Forms and Policies

• Respect for each child and their family

• Efficient use of learning time

• A safe and comfortable environment that’s conducive to learning

• Meaningful and productive learning activities

• Help for each child to reach their full potential

• Fair enforcement of classroom rules

• Regular evaluations of student progress and achievement

• Professional behavior and a positive attitude

• Communication regarding their child’s wellbeing and performance at school

  • Progress Reports 

  • Parent / Teacher Meetings

  • Nursery Daily Log

  • Proactive communication regarding specific incidents or achievements

1. Punctuality
We kindly ask that all families respect teacher time and scheduled pick-up and drop-off times.

• If you have extenuating circumstances or special timing needs, we are happy to accommodate them when communicated at least 12 hours in advance.

• In emergency situations, we ask you to please contact the school as soon as possible.

• Consistent timing helps your child feel secure and supports the daily classroom rhythm.

2. Communication
Open and respectful communication is at the heart of our school community.

• We encourage parents to feel free to speak with your child’s teacher if you have questions, concerns, or updates about their child’s well-being.

• We ask that you please check your email regularly—our weekly newsletter contains important announcements, reminders, and classroom updates.

• If your child has a favorite song or activity, we ask that they let us know—we’re happy to share materials that can support learning at home.

3. Personal Items
To help your child feel confident and independent, we ask parents to bring the following:

• A change of clothes (seasonally appropriate)

  • Soiled clothes will be bagged and given to the parents for cleaning. Borrowed clothes should be cleaned and returned to the school promptly.

• A change of comfortable shoes to wear and keep at school 

• A water bottle that your child can open and drink from independently

• A healthy snack and lunch that your child can manage on their own (e.g., apples peeled and sliced, no difficult-to-open packaging)

• A supply of diapers and wipes (if the child is not yet toilet trained)

We encourage independence at every age, and their support in sending accessible items helps their child succeed throughout the day.

4. Positive Attitude Toward English
Language learning is a delicate and exciting journey.

• We ask that you encourage their child to use simple English words and phrases at home.

• We ask that you celebrate their child’s efforts, even if progress is slow or imperfect.

• Maintaining a fun and positive attitude toward English helps you child feel confident and motivated in the classroom.

5. Absences
If your child will be absent from school, we ask that you keep us informed by following these simple steps:

• Notify your child’s teacher if they will be absent for more than two consecutive days

• For illness-related absences, please share an estimated return date.

Keeping teachers informed helps us maintain a safe, healthy, and well-prepared classroom environment.

6. Nursery Log (Nursery Parents Only)
Parents of nursery-aged children are asked to check the Nursery Log daily at pick-up.

• This log includes important notes about their child’s bowel movements, eating habits, and nap times.

• If you have concerns or questions that arise, we encourage you to contact their child’s teacher—especially if you are not present at pick-up or drop-off time.

To ensure a smooth and effective learning environment, parents are required to adhere to the school’s designated schedule for pick-up and drop-off. Morning drop-offs and lunchtime pick-ups must be conducted within the specified times to avoid disruptions to classroom activities and teacher responsibilities.

We kindly ask parents to respect the teachers' schedules and the valuable time they spend with the students. Unscheduled or late drop-offs and pick-ups can interfere with the flow of the day and detract from the children’s learning experiences.

Morning Drop-Off:

• Drop-off begins at 08:00

• Children must be dropped off by 10:30 at the latest.

Afternoon Pick-Up:

• Pickup begins at 15:00 (3:00pm)

• Children must be picked up by 15:30 (3:30pm)

Group and Private Lessons:
Children may arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before the scheduled lesson start time and must be picked up promptly at the end of the lesson.

Exceptions:
We understand that special circumstances may occasionally arise. However, any exceptions must be communicated to staff no later than 12 hours in advance of the following school day or lesson.

For the safety and security of our students, we require the following procedures when a non-parent is picking up a child for the first time:

• Written Notice and Consent: We require written notice and consent from the parent or guardian prior to the pick-up. This consent must include (a) the name and (b) a picture of the person’s ID. This can be provided via email or phone text message.

• Photo ID Requirement: The individual picking up the child must bring a valid photo ID. This ensures we can verify their identity before releasing the child into their care.

• Age Requirement: The person picking up the child must be over 18 years of age.

• Scheduled Absences: We kindly ask for advance notice whenever you know that your child will not be in school. For absences longer than two consecutive days we ask for at least 1 week advance notice if possible. 

• Unscheduled Absences: We understand that unknown occurrences may prevent your child from attending school. We ask that they notify their teacher or the School Director as soon as possible via phone, text, or email.

1. Notice of Cancellation

• Parents must notify the school at least 24 hours in advance if your child will not be attending a scheduled lesson.

• Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice may not be eligible for rescheduling or refund, as this affects teacher planning and group dynamics.

2. Rescheduling Lessons

• Whenever possible, we encourage parents to inform us early to arrange a make-up lesson on a mutually convenient date.

• Make-up lessons are subject to teacher availability and may not always be possible within the same week or month. 

3. Illness and Emergencies

• In cases of sudden illness or emergency, please inform the school as soon as possible. We understand that some cancellations are unavoidable and will do our best to accommodate rescheduling in these circumstances.

4. No-Show Policy

• If a student misses a lesson without prior notification, the lesson will be considered forfeited and no refund or make-up session will be provided.

5. Withdrawal from After-School Program

• Parents wishing to withdraw their child from the after-school program must provide at least two weeks’ written notice.

• Fees for lessons during the notice period will still apply.

For any questions or special circumstances, we ask that parents please contact the School Director.

We understand the needs of working parents and do not aim to exclude children from school unnecessarily. However, the decision of the school is final when requesting the exclusion of a child for illness or infection. Our school has a duty to protect pregnant workers and vulnerable children from diseases that could affect their health. Decisions will take into account the needs of the child and those of the group.

We recommend that no child may attend the school while suffering from communicable diseases and they should be excluded for the minimum periods recommended. 

Coughs and colds do not normally require the child to be excluded but this depends on the severity and how the child is able to cope with the school routine. If a child appears unwell we may ask that the child is taken home.

A child who has fever or diarrhoea whilst at the school is to be collected immediately and kept away for a minimum 24 hours (recommended 48 hours) following the last bout of fever or diarrhoea. 

To prevent the spread of conjunctivitis, suspected cases will be reported immediately to parents who will be requested to take their child from school to be seen by a doctor.

In the case of Chicken Pox, the infected child must be absent from school for a minimum of 5 days from the onset of the rash. After this time, if all the spots have dried and scabbed over, the child can return to school.

Parents will also be contacted if their child develops a rash or suspected thrush. This will need to be checked by a Doctor whose advice should be followed. 

At Starling English School, we value the privacy and preferences of every family. We often take photos and short videos during school activities to document learning, share classroom moments with parents, and promote our programs through newsletters, displays, and school media. This policy explains how we handle photo usage, especially in situations where a parent or guardian chooses to opt out.

1. General Use of Photos
Photos and videos may be used for:

• Internal classroom communication (e.g., sharing with parents via private platforms or newsletters)

• School marketing materials (e.g., brochures, social media, or website)

• Displays and documentation within the school

2. Opt Out
If a parent or guardian chooses to opt out of photo usage for their child:

• Starling will ensure that the child’s face is never visible in any published or shared photo or video.

• This will be done either by framing photos carefully during capture, or by editing the image afterward (e.g., blurring the face or covering it with a sticker).

• Images of a child’s hands, back of head, torso, legs, or feet may still be used, unless otherwise requested.

3. Full Photo Exclusion Requests
If a parent or guardian does not want any part of their child (including back of head, hands, etc.) to appear in any photo or video:

• You must communicate this request directly to the school administration in writing.

• In this case, staff will ensure the child is excluded from all photo situations, including group photos, classroom documentation, and event coverage.

4. Consent and Records

• Photo consent preferences are collected during enrollment or re-enrollment and kept on file.

• Parents may update their consent status at any time by contacting the school office.

We are committed to respecting our Starling family' s privacy while also celebrating the learning and joy that takes place in our classrooms. If parents have questions or would like to update their child’s photo consent status, they can contact their child’s teacher or the School Director.