INFANT SCHOOL
WELCOME HANDBOOK
Welcome
Dear Parents,
It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Infant School at the British School of Bahrain. Our bright, airy and state of the art classrooms await you and we look forward to you becoming part of our happy, thriving, academically aspirational and innovative community.
We place each individual child at the centre of everything we do. Children learn best when they feel safe and secure. Our priority is always to create an environment of trust, where the partnership between parents, teachers and children is highly valued.
We know that young children are motivated by joyful, playful learning experiences which spark curiosity. Our experienced, welcoming team looks forward to developing your child’s creativity and independent thinking, in an atmosphere of harmony and mutual respect.
I very much look forward to working with you in the year ahead. My door is always open.
Julie Anne Gilbert Head of Infant School
Admissions Checklist Reminders
Please ensure the following items have been completed before your child commences at the British School of Bahrain.
Submitted the following documents to the Admissions Office by email:
Passport copies of child, father and mother Bahrain CPR or Saudi Iqama (once available) Fill the Emergency Contact Form. Click here
Update us with your Bahraini or Saudi contact numbers Paid the Registration Fees. Paid Term 1 invoice for Tuition Fees.
Afternoon Wrap Around Care
Wrap-around care is available for all children in the Infant School until 3:00 PM.
Parents of children in Nursery and Reception should sign up with their class teacher, should they wish to avail of this provision. Wrap-around care for Nursery and Reception will begin after settling-in week, on Sunday 6 th September 2026.
If children in Year 1 and Year 2 are not collected from their classrooms by 2:35 PM, they will be taken to the wrap-around care rooms on the Year 2 corridor, where they must be collected before 3:00 PM.
School Information
Times of the School Day
Nursery*
Starts at 7:45 AM Ends at 1:00 PM
Reception*
Starts at 7:45 AM Ends at 2:00 PM
Year 1 & 2
Starts at 7:45 AM Ends at 2:30 PM
*Kindly note that the timings for Nursery and Reception will commence after Settling in Week. (More details about Settling in Week on the following page)
Early Morning Drop Off
Classroom doors open at 7:45 AM and lessons begin at 8:00 AM . Children should be escorted to their classrooms and are their parents’/guardians’ responsibility until they are handed over to the class teacher.
Fa milies who require an early drop off are most welcome on campus from 7:00 AM . Children in Nursery and Reception can be dropped to the Early Years Sports Hall and children in Year 1 and Year 2 can be dropped to the Multi-Purpose Hall. Children will be supervised and escorted to their classrooms at 7:45 AM.
School Information
Settling In Week
Nursery
Please click on the following link for details about Settling - In Week for Nursery
Nursery Settling In Week
Timetables
Reception
Please click on the following link for details about Settling - In Week for Reception
Reception Settling In Week
A class timetable, indicating the timings of specialist lessons, e.g. PE, Music, Performing arts, ICT and Arabic, will be sent by class teachers at the end of August, before the start of term.
On PE days children should come to school wearing PE kit. They will wear this throughout the day, there is no need to change. On Library days children should bring their library book to school so that they can exchange it for a new book.
Extra-Curricular Activities
At the start of each term, parents of children in Year 1 and Year 2 will receive a list of extracurricular activities offered. Please follow the sign-up procedure sent separately, to reserve a space in your child’s preferred activities.
Please note that spaces are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Popular activities tend to fill up very quickly when the sign-up opens.
Uniform School Information
The BSB House System
On joining the BSB, all students will join one of the four BSB Houses. Houses are automatically allocated on joining and as a general rule students will remain in the same House throughout their BSB journey.
Where possible we ensure that siblings are assigned to the same House. Students will be able to join the many House competitions and activities throughout the school year to earn House Points. House Points are also used to reward positive effort, progress and for demonstrating the BSB values in action.
School Information
School Information
Uniform
The BSB school uniform is designed to be comfortable, smart and practical for the local environment.
BSB School Uniform Policy
Uniforms are available for purchase at the BSB Uniform Shop, located near the school's main entrance.
BSB Uniform Shop Opening Hours:
Summer Break
Sun to Thurs (8:00 AM - 3:30 PM) Sat (8:00 AM to 3:00 PM)
School Days
Sun to Thurs (7:30 AM to 3:30 PM) Sat (8:00 AM to 3:00 PM)
To ensure that lost items can promptly be returned to the rightful owner, please label all clothing with your child's name and class.
Contact the Uniform Shop: +973 1761 0824
School Information
Healthy Snacks
There are two snack times during the school day. We promote healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle and we ask parents to ensure that the snacks children bring to school are healthy and nourishing. We encourage individuality and celebrate our cultural diversity at snack time.
Children will also need a water bottle, clearly marked with the child’s name, to stay hydrated throughout the day.
We ask that parents do not include sweets, chocolates or nut-based products, including Nutella. Although we appreciate that nuts are a healthy food, we do have children in school who have severe allergies to nuts.
We are therefore a ‘NUT FREE’ school.
Celebrations
Children are welcome to bring in cupcakes or healthy treats, individually wrapped, to share with their classmates on their birthday. Large cakes and party bags should be kept for home celebrations only. Birthday treats will be distributed at home time.
School Bag
Children should bring a small backpack that will fit into their locker. Bags with wheels are not suitable.
Parents should purchase a regulation school book bag to protect library and reading books.
School Information
Communication
Parents are very welcome at the BSB and informal meetings, conversations and consultations are frequent. We actively encourage parents to get involved with the education of their children.
Welcome Afternoons
At the beginning of each academic year, all teachers will host a short Welcome Afternoon for the parents of children in their class.
Weekly Correspondence
The most important written correspondence for families is a weekly email, sent each Thursday, from their child’s class teacher. This will include a summary of the next week’s lear ning and reminds parents of any particular events coming up. It will also contain any information pertaining to each child’s individual class.
Each Thursday, all BSB families will also receive the Sway Newsletter from the Executive Head of School. This is a celebration of the week’s successes and has a link to the whole school calendar for the week ahead.
Curriculum Information
A curriculum overview for each half term is e-mailed to parents by the class teachers during the first week. There are also curriculum information evenings for each year group - further details will be sent by the class teacher.
School Information
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are held half way through Term 1 and Term 2. These conferences provide parents with an ongoing account of their child’s progress and next steps.
If parents seek an additional meeting with a teacher, these can be arranged easily via email.
Online Learning Journals for Children in Nursery and Reception
Parents of children in the Early Years will have access to an online learning journal, where photographs and learning outcomes are shared regularly.
End of Term Reports
Written reports are sent home three times a year, at the end of each term.
School Information
School Information
Ms. Christine Downey Deputy Head & Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mr. Max Patrick Director of Pastoral Care
Welcome Week Events
Nursery and Reception
Sunday 23rd August 2026
All parents will receive an introductory email from their child’s new class teacher. This will include a timetable of specialist lessons, so that parents know which days their child will have PE, Music etc.
Welcome Week Events
Thursday 27th August 2026 - Stay
and Play
The key to a successful transition into the Early Years is built on a comfortable and trusting relationship between children, teachers and parents. For this reason, parents’ and children’s first introduction to the school year is a short ‘Stay and Play’ session on a one-to-one basis, where parents and children can meet the teachers and familiarise themselves with the learning environment.
Parents will receive an invitation, with an allocated time for their initial stay and play slot with the email from the class teacher. This will be on Thursday, 27th August. There will be an online Welcome meeting for all parents of children in Nursery and Reception on Sunday 30th August 2026 at 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM respectively.
Sunday 23rd August 2026
On Sunday 30th August, all children in Nursery and Reception will spend a couple of hours with a group of children from their class. Times will be confirmed on Sunday 23rd August 2026
Monday 31st August until Thursday 3rd September 2026
For the first week of the school year, the day will be slightly shorter for children in Nursery and Reception.
Nursery: 7:45 AM until 11:00 AM
Reception: 7:45 AM until 12:30 PM
Welcome Week Events
Year 1 and Year 2
Sunday 23rd August 2026
All parents will receive an introductory email from their child’s new class teacher. This will include a curriculum overview and a timetable of specialist lessons, so parents know which days their child will have PE, Library etc.
Thursday 27th August 2026 -
Induction Morning
Children in Year 1 and Year 2 who are new to the school are invited to an induction morning on Thursday 27th August from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
They will tour the school, meet their class teachers and have introductory sessions of Music, Performing Arts, Computing and PE. They do not need to wear their school uniform on this day. There will be a short, Infant-specific presentation for parents at 9:10 AM, led by Mrs Julie Anne Gilbert, Head of Infant School.
Sunday 30th August 2026
All students in Year 1 and Year 2 will return to campus on Sunday 30th August. Children are welcomed into class from 7:45 AM to 8:00 AM and the school day ends at 2:30 PM.
Welcome Afternoons
It is very reassuring for parents to meet their child’s class teacher and see their child’s learning environment at the start of the year. It is also a good opportunity for parents to get to know each other a little. Year 1 and Year 2 teachers will host short welcome afternoons during the month of September. Details will be finalised at the end of August and shared by the class teachers.
TERM DATES 2026-2027
Term 1
Thursday 27 August 2026: New Students Only
Sunday 30 August 2026: All Students Return
Sunday 25 - Thursday 29 October 2026: Half Term Break
Sunday 1 November 2026: Student and Parent Conferences
Tuesday 15 December 2026 (Early Finish): Last Day of Term
Term 2
Sunday 3 January 2027: Start Term 2
Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 February 2027: Half Term Break
Sunday 21 February 2027: Student and Parent Conferences
**Wednesday 10 to Saturday 13 March 2027**: Eid Al Fitr
Thursday 25 March 2027 (Early Finish): Last Day of Term
Term 3
Wednesday 7 April 2027: Start Term 3
Saturday 1 May 2027: Labour Day
**Sunday 16 to Wednesday 19 May 2027**: Arafat Day and Eid Al-Adha
**Saturday 5 June 2027**: Islamic New Year
**Tuesday 15 June and Wednesday 16 June 2027**: Ashoora
Thursday 24 June 2027 (Early Finish): Last Day of Term
**Subject to changes based on confirmation of Islamic Holidays
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British School of Bahrain
British School of Bahrain