Parent questionsVeli soruları

My child doesn't know any English. Is that a problem?

No. Most children who join our classes know no English on the first day. Young children meeting a second language usually listen for a while first; this 'silent period' is normal and lasts weeks, sometimes a few months. The native English teacher never expects an English answer; if a child answers in Turkish, she shows she understood and carries on in English.

Won't two languages at once confuse my child?

Research consistently shows that children growing up with two languages can tell them apart. Mixing both languages in one sentence ('Baba, kurbağa is frog!') is not confusion but a normal stage of bilingual development. Each teacher speaking only one language helps children easily sort out which language belongs to whom.

We don't speak English at home. How can we help?

Keep speaking Turkish at home; a strong first language is the best foundation for a second one. You don't need to know English: you can listen to the cards on the Words of the week page together, play the 'game at home' ideas and listen with curiosity to what your child teaches you.

Won't my child's Turkish fall behind?

About half of the day is in Turkish, and the Turkish teacher runs the national preschool programme of the Ministry of National Education in Turkish. Preparation for reading and writing in the 5–6 age group is entirely in Turkish. We share each child's development in both languages with families in a development file every term.

What does a day look like?

School opens at 07:45 and the full-day programme runs from 08:00 to 17:30. The day is made of arrival, breakfast, English circle time, learning centres, garden, lunch, rest, English hour, snack and workshops. You can see the hour-by-hour flow on the 'One day, two languages' line on the Bilingual programme page.

Is there a nap time?

The three-year-olds (Squirrels) have an afternoon nap; each child has their own bed in a darkened rest room. In the four- and five-year-old groups there is a rest and quiet reading time instead; a bed is always ready for any child who wants to sleep.

Who cooks the meals? What will a child with allergies eat?

Meals are cooked fresh every day in the school's own kitchen. The four-week menu is approved by our dietitian and published with allergens on the Lunch menu page. At final enrolment we take your child's allergy or diet information separately and prepare a special plate with the kitchen.

Is the pre-enrolment form binding?

No. Pre-enrolment is a request to get to know each other: within two working days of receiving the form we call you and set a day for a school tour. Final enrolment is completed after the tour, meeting your child and signing the contract. We do not ask for health information, national ID numbers or photos on the pre-enrolment form.

What do the fees include?

The full-day fee includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, specialist classes and all class materials. The school bus is not included and is charged separately by route. All fees include VAT; details are on the Fees page.

Is there a sibling discount?

There is a 10 percent discount for a second sibling and 15 percent for a third. There is an additional discount for paying the annual fee in advance; current rates are on the Fees page.

Which authority is the school under?

Bilingo is a licensed private preschool (36–72 months) under the Turkish Ministry of National Education. Our native English teachers work with legal work permits. You can see our licence documents during the school tour.

What happens if my child gets ill at school?

If a symptom such as fever, vomiting or diarrhoea appears, your child rests in a quiet corner with a teacher and we call you straight away. With contagious illnesses we ask that children rest at home for the period recommended by their doctor. Medicine is given only with a doctor's prescription and written instructions from a parent.

Are photos of the children shared?

We never publish any photo showing a child's face on our website or social media without parental permission. In photos on this site children are shown during activities, from behind or from the side. Class photos are sent to families only in a closed parents' group; permission can be withdrawn at any time.

How are entry and pick-up controlled?

There is a single entrance with a staff member on duty all day. Children are handed over only to the people the parent named at enrolment; if someone else is collecting, the parent must tell us in writing in advance. The garden is fenced, and there is always an escort on the school buses.