Frequently Asked Questions

ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Can a child without any knowledge of English enroll?

Yes. Most children that are enrolled already have some level of the English language. That being said, immersion into the English language tends to be the most effective way in mastering the language. However, if the child does not know any English, we recommend him/her to be enrolled into Grade 0 (preparatory preschool year) where he/she would have more time and space to learn the language.

Which grades are you accepting children into now?

For the school year 2023/2024, we can accept children from 5 to 9 years old (grades 0-3).

What is the tuition fee?

The price list can be found HERE.

BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND STARTING SCHOOL AT THE AGE OF 5

Why does BASIS school start with Grade 0? Aren't the children too young for that?

There are several school systems that start with "classic school education” earlier than when it is standard in the Czech state schools.  It is very common in English speaking countries. Children should develop their potential. If a child remains in an environment that does not place reasonable demands on him/her (e.g., continuing the preschool regime), the child may become bored or even show behavioral problems that he/she did not have before.

Isn't school too demanding for 5-year-old children?

The Grade 0 program (for children 5 – 6 years old) is designed to help children adapt to the school environment. It is mainly important to teach children to concentrate on one thing for a longer (but reasonable) period of time, to perceive and follow the teacher's instructions, and to practice communication with the teacher and other children. In Grade 0, these principles are adopted by the children gradually in smaller steps and are combined with a freer form of education.

If the entire program is in English, won't the children have a problem with their native language? Won't their languages get confused?

Some bilingual children temporally mix the languages, borrow words. This may sound disturbing. At the same time, the results of numerous research, 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 a complete acquisition and correct use of both languages.

STUDIES AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

How are the children assessed?

There are 5 Grading Periods throughout the school year. Each Grading Period gives us the opportunity to review the student’s 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 almost never meets expectations.

How is the Czech language taught?

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 tested 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 intensive in the first years than in the 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.

Do the children get homework?

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 2nd grade, we do not consider assigning homework (we only consider optional homework for children who like a challenge). Then, starting in 3rd grade, 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 common practice at BASIS schools in the US. In reality, this leads to a lower need of home preparation.

What kind of extracurricular activities does the school offer?

At BASIS schools, the clubs are usually designed according 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 professional partners) provides a Football Club, Tennis Club, Dance Club, Book Club, Czech Club, and Art Club.

TEACHERS AND CLASS ORGANIZATION

Why are some classes so long?

The length of a lesson is adapted to the content of the lesson, some lessons are shorter, and some are longer. This is because in math or 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.).

How many children are there in one class?

Optimally, there are 16 students in a class, with a maximum number of 18 students in a class.

Why are there 2 teachers in the class?

There are 2 teachers in the classroom for key subjects (a Subject Expert and a Pedagogical Specialist). The Subject Expert specializes in one of the disciplines (mathematics, science, English humanities, Czech humanities, etc.).  The role of the Pedagogical Specialist is to ensure that students understand the material and that each student is working to the best of his or her ability. The Pedagogical Specialist focuses on pedagogy and travels with the students from class to class as they rotate from subject to subject.

ORGANIZATIONAL QUESTIONS

Is it possible to follow a special diet in the school canteen?

No. Lunch is provided by an external catering company. Children have a choice between two meals (with meat and vegetarian). On Fridays, the menu is broadened by a sweet meal option. Allergens are listed for each meal. In case of specific dietary requirements, we recommend that the child brings his/her own lunch. Meals (lunch + 2 snacks) are paid on top of tuition fees retroactively according to actual attendance. Lunch can be cancelled 48 hours in advance.

Do you operate a school bus?

Yes, we operate a school bus between the BASIS Beginners Prague campus in Prague 6 - Břevnov and the BASIS International School Prague 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 may depend on parental interest.

Is there a reception at school? How is the safety of children ensured?

Access to the school is secured by a sophisticated chip system. The pickup of children in pre-arranged and the children are handed over only to the persons listed in the enrollment application. The school reception is located by the main entrance door.

CZECH LAW AND THE REGISTRATION

Is BASIS School registered in the register of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports?

The BASIS school is operated on the basis of 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.

Does the child have to be enrolled in another state school?

Children with Czech citizenship or foreigners with permanent residence in the Czech Republic must be enrolled in a catchment school that will test them at least once every 2 years in the compulsory subjects (i.e., Czech language, Human and Our World- at the first level of primary school, and Czech language, History and Geography of the Czech Republic - at the secondary level). All these subjects are taught within the BASIS International School Prague curriculum. Children of foreigners with long-term residence do not have this obligation imposed by law, so they do not have to be enrolled in another catchment school (for of the compulsory testing purposes).

ENROLLMENT DETAILS

2022/2023 School Year: opening Grades 0–2
Enrollment: any time

AGE REQUIREMENTS 
Grade 0: 5-6 years old
Grade 1: 6-7 years old
Grade 2: 7-8 years old

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