BISL Reopening Procedure Guidance

Last updated Thursday 25^th June

This page will be updated regularly in accordance with the latest guidance for health and education. It is designed to give clear guidance for our school community on our planned reopening procedures.

In line with the most recent government announcement that masks will be mandatory indoors, we have decided to reintroduce masks at school for the protection of our community. Safety is our number one priority at the British International School of Ljubljana.

The year groups and staff who require to wear masks are illustrated in the table below.

Split classes in Primary will resume to their normal class sizes, class teachers and classrooms, starting Monday 1^st June, as per the recent ministry announcement.

Also from Monday 8^th June, Primary after-school provision will be upgraded to include all primary students (up to and including Year 6) who wish to stay back after school until 3.40pm. Early Years provision will continue up until 4.30pm. To register your child for the after school provision, please click on this online form. Further information will be sent out by Mrs Železinger, Head of Primary.

Other aspects of school life (lunches, activities, events, gatherings, etc.) will be reviewed on a daily basis and any changes are to be announced each Friday. This keeps the messages clear and consistent.

Safety is our number one priority. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will follow guidance from the Ministry of Health, WHO, as well as Orbital Education.

Slovenia currently has the best epidemiological outlook in mainland Europe. Read more about this here.

We ask all parents to continue to follow the guidance given in the declaration letter and in this reopening guidance.

Symptoms include: temperature, cough, headache, feeling ill, sore throat, cold, difficulties in breathing (shortness of breath), diarrhoea.

If your child develops any of the above signs / symptoms or if a SARS-CoV-2 infection is confirmed in a person who shares the same household with the child (usually an immediate family member), the child must stay at home, with limited contact with other people. If the child is ill, call the child’s chosen paediatrician or the doctor on duty for further instructions. In case of a confirmed infection in the family or other close contact with an infected person, you will receive instructions from the epidemiological services.

Hand sanitisers continue to be available around the school, and students will be encouraged to use these regularly throughout the day. Instructions on the correct way to wash our hands and use sanitisers are also shared with students and staff around school.

Assemblies will not be held and school lunches will be served accordingly.

Teachers will be provided with masks to wear in school as directed by the Ministry of Health. All students are welcome to come to school wearing a mask if they wish, but requirements will be communicated out based on further guidance from the Ministry of Health when available.

We have purchased further protection, sanitation and cleaning equipment for our school. Our cleaning company have been in school performing a deep clean of the school. Additional cleaning has taken place and the cleaning has been assessed and reviewed. Extra resources for hygiene including hand-wash, wipes, sprays and sanitisers have arrived at school.

Before students can return to school, their parents will have to complete a Parent declaration form.

In line with the most recent government announcement that masks will be mandatory indoors, we have decided to reintroduce masks at school for the protection of our community. Safety is our number one priority at the British International School of Ljubljana.

The year groups and staff who require to wear masks are illustrated in the table below.

• All students must have a signed declaration from their parents to allow them to return to school.
  
• Gates open at 7:30. Students must proceed to their classroom immediately. (Secondary students must be wearing masks upon arrival.)
• All students should bring in their own resources, including water bottles, pencil cases, technology, headphones, etc as normal.
• Toilets will be cleaned frequently throughout the day. They will be used on an individual basis (one at a time) only, upon teacher’s permission.
• Students must follow health and safety guidance as per the posters displayed around the school.

• Class teachers and Form tutors must make sure all students in school have a signed declaration from their parents.
  
• Teachers will be in their classrooms by 7:30 to welcome their students.
• Teachers will ensure that classroom doors will be kept open and classrooms are well ventilated regularly.
• All meetings will be held online between teachers to avoid larger gatherings.
• Teachers have access to hand sanitisers and sprays to maintain a high level of hygiene in the classroom.
• Toilets will be cleaned frequently throughout the day. They will be used on an individual basis (one at a time) only.
• Staff must follow health and safety guidance as per the posters displayed around the school and ensure that students do the same.

• Parents must provide a signed declaration before their child(ren) can return to school.
• Parents are not permitted to enter the school building.
• Gates open at 7:30. Drop-off and pick-up procedures will operate as normal, but parents will not be permitted to enter the school building. Please scroll down to the FAQ section for more information about after-school provision.
• Parents are encouraged to pack an extra healthy snack – fruit or veggies.
• Parents must follow health and safety guidance as per the posters displayed around the school and encourage that students do the same.

All students are expected to wear full school uniform when they return to school.

• Primary Uniform

Years 4 – 6 will not be changing into slippers, please provide comfortable footwear.

As mentioned on our Uniform page, Primary students will be allowed to wear their 'hot weather' uniform throughout Block 7.

• Secondary Uniform

Secondary students must come to school wearing their own mask.

As mentioned on our Uniform page, as an alternative to the standard uniform, Secondary students are also able to wear a plain white collared polo shirt (preferably BISL branded and now available from our Uniform shop) with grey shorts/skirt, black or grey socks and elegant black shoes. Please note - navy shorts are not permitted. Sixth Form students are required to be in usual formal attire. If there are any questions please check the website or contact your form tutors.

• PE Uniform

A provision for PE will be provided to individual classes as we move forward in Block 7.

1. Will all students return onMonday 18^thMay?

No, the school will organise a 'staggered' start for students returning to BISL. We will slowly bring back the year groups safely into school adhering to the guidance from the Ministry of Health.

2. Will all staff return onMonday 18^thMay?

Yes, all staff will start back at school on Monday 18^th May.

3. Will there be any After School clubs, Assemblies, Trips or Adventure Days?

No, we will focus entirely on the safety of the students and the staff in school. No large gatherings/meetings or opportunities for large groups of students will occur. Students will be in lessons with teachers. Extended supervision will be provided for Primary students (up to and including Year 6) who need to stay back after school until 3.40pm. Early Years provision will continue up until 4.30pm. To register your child for the after school provision, please click on this online form.

4. Have the pick-up and drop-off procedures changed?

No, pick-up and drop-off procedures continue as usual, but parents will not be permitted to enter the school building. Gates will open at 7:30. Students must proceed directly to their allocated Class/Form rooms where their teachers will be waiting.

5. What are the procedures for Early Years pick-up and drop-off?

Gates and all doors will open from 7:30. EY parents should use the separate Early Years entrance. One parent and student at a time will be able to enter the EY cloakroom area. Primary and Secondary students should be dropped off in the blue drop-off zone as usual. Parents will not be able to enter the school premises beyond this point.

EY students should be picked up promptly between 14:45 - 15:00. Primary students will assemble for pick up in the playground (assembly hall if raining) and should be picked up promptly between 14:45 - 15:00. Parents are asked to stay in their cars and NOT assemble at the front of the gates (unless collecting their child on foot).

Primary students that have been registered for the after school supervision are to be picked up from the playground via the main entrance. We ask parents to collect their children on time and by no later than 15:40 for Years 1-6 and 16:30 for EY.

For parents entering the building at any time, health and safety measures apply at all times.

6. Should parents fill in any forms before they send their children back to school?

Yes, a completed and signed Parental declaration is compulsory before your child can return to school.

7. What happens if I have not filled in the Parental declaration for my child to return to school on their first day?

Students will not be permitted back into the school building without a signed Parental declaration.

8. Can I print and send the form in with my child on their first day back?

Yes, your child can bring the printed and signed form with them on their first day, but must immediately give it to their teacher. We however advise parents to return the completed form electronically via email to reception@britishschool.si prior to the first day of returning to school.

9. Can Years 10 and above fill out the form for themselves?

Yes, students that are 15 years old and above can fill in and sign the form themselves.

10. What are the expectations of families that choose to not allow their children to come back into school?

We respect the wishes of parents in this situation as some might not want their children back at school immediately. Please send an email to reception@britishschool.si to notify us of your decision.

11. How many students will there be in a class?

As guidance has been relaxed, split classes in Primary will resume to their normal class sizes, class teachers and classrooms, starting Monday 1^st June.

12. Will students and teachers be required to wear masks?

In line with the most recent government announcement that masks will be mandatory indoors, we have decided to reintroduce masks at school for the protection of our community. Safety is our number one priority at the British International School of Ljubljana.

The year groups and staff who require to wear masks are illustrated in the table below.

Other aspects of school life (lunches, activities, events, gatherings, etc.) will be reviewed on a daily basis and any changes are to be announced each Friday. This keeps the messages clear and consistent.

13. Can students use outdoor play equipment?

No. Students are not permitted to use outside play equipment.

14. Will students go outside for break?

Students will be spending time outside, with careful consideration of adhering to safety distance. In Secondary, students will be allowed outside after lunch to have some time outdoors in separate areas of the playground. For Primary, staggered play time and separate areas of the playground will be allocated. Students can play outside with the same group of students they share class with, supervised by the same member of staff as in the classroom.

15. Should students bring in water bottles?

Yes, water bottles filled with water should be brought from home.

16. Can students share resources?

No, students should continue using in their own resources, including water bottles, pencil cases, technology, headphones, etc as normal.

17. Will classrooms be ventilated?

Yes, classrooms are ventilated regularly, and classroom doors remain open at all times.

18. Will there be hand sanitisers in every classroom?

Yes. Hand sanitisers are also available at the entrance and in common areas.

19. Will the school be cleaned before the opening?

Yes, our cleaning company have been in school performing a deep clean of the school. Additional cleaning has taken place. The cleaning has been assessed and reviewed. Extra resources for hygiene including hand-wash, wipes, sprays and sanitisers have arrived at school. Staff have been in school preparing and we are confident that our school is clean and well prepared for our students to return safely.

20. Will online lessons continue during the day for students who choose not to return or are not yet due to return?

Our teachers will return to the normal timetables and teach the students in school. They will continue to upload work onto Canvas for students who are not in school at the end of the day. If a Year group has not return yet, their online lessons continue until that Year group returns. Once the Year group has returned to the school, the teacher will teach during the day and assist those absent by continuing to upload some resources from the school day.

21. Where is the information about which Year groups are returning to school and when?

The diagram of our 'staggered' start is included in this article (Schedule of Reopening).

22. Will the timetable change?

Yes, there will be adjustments to the timetable to reduce the movement of students around the school and, where required, to allow for the split groupings.

23. How will returning classes be structured?

Teachers will adapt their teaching environment to ensure that social distancing and sanitary guidance can be observed.

24. Will all Year 10 to Year 13 students follow full timetables when they return to school onMonday 18^thMay?

Only Year 10s will return to a full timetable of lessons on Monday 18^th May. Year 11, 12 and 13 students will receive further guidance from Mr Batson directly (jason.batson@britishschool.si). Please ensure that emails are closely monitored.

25. What happens with Years 7 to 9 who are not returning to school onMonday 18^thMay?

These Year groups will have a Virtual Form Meeting at 8am on Monday 18^th May with their Form Tutors. Form Tutors will schedule this meeting in advance directly with their Tutor Groups. This meeting will be used to discuss any questions and share further information. Form Tutors are as follows:

26. Will specialist lessons go ahead (PE, languages etc)?

Provisions will be provided to individual classes, prioritising the health and safety of all students, as we move forward in Block 7.

27. Will the library be open?

No, the library is closed. Students may return any library books in the box at reception. In Primary, the same applies to Readers - these will not be available and once returned will be stored away with all library books. No library books or Readers can be taken home during this time and the use of books in the classroom will be minimised too.

28. What are the uniform expectation as student return?

All students are expected to wear full school uniform when they return to school.

• Primary Uniform

Years 4 – 6 will not be changing into slippers, please provide comfortable footwear.

As mentioned on our Uniform page, Primary students will be allowed to wear their 'hot weather' uniform throughout Block 7.

• Secondary Uniform

Secondary students must come to school wearing their own mask.

As mentioned on our Uniform page, as an alternative to the standard uniform, Secondary students are also able to wear a plain white collared polo shirt (preferably BISL branded and now available from our Uniform shop) with grey shorts/skirt, black or grey socks and elegant black shoes. Please note - navy shorts are not permitted. Sixth Form students are required to be in usual formal attire. If there are any questions please check the website or contact the tutors below:

• PE Uniform

A provision for PE will be provided to individual classes as we move forward in Block 7.

29. Will school lunches be available?

Yes, lunches will be served as packed lunches and delivered directly to classrooms, adhering to the guidance from the Ministry of Health.

30. Have the school term dates changed?

Yes, please click here to see our term dates. Block break has been moved to 11^th - 15^th May, so Block 7 will now start on Monday 18^th May.

31. If parents require any assistance with payment of school fees or a request of a payment plan, who should they contact?

As a group of Schools in Orbital Education, there is no blanket discount offered to all families in our schools across the world. Each individual family request is considered on a case by case basis by the School Principal assisted by the Business Manager. They assess the needs of the case and then a decision is made.

The first point of contact for any financial requests or payment plan proposals is the accounts@britishschool.si.

32. Will public transport be running onMonday 18^thMay?

Yes, please see this link for more information.

33. Will the split classes change back to normal over this term?

Yes, following the recent government announcement, from Monday 1^st June all Primary classes will return to the usual teacher and classroom. Splitting classes was a safety measure we put in place in accordance with health advice and class sizes continue to be reviewed regularly. Parents will be informed of any changes by email from the class teacher or Head of School.

We have arranged for a staggered start to allow groups of students to come back to school in a calm, organised and steady manner. Our Year groups will return as follows:

In Primary, we aim to bring back our Early Years and Year 1 on the first day Monday 18^th May. The Early Years group will be split into 3 groups to adhere to all safety guidance and we will split the Year 1 class into 2 groups. This will be coordinated by Ms. Železinger.

In the Secondary, we will welcome back Years 10 - 13 on Monday 18^th May. These years are following their IGCSE and A Level classes and will be in lessons, completing assessments or gathering evidence for the CAIE exam board. This will be coordinated by Mr. Batson and Ms. Andronikos.

The rest of our Year groups will return in the following days in accordance to our plan above (Schedule of Reopening).

Year groups who have returned to school will carry on with lessons as per their normal timetable.

Online lessons continue for Year groups who have not transitioned back to school.

Returning Year groups will be split where required to adhere to all health and safety guidelines.