After School Programmes

ASP Policy and Procedures

HeadStart is committed to nurturing the interests and needs of our students. We are proud to offer an outstanding selection of over 180 clubs, sports, boosters, arts, dance, drama and language lessons each week. After School Programmes (ASPs) run Monday through Friday and Saturday mornings. ASPs are organised into four time slots: 14:30-15:20 / 15:30-16:20 / 16:30-17:30 / 16:30-18:00. (Fridays run 20 minutes earlier). The After School Programmes do not run during school holidays or on days that HeadStart is closed.

ASP Calendar

• Term 1 ASPs: Online booking opens in the first week of term. ASPs begin Monday of the second week and finish on the last day of term.
• Term 2 ASPs: Online booking opens in the last week of Term 1. ASPs begin Monday of the second week and finish on the last day of term.
• Term 3 ASPs: Online booking opens in the last week of Term 2. ASPs begin on the first day of term and finish 3 weeks before the end of term
• Fee paying ASPs run until the second last week of the academic year.

IGCSE Boosters finish after exams in the second week of Term 3. Students may sign up to alternative ASPs for the remainder of term 3.

Free ASPs

The activities and programmes on offer are set at the beginning of the year and continue for the duration of the academic year with as few disruptions as possible. Students will be allowed to select new ASPs at the start of every term. Primary and Secondary students are afforded up to three ASPs at no cost. There are no trial sessions for free ASPs. Students are expected to commit to an activity for the duration of the term. Applying for more than 3 activities from the list of Free ASPs is allowed after the ‘date of enrolment’. Additional ASPs from this list are offered at a cost of 350THB per session.

Class Size

Each ASP has a regulated amount of students who can join the class. The minimum and maximum number of student is set in the Activities portal. If an ASP has less than the minimum number of students enroled, it will be cancelled; the ASP manager will contact any persons this might affect and offer to help them find another suitable ASP in its place.

Booster Policy

As we remain committed to academic excellence, HeadStart offers academic booster sessions in core subjects. Boosters are defined as ‘academic support for students working below their age-related expectations’ and have been designed to give students the academic support they need in order to achieve the expected level. A booster assignment is determined by a student’s previous exam or assessment data. Students are ‘pre enroled’ into core boosters (English / Maths / Science / IGCSE subjects) before the online booking opens.

The parents of a student that has been identified as needing a booster will be notified by email. Students will not be allowed to sign up for another ASP during that same time slot. A booster cannot be elected by a parent. It must be approved and assigned by the Head of Primary or Secondary. New students are not immediately placed into boosters, unless recommended by the Head. Year 10 boosters begin in Term 2.

VAP Policy

VAPs are enrichment programmes designed for very able pupils, our highest performing, A-A* students. VAPs cannot be booked through the portal, but are pre-enroled by the ASP Manager. If you are not sure whether you are eligible for a VAP, please confirm with the teacher who is running the programme.

Fee Paying Programmes

Fee Paying Programmes are determined by the ASP Manager in conjunction with the CEO. The Programme Coordinator communicates directly with the ASP Manager regarding procedures, content and the maximum number of students allowed in a class. All outsourced teachers who work in the After School Programme will have ben vetted by management and be qualified to teach their subject or skill.

Fees set for the term will vary, depending on the programme and number of sessions in the term. Parents are invoiced for a full term and must always pay the full amount. A credit note will be issued for students who join a fee paid ASP later in the term. Refunds are not issued for missed classes or cancellations after the announced ‘cut-off date’.

A refund may be approved by the ASP Manager in the following circumstances; - an injury has occurred that does not allow the student to participate in the activity anymore or for a period of time. A doctor’s note is required as confirmation. - the School has made a change to the after school programme that affects a student’s ASPs.

Academy Information and Try Outs

HeadStart runs an academy programme for students who train and represent the school in Football, Swimming or Creative Arts. Try outs for students wishing to claim a position in one of HeadStart’s elite teams or academies are set in the first week of the academic year. Students will be notified if they have made the cut. Students who join HeadStart mid-year can arrange a private try-out session with the Head Coach of the Academy to assess whether they qualify.

Academy Schedule

• Term 1: Academy try outs run in the first week of the term. Academies begin in the first week of the term and run until the final day of term 1.
• Term 2: Academies start on the first day of term 2 and run until the end of term 2.
• Term 3: Academies start on the first day of term 3 and finish in the second last week of the academic year.

Booking & Enrolment Procedures

Booking your child’s ASPs is done through the Parent Portal. The booking is open to parents for a predetermined amount of time. This will be announced by email and on official HeadStart social media. Prior to the online booking, a list of ASP options for the upcoming term are posted here:

• below
• on the ASP bulletin board opposite the school shop
• on the Parent Portal / Student Portal in ‘Preview mode’

Students will be ‘pre enroled’ into Boosters, EAL classes, VAPs and Academies. Some ASPs that include continued coursework, levels or exams may allow students to continue in the following term. (i.e. LAMDA, HDPG, Tennis) Parents will be contacted for confirmation and a place will be reserved for the student.

Online Booking Opens:

Parents of Foundation and Primary age students should book their child’s ASPs on the Parent Portal. Secondary students are able to book their own (free) activities through the Student Portal. *Fee paid ASPs can only be booked by a parent. A tutorial of how to navigate the Booking tab on the Portal can be found on the ASP web page. Parents who cannot access the Portal should email [email protected]

ASP Enrolments

Enrolments to all ASPs are assigned on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Once ASPs have been ‘enroled’ an email will be sent to all Parents asking them to visit their child’s timetable where they can view all their enrolments. If any changes need to be made, they should contact the ASP Manager. Parents who have missed the booking period, or would like to select additional ASPs can fill out an ASP request form at the front office or email the ASP Manager.

Newly Enroled Students

New students who join HeadStart, after ASPs have started, must wait three weeks before enrolling in ASPs. Students must complete the ‘settling-in period’. This allows the Homeroom teacher or Head of Faculty to assess the student and complete the Settling in Report, which identifies if the student needs academic support. In some cases, the Head of Primary or Secondary may allow a new student to enrol in ASPs immediately. The ASP manager will be notified of this decision.

Students attending ASPs

Students are expected to attend the ASPs they’re enroled in, especially EAL classes and core boosters. Students should only attend ASPs they are enroled in. Students that show up to an ASP, who are not enroled on the Portal, will be sent to the front office where a member of Admin will help to check their timetable, contact their parents or enrol them in the ASP.

Student Behaviour

In the case of repeated misbehaviour, an ASP teacher will contact the Head of Primary or Secondary as well as the child’s Parents to inform them of the issue. If the unwanted behaviour continues, the student will be removed from the ASP and their place will be forfeited.