery, Reception
KEY STAGE 1 (KS1)
Year 1 and Year 2
KEY STAGE 2 (KS2)
Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6
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INVOICING & TUITION FEES For finance and fee-related queries, please contact our Finance team at: accounts@britishschool.pt.
KEEP US UPDATED Parents are asked to keep the school informed of any changes that may occur to their contact details. Please make sure you inform the school of any changes as soon as possible so we have the most up-to-date information in our database. Email us at: info@britishschool.pt.
SCHOOL INFORMATION UNIFORM GUIDELINES GENERAL School uniform is compulsory for all students attending the school. We believe that wearing a school uniform in a proud and smart manner promotes positive self-esteem and, therefore, is integral to the ethos of the school. All students are expected to arrive at school every day in uniform, worn in a tidy manner. We expect our students to take pride in their school uniform. All students are expected to wear PE uniform on PE days. You will be informed about these days at the beginning of the academic year. The Headteacher will give guidance regarding the dates when summer and winter uniforms are to be worn, according to the seasonal weather conditions. Summer uniform will be required at the beginning of the year.
WHAT TO BRING EARLY YEARS School rucksack, a bag with a change of clothes (including underwear and socks) and a water bottle. Mid-morning and afternoon snacks are provided by the school.
YEAR 1 TO YEAR 6 School rucksack with a water bottle and a healthy snack (nutfree) to eat during the morning. All children are required to use our regulation school rucksack which can be purchased from our online Uniform Shop.
WHAT TO WEAR School uniform is compulsory for all students. Official British School of Lisbon uniforms can be purchased online via the online uniform shop. To make an appointment to try uniforms for size and for general enquiries please contact: nicola.carvalho@britishschool.pt.
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OTHER ITEMS Other items such as footwear/socks are to be purchased elsewhere. Please note, shoes should be black leather and socks navy blue. Shoulder length hair must be tied back and accessories kept to a minimum and reflect the school colours. No nail varnish, make-up or extreme hairstyles and /or colours are permitted. No jewellery should be worn except for stud earrings.
SCHOOL UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS
At the beginning of the school year, students should attend school wearing their summer uniform. Winter uniform is usually worn from mid-October until the end of March. The school will advise on the exact date depending on the weather. All clothes worn to school (uniform and nonuniform items) should be clearly labelled with the child’s name. Lost, un-named clothing and bags are placed in lost property. Students are expected to arrive at school every day in clean clothes, worn in a tidy manner.
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UNIFORM WINTER PINAFORE
SUMMER DRESS
WINTER SHIRT
SUMMER SHIRT
(LONG SLEEVES)
(SHORT SLEEVES)
WINTER
SUMMER
YEAR 1 - YEAR 6
TROUSERS
SHORTS
SCHOOL TIE
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BLAZER
COAT
RUCKSACK
SHIRT (LONG SLEEVES)
TROUSERS
SHORT SLEEVED JUMPER
PE POLO
PE TRACKSUIT
PE POLO SHIRT
PE SHORTS
BODY WARMER
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(SHORT SLEEVES)
HAT
SCARF
(OPTIONAL)
(OPTIONAL)
OTHER ITEMS Footwear is an important aspect of the school uniform; the correct socks and shoes complete the uniform. Shoes should be
black, business-like in style and worn each day. On PE days, students must wear appropriate footwear for the activity on offer; normally training/sports shoes in either plain white or black. All students should wear their PE uniform for lessons. It is compulsory for all students to wear the The British School of Lisbon school coat during the winter months. The use of the body warmer (optional) and tights (navy blue) is encouraged on cold and rainy days and sun hats are recommended on sunny days.
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OURINFORMATION PHILOSOPHY GENERAL MISSION STATEMENT To be a World Leading School.
VISION To be an exemplary educational institution dedicated to the proposition that every child should be inspired to achieve
extraordinary success. To realise this, we will instil in them a love for learning, a relentless pursuit of ambitious goals, and respect for core values in line with the very best of our British educational heritage.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES • Ensure our pupils are safe and happy. • Expect honourable, kind and well-mannered conduct. • Uphold the highest standards in everything we do. • Provide exceptional learning environments and experiences. • Seek and retain the very best teaching professionals. • Impart a passion for learning and the determined pursuit of excellence. • Positively influence our community.
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MISSION STATEMENT BSL teachers know what students can achieve when inspired to be academically driven and encouraged to be ambitious. A large part of student development is access to varied educational and cultural experiences and we provide students with lots of opportunities. Our After School Activities programme (ASAs) covers physical, academic, creative and performing arts. Sport plays an important part in developing talent and students participate in both non-competitive and competitive sporting competitions. Music also provides students with opportunities to take part in the school choir and perform in school productions. Our team of highly qualified teachers create an optimum
learning environment in which, students naturally excel.
SCHOOL TIMETABLE
The school day begins at 8.40am. Students should arrive between
8:00am and 8:40am. In the case of your child being sick and unable to attend school, please advise the school office by email or phone call, ideally before 8.30am.
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EARLY YEARS TIMETABLE 8:00 AM - 8:40 AM
Students arrive
8:40 AM
Registration / Lessons begin Flexible morning breaktimes
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Early Years lunchtime
2:55 PM - 3:15 PM
Early Years breaktime
3:30 PM
School day ends (parents & bus pick-up)
PRIMARY TIMETABLE YEAR 1 - YEAR 6 8:00 AM - 8:40 AM
Students arrive
8:40 AM
Registration / Lessons begin
10:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Morning breaktime
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunchtime
2:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Key Stage 1 Breaktime
3:30 PM
School day ends (parent and bus pick-up)
WHOLE SCHOOL
TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAY
3:30 PM
After School Activities
4:30 PM
School day ends
After School Activities (ASAs) are compulsory for Primary students (Year 1 - Year 6).
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TEACHING & LEARNING CURRICULUM
For many families, British education is the best choice, especially for those regularly moving between countries, as it provides consistency and continuity for children. At BSL, all lessons and objectives are delivered in line with those set out in the English National Curriculum (ENC), ensuring any pupil can relocate to another country, attend a British school and pick up exactly where they left off. Some subtle changes are made to the curriculum to tailor the topics we teach according to our international environment. Our aim is to ensure that topics are relevant and the skills acquired can be applied to any topic the children may study in the future.
CLASS TRIPS Excursions are an essential element of the education we provide and being in Lisbon affords us unrivalled access to some of the most amazing resources.
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From museum visits to a trip to the local market, we make sure excursions are relevant, linked to topics and enhances learning. These trips bring learning to life and provide students with a real world perspective on the learning in the classroom. Trips are an integral part of the overall school experience and foster independent thinking, collaboration and building confidence. Whether the children go on a school trip local to the school or an hour away by bus, a full risk assessment is conducted by teaching staff prior to the trip. This ensures that even the most exciting and challenging activities are well-prepared, managed and, most importantly, safe for all.
ASSESSMENT & REPORTING Students are continually assessed by our teachers to refine the pace and content of future lessons. This ensures each child has maximum access to the curriculum. Feedback from these, and the progress of your child, are provided to parents via an initial ‘Settling In’ report followed by Parent/Teacher consultation evenings, mid-year and end of year reports.
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SPECIALISTS SUBJECTS We are proud of our highly qualified team of specialists. We have experts in EAL, Portuguese, Music and PE. For all students, we provide 2 hours of Music and 2 hours of PE lessons each week and 3 hours of Portuguese (or EAL) lessons.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
We offer a range of ASAs that include skills such as: Cookery, Football, Art, Science and Computing. ASAs are held from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for all students. The cost of ASAs is included in the fees. On ASA days, buses will leave one hour later than usual. Parents who opt out of the ASA programme must arrange for the collection of their children at 3:30 pm.
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AFTER SCHOOL CLUB (EXTERNAL PROVIDERS) In addition to ASAs, we work in partnership with a number of expert providers who offer After School Clubs such as Judo, Ballet and The Inventors Club. Please note that for these clubs there will be an additional charge. Parents are responsible for collecting children from After School Clubs.
STAY & PLAY An optional Stay & Play service is available daily until 5:45pm, for an additional fee, where a wide range of activities from painting to dancing are offered to students.
PORTUGUESE Portuguese is taught as a specialist lesson to our students from Early Years through to Year 6. Within their year group, children are grouped according to their language ability allowing for targeted teaching and learning to take place.
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ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE (EAL) We are used to children arriving with limited English and have an excellent EAL (English as an Additional Language) Programme to cater for this. Children have 3 hours of EAL classes each week and are given a lot of support within the classroom to enable them to acquire English. We find that children pick up English quickly in this environment.
PE At the BSL Campus, we have an indoor multi-purpose room, basketball area and astroturf playing pitch. In addition, we also have arrangements with community sports facilities to ensure that swimming and athletics can be provided as per the requirements of the English National Curriculum. Children enjoy two weekly PE sessions and there are opportunities for children to play in school teams with both friendly and competitive tournaments. Our sports programme gives opportunities to learn, build skills and have new experiences outside of the normal classroom environment. At BSL we aim to provide a very high standard of coaching and competition for our athletes as well as enable all our students to find something they can enjoy in the sporting arena.
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MUSIC We use Music to unlock your child’s imagination through our Performing Arts Programme which enriches their music education at BSL. Beginning with music, your child will study an inspiring curriculum featuring works that represent a wide variety of music genres, styles and cultures. We bring these works to life in the classroom through hands-on experiences for students of all ages. Activities such as improvisation and basic composition will unlock your child’s creativity.
Your child will also gain an
understanding of how music functions and its role in our cultural and social history. Children experience wide-reaching
benefits from learning to play a musical instrument. Our instrumental programme will support your child’s development across the whole curriculum, fostering valuable life skills, such as creativity, communication and
critical thinking.
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HOUSE SYSTEM WHAT ARE SCHOOL HOUSES?
The House System is used to promote team identity and
competition. Commendations and other competitions (sport, music, academic) contribute towards the House Cup, which is awarded at Prize Giving at the end of the academic year. All students are allocated to one of four Houses when they join BSL: Turing, Shackleton, Franklin and Eliot with siblings being assigned to the same House. Each House supports a different charity and is run by a House Leader. During the year we raise money through our various events and fundraising activities. The proceeds are divided at the end of the year between the Houses. The House with the most House Points receives the biggest donation for their chosen charity. Refer to our website for further details of Houses.
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REWARDS We have high expectations of our pupils in their work and for behaviour and it is important that we reward students accordingly. Pupils are awarded House Points for good work
in lessons and for their homework. They can also earn ‘marbles’ for their class based on good behaviour and participation in lessons.
HOMEWORK The tasks may be timed differently, but will in essence be as follows:
YEAR
SUBJECT PORTUGUESE
READING AT HOME SPELLING
Can include written
Words to learn
or reading task, flash
and/or spelling
cards, discussion
activity.
OTHER HOMEWORK
topic, research, etc. Weekly library
See information
book to read to
EARLY YEARS
in daily email
child, enjoy and
and home
talk about. Where
N/A
appropriate, 10
N/A
minutes per day
learning grid for practical activities and
reading to an
discussion topics
adult.
related to work in the classroom.
YEAR ONE
YEAR TWO
YEAR THREE
YEAR FOUR
YEAR FIVE
15 min/week max 30 min/week max 30 min/week max 30 min/week max 30 min/week max
15 min/day
1 task/week
~ 20 min
15 min/day
1 task/week
~ 20 min
20 min/day
1 task/week
~ 40 min
20 min/day
1 task/week
~ 60 min
20 min/day
1 task/week
~ 60 min
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COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS WEEKLY MESSAGE & SCHOOL UPDATES Parents are kindly requested to make sure that the school is always kept informed of current email addresses, to ensure school communications are received. Parents receive a weekly message from the class teacher. This will be delivered directly through our BSL Parent App. This updates parents on important school information, highlights each student’s week and suggests questions you can ask your child to help support their learning.
PROGRESS REPORTS Progress reports are sent home each term. The first report is a ‘Settling In’ report and will mainly be a pastoral account of how your child has settled into class. The mid-year and endof-year reports will focus on academic achievement and targets as well as your child’s personal and social development. Children joining the school mid-way through the school year will receive a ‘Settling In’ report after the student has been in school for approximately six weeks.
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OPEN DOOR POLICY Parents need not wait for a formal opportunity to meet with teachers, but are kindly requested to make an appointment in advance; usually, email is the best method. This will avoid disappointment if the member of staff is not available and will prevent any disruption to the teaching day. Parents who wish to meet with the Headteacher should make an appointment via email (you will find details at the beginning of this booklet).
PARENT TEACHER CONSULTATIONS (PTC) A ‘Meet and Greet’ session will be held during the first weeks of the academic year, providing parents with an opportunity to meet the teaching staff, visit the classroom(s) and learn more about the teaching and learning programme for the coming year. Parent-Teacher Consultation events are held twice per year, following the ‘Settling In’ report and mid-year report.
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VOLUNTEERING POLICE CHECK REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTEERING IN SCHOOL We welcome parents as volunteers in the school, for example to share their experiences relevant to one of our themes or to support with our reading programme. As part of our Safeguarding procedures, all regular volunteers in school need to provide police background
checks for the last 10 years. If you have previously resided outside of Portugal in the last 10 years, you need to provide a police check from any countries that you have resided in. Each country will have their process for applying for a police check. You will need to contact the relevant department. You will also require a police check covering the time that you have been resident in Portugal. An internet search should be your first point of action as most countries provide information online regarding this process. Unfortunately, due to the number of nationalities we have in the school and the different systems in each country, we are unable to offer support on an individual basis.
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TRANSPORTATION Children must be accompanied to and from school by a
designated adult. Children taking the school bus must be accompanied to the bus by a designated adult. The school is located in Cais do Sodré, the surrounding roads are generally quiet during the day. However in the morning, with our school buses arriving and other local rush hour traffic, the roads outside of the campus may be busy. Please consider other road users and pedestrians when parking your car or if you are just pulling up to drop off your child.
SCHOOL BUSES BSL operates a bus service from most of the surrounding residential areas. You can choose one way or return trips. Please contact nicola.carvalho@britishschool.pt for more information. The bus service is available for an additional fee. The timetable for buses is changed on ASA days (Tuesday & Wednesday); on these days buses for students will leave one hour later than usual.
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LIFE IN SCHOOL SCHOOL LUNCHES & SNACKS
A hot lunch is served to all children in school
every day. School lunches are paid for in advance along with tuition fees. If your child has dietary restrictions (whether for health, religious or allergy reasons), please inform the school immediately if you have not already done so. We will inform the catering staff and special arrangements will be made to provide suitable alternatives. The school aims to offer a
balanced, healthy meal. Healthy snacks are served both in the morning and afternoon in Early Years. Children in Year 1 and above are welcome to bring in a suitable healthy snack from home (fruit) to eat mid-morning if they wish.
Please note that the school is a nut-free zone
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SCHOOL FIRST-AID
The school trains all staff in first aid prior to the beginning of the academic year. In the unlikely event of a more serious incident occurring at school, parents will be telephoned to inform them of the accident and if deemed necessary, parents will be asked to meet the child and a member of staff at school or the local hospital. If required, payment for any treatment is the responsibility of the parent.
MEDICINES If your child needs to take medication, it should be brought to the School, where you will be asked to sign a consent form to confirm the details. Pupils may not administer their own medicine. Please advise us of any medical needs your child may have, particularly when there is an allergy to materials or food.
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ABSENCES
Regular daily attendance at school is expected but sometimes absence is unavoidable. Please inform the school if your child is not able to attend - the most effective method is by email direct to your child’s teacher or telephone the school office. Please also inform the school immediately if your child has an infectious illness or condition (i.e. chickenpox, hand foot and mouth, head lice, measles, etc.). Children with a fever, vomiting or upset stomach MUST stay at home for 24 hours before returning to school. If your child takes the school bus, the bus company will need to be informed that your child will not be on the bus. Absences due to extended holidays are strongly discouraged.
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PARENTS’ CONNECTION
The Parents’ Connection (PC) is a fun, social and welcoming organisation. It works to promote and encourage
interactions between parents and the school community. Through this principle function, it acts as a meeting place for parents and facilitates fundraising activities that provide for the school community and for charitable causes. All parents become members of the PC as soon as their child joins the school. If you wish to contact the PC with questions, suggestions or to volunteer, please email info@britishschool.pt.
USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Children are not allowed to bring electronic devices into school such as mobile phones, iPads and smartwatches. This includes bringing items in their school bags and using them on school buses. Any items found/reported will be confiscated and parents will be asked to come into school to collect them from the Headteacher.
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ACADEMIC YEAR 2021 - 2022
Please be aware that the dates below may change and additional dates may be added or removed throughout the academic year at the discretion of the school.
TERM ONE – AUTUMN TERM START OF TERM
Wednesday 1st September
HALF TERM
Monday 25th October - Monday 1st November
END OF TERM
Friday 17th December
TERM TWO – SPRING TERM START OF TERM
Monday 3rd January
HALF TERM
Monday 14th – Friday 18th February
END OF TERM
Friday 8th April
TERM THREE – SUMMER TERM START OF TERM
Tuesday 26th April
HALF TERM
Thursday 9th June - Friday 10th June
END OF TERM
Friday 1st July
For a more comprehensive list of calendar dates, please refer to: https://britishschool.pt/school-calendar
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FEES & INVOICING The tuition fees for Early Years and Primary school are displayed on our website at https://britishschool.pt/school-
fees. Tuition Fees include stationery, learning materials, and consumables but do not cover the cost of some school excursions, uniforms, the school bus or school meals. Fees are payable in three (3) equal instalments in advance of the start of each term and are subject to an annual review. School fees will be issued on a termly basis. For your financial planning, the following table details when you can expect to receive the invoice and when the invoices will be due.
FEES FOR
INVOICES SENT OUT BY
DUE DATE
AUTUMN
30th of June
1st of August
SPRING
15th of November
15th of December
SUMMER
15th of February
15th of March
The administration team will be in touch to confirm your individual invoicing details. If you wish to be invoiced yearly, or for any subsequent changes and requests, our accounting department is at your disposal on
accounts@britishschool.pt.
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GLOSSARY
ASA
After School Activity
EAL
English as an Additional Language
EY
Early Years (Foundation, Nursery and Reception)
KS1
Key Stage 1 (children in Year 1 and Year 2)
KS2
Key Stage 2 (children in Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6)
PC
Parents’ Connection
P.E.
Physical Education
PSHE
Personal, Social and Health Education
STEAM
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics
TA
Teaching Assistant
SCHOOL CAMPUS Rua de S. Paulo 89, 1200-427 Lisboa
PHONE +351 211 511 942
EMAIL info@britishschool.pt