FAQ
If you do not find your answers below among the most frequently asked questions, please do not hasitate to contact us. We are looking forward hearing from you.
PŘIJÍMACÍ ŘÍZENÍ
Yes. Although the entire program at BASIS Prague is in English, children do not need to know the English language to be admitted into the Preschool.
Some bilingual children temporarily mix the languages and borrow words. This may sound disturbing. At the same time, the results of numerous studies, as well as practical experience, prove that mixing languages is a normal phase in the development of speech in some bilingual children, from which they later move on to complete acquisition and correct use of both languages.
We are accepting children from the age of three. We have two different age groups:
Goldfish Class: ages 3-4
Sea Turtles Class: ages 4-5
We recommend a First Week Adaptation Regimen to help children adjust to starting preschool. This could include half-days, with the parents picking the children up after lunch each day. Your child can start full attendance once they feel more comfortable. This schedule is adjusted according to the readiness of the child. The First Week Adaptation Regimen is entirely optional, and if you choose, you can begin full attendance right away. To prepare students for the independent nature of school, parents are asked to hand over the child to the teacher without going into the classroom.
PROGRAM A MIMOŠKOLKOVÉ AKTIVITY
At our Preschool, we use full English immersion. Specifically, this means that the entire day is led in the English language, and children are led to build their vocabulary and learn to actively use the language. This is achieved, for example, through songs, lessons, communication between children and teachers, and repetitive teacher instructions (e.g., wash your hands, please sit down, Who knows the answer?, etc.).
To establish learning as a joyful and rewarding experience, so that children return home proud of themselves every day. We equip children emotionally, socially, and intellectually for a lifetime of continued learning.
We follow a trimester schedule, where students are assessed three times throughout the year. After each trimester, parents/guardians receive a copy of their child's assessment results. We believe it's extremely important to communicate the developmental stages and progress of each student to our families so that together we can celebrate student success and prepare our students for excellent outcomes.
Yes, children have free time to play, but there are also many organized activities such as singing and movement activities. The academic program is divided by age and occurs during the morning block. Twice a day children participate in S.T.R.E.A.M. activity centers which center around purposeful play.
At BASIS Prague, we strive to cater to the children's interests. During the summer, we send out a questionnaire to parents and children and consequently propose several types of clubs. Currently, the preschool offers a football club, dance club, ceramics club, and others.
UČITELÉ A ORGANIZACE TŘÍDY
There are always two teachers in each age group of children.
Goldfish Class: 2 teachers to a maximum of 15 children
Sea Turtles Class: 2 teachers to a maximum of 15 children
Parents are regularly informed about what their children are learning. We provide parents with links to the English songs that the children are currently learning so they can support and practice them at home if they so choose to. This is just one instance of how parents can increase their involvement in their child's learning process.
ORGANIZAČNÍ OTÁZKY
Snacks and lunches are provided by the Bionea catering company. Bionea specializes in catering to preschools. The menu is always posted on the message board and includes all allergens. It is possible to choose a vegetarian option, however, there is no other dietary alternative.
We understand that drop-offs can be difficult for both children and parents, but we can assure you that we will do everything in our power to make sure your little one feels safe and comfortable in our preschool. With this said, we need your support to show your child that our preschool is a safe place to be and that you as a parent trust the teachers.
When your child sees that your goodbye is short and positive, after a time this will ease the transition. This will also encourage independence in the children.
Yes, our preschool is home to children from a variety of nationalities, creating a vibrant and multicultural environment.
All children in Goldfish Class are required to rest. Older children may rest according to a parent or child request.
Yes, the preschool offers two weeks of a summer program in August. The summer program offers stimulating and engaging weekly themes coupled with S.T.R.E.A.M. academic enrichment. The program is led by preschool teachers and provides children with meaningful and interactive activities and projects.
The pickup of children is pre-arranged, and the children are handed over only to the individuals listed in the application form.
PŘIJÍMACÍ ŘÍZENÍ
Yes. Although the entire program at BASIS Prague is in English, children do not need to know the English language to be admitted into Level 1.
For the school year 2025/2026, we will be accepting children from 5 to 11 years old (Levels 1-6). For the school year 2026/2027, we are accepting children from 5 to 12 years old (Levels 1-7).
BILINGVNÍ VÝUKA A NÁSTUP DO ŠKOLY
The entry point to BASIS Prague is Level 1. While some families may decide to enroll their children from age 6, some may want to do so from age 5. At BASIS Prague we welcome children into Level 1 from ages 6 or 5 based on school readiness.
The Level 1 program (for children 5 - 6 years old) is designed to help children adapt to the school environment. It is important to teach children to concentrate on one thing for a longer (but reasonable) period, to perceive and follow the teacher's instructions, and to practice communication with the teacher and other children. Combined with a freer form of education, children in Level 1 adopt these principles gradually in smaller steps.
Some bilingual children temporarily mix languages and borrow words. This may sound disturbing. At the same time, the results of numerous studies, as well as practical experience, prove that mixing languages is a normal phase in the development of speech in some bilingual children, from which they later move on to complete acquisition and correct use of both languages.
At our school, the Czech language is taught in the full range of the Framework Educational Program for the Czech Republic. Thereby, the children will learn everything they would learn in a Czech primary school. Czech children and foreigners with permanent residence are regularly assessed in the Czech language in their catchment school.
Foreigners without this obligation learn Czech as a foreign language. Due to the parallel education of both languages (English and Czech), grammar is taught more intensively in the first years than in Czech schools, due to this, students perceive what is different and what is the same in both languages - the total time allowance for language education thus exceeds the demands of Czech schools.
We have incorporated the Cambridge English Assessment program into our English Humanities curriculum. This integration offers our students the best opportunities for academic growth and global competitiveness. Our students' completion of the Cambridge program at the end of high school will not only substitute for a final exam in the English language but also serve as an asset during the university application process.
STUDIUM A MIMOŠKOLNÍ AKTIVITY
There are 5 Grading Periods throughout the school year. Each Grading Period allows us to review the students progress and ability. We assess students verbally as well as using grading scales.?For math, science, and the humanities subjects, we use the A/F grading scale: the scale represents the percentage (A ≥ 90% B ≥ 80% C ≥ 70% D ≥ 60% F < 60%) that the student has earned from the teacher for understanding the material. The rest of the subjects are rated according to the SPNU scale. This is represented by the following scores: S (Superior) - the student has participated fully and excels in the class, P (Pass) - the student has met expectations satisfactorily, N (Needs Improvement) - the student sometimes meets expectations, U (Unsatisfactory); the student rarely meets expectations.
In terms of home preparation, our general strategy is not to rely on parental support and to minimize the need for home preparation (homework). Too much home preparation creates an unequal field for children, as each parent has different qualifications and time availability and thus not all parents can dedicate an equal amount of time. Our school day is longer than in a traditional Czech school, so we assume that children will learn everything they need to in school. The program includes ample space to practice and experience the material being taught. Until approximately Level 3, we do not consider assigning homework (we only consider optional homework for children who like a challenge). Then, starting in Level 5, some amount of homework will begin to be assigned, but students will also have dedicated time at the school to work on homework with teacher support. This is a customary practice at BASIS schools in the US, leading to a lower need for home preparation.
At BASIS Prague we strive to cater to the children's interests. During the summer, we send out a questionnaire to parents and children and then we propose several types of clubs. Currently, the school (along with external partners) provides a football club, handicrafts club, coding club, math club, French club, book club, and musical theater club.
UČITELÉ A ORGANIZACE VÝUKY
The length of a lesson is adapted to the content of the lesson, with some lessons being shorter, and some being longer. This is because in math and science, for example, besides just teaching theory, we also want to be able to implement a concrete presentation into practice (an educational game, experiment, project, etc.).
Optimally, there are 15 students in a class, with a maximum number of 18 students in a class.
There are 2 teachers in the classroom for key subjects (a Subject Expert and a Lead Teacher). The Subject Expert specializes in one of the disciplines (mathematics, science, English humanities, Czech humanities, etc.). The role of the Lead Teacher is to ensure that students understand the material and that each student is working to the best of his or her ability. The Lead Teacher focuses on pedagogy and moves with the students from class to class as they rotate from subject to subject. From Level 5 onwards there is only one teacher in each classroom.
ORGANIZAČNÍ OTÁZKY
Lunch is provided by an external catering company, Fresh and Tasty. There is a choice between 5 main dishes which include a meat menu, a vegetarian menu, a gluten/ lactose/ egg-free menu, a salad, and a sandwich option. To ensure the safety of all students, allergens are listed for each meal. In instances where specific dietary requirements cannot be met by our provided options, we highly recommend that the child brings their own lunch to accommodate their needs fully. The meals (lunch +2 snacks) are paid on top of the tuition fees retroactively according to actual attendance. Furthermore, we understand that plans may change, which is why we offer the convenience of canceling or modifying lunch choices up until 10 a.m. on the previous day of service.
Yes, we operate a school bus between the BASIS Prague Preschool campus in Prague 6 - Břevnov and the BASIS Prague Elementary School (1st Stage) campus in Prague 4 - Podolí.
Currently, there is one boarding stop and one exit stop. The bus operates in the morning and afternoon. Further details can be shared depending on parental interest.
Access to the school is secured by a sophisticated chip system. The pickup of children is pre-arranged, and the children are handed over only to the individuals listed in the application form. The school reception is located by the main entrance door.
ČESKÉ ZÁKONY A REGISTRACE
The BASIS Prague school operates under a permit from the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, which allows the fulfillment of school attendance in a foreign school in the Czech Republic according to the foreign education plan. The permission of the Ministry of Education also guarantees that the educational program of the school (curriculum) is in accordance with the Framework Educational Program of the Czech Republic.
Children with Czech citizenship and foreigners with permanent residence in the Czech Republic who are educated in foreign schools in the Czech Republic, must also be enrolled in a catchment school, which must test students at least once every 2 years in the following subjects (Czech language in all Levels of elementary and middle school; from Level 4 - Man and his world; from middle school - Czech realities from Geography and History).
The above compulsory subjects are an integral part of our curriculum and students learn all the content of these subjects within the BASIS Prague program.
From the school year 2024/2025 it is possible to enroll students in our catchment school - Základní škola BASIS Praha and thus fulfill this obligation.