Cosmos Primary Parent Handbook 2026-27

Welcome to our primary school! We are delighted to have you and your child as part of our community. This handbook is designed to provide you with important information about our school’s policies, procedures, and programs. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the contents of this handbook and use it as a resource throughout the school year.

““Life is Learning”

“Cosmos Primary empowers students in a happy, safe, and stimulating environment to help them achieve their true potential in all their endeavours and foster a lifelong love of learning.

“Cosmos Primary aims to create a well-structured student-centred learning environment with collaborative efforts by the management, teachers, parents and the students themselves.

The following principles guide the school community’s efforts to create a positive and thriving school culture.

“At Cosmos Primary, we strive to nurture an ethos characterized by a culture of integrity, openness, trust, respect, inquiry, dialogue and appreciation in which all members of the school community understand and believe that “Life is Learning”.

The School Pledge is a powerful expression of the school’s commitment to fostering positive behaviours and values. It is based on the S.T.A.R Expectations, encouraging students to strive for excellence, take responsibility for their actions, work together collaboratively, and show respect for themselves, others, and the world around them.

Key contacts

When your child is unwell at school

• The school will provide immediate first aid and basic care.
• If a child needs to go home or requires medical attention, the school will call the parent/guardian using the registered contact numbers.
• In emergencies, the school may arrange urgent medical care first and inform parents immediately.

Medicine deposit & administration

When a child needs medication during school hours (e.g., allergies, asthma, fever medicine as advised), parents may deposit the medicine with the school for safe storage and supervised administration.

If your child uses school bus/auto transport

• Medicine must be in the original labelled container with the child’s name and dosage instructions.
• Submit a signed medicine authorization note/form with the child’s name and class, medicine name, dosage and timing, duration (start and end dates), and any special instructions or allergy information.
• Medicines without clear instructions or labelling will not be administered.

If you drop off your child yourself

Complete the medical support register with all the required details while dropping off your child.

School hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM (after-school interventions and sessions run until 4:00 PM).

From 2026-27, Cosmos Primary is moving from a day made up of many short periods to a small number of longer learning blocks. Related subjects and programmes are grouped together so children settle once and learn deeply, with fewer interruptions through the day.

Why we use blocks

• Deeper learning: longer, uninterrupted time lets children explore, practise, and master ideas instead of just getting started before a bell rings.
• Fewer transitions: switching between 8–9 short periods a day wastes time and unsettles children. Blocks roughly halve daily transitions, recapturing meaningful learning time across the year.
• Calmer days: fewer changes of subject, teacher, and room mean less rushing and a more settled classroom.
• Built-in brain breaks: longer blocks include short movement and mindfulness breaks, matched to your child’s age, to keep focus high.

Explore a day at Cosmos

The interactive day-at-Cosmos explorer (with per-year-group schedules) is available in the online handbook at www.cosmosprimary.com/primary/parents/handbook.

The school calendar includes important dates such as holidays, special days, assessment schedules and parent-teacher conference days. The calendar is shared with parents/guardians at the beginning of the school year. Our calendars are organised into four categories:

The year at a glance

Term boundaries, holidays, celebrations, and events for the active academic year — colour-coded by term. Use the type filter to show just the categories you care about, and download the printable wall-calendar PDF for the fridge.

Cosmos Primary operates a school bus service so children can travel to and from school safely. Transport is optional and is managed by the Operations Team.

How to enrol for the bus

1. 1

   Apply

   Complete the Application Form for Bus Transport, available from the school front office.

2. 2

   Acknowledge

   Sign the School Transportation Acknowledgment Form for the academic year — it covers the transport rules, responsibilities, and safety expectations.

3. 3

   Confirm

   The Operations Team confirms your child’s route, stop, and pick-up/drop timings, and the finance team shares the transport fee details.

Safety and daily expectations

• Be at the stop a few minutes before the scheduled pick-up time — buses run to a schedule for every family on the route.
• An authorised adult should receive younger children at the drop point. Tell the school in advance if someone different will receive your child.
• Children follow the S.T.A.R. expectations on the bus: listen to the driver, stay seated, keep the bus clean, use quiet voices, and be polite (see the S.T.A.R. matrix in School Life).
• If your child who uses the bus needs medicine at school, follow the medicine deposit rules for transport-availing children in the Infirmary & Medicines section — including the signed medicine authorization note.
• Inform the Operations Team about any change of address, stop, or transport cancellation in writing.

The Home-School Partnership Agreement is a crucial document that outlines the commitments and expectations between Cosmos Primary School, parents, and students. This agreement serves as a foundation for building a strong, collaborative relationship that supports each child’s educational journey.

Signing requirements

• At the time of admission, as part of the enrollment process.
• At the beginning of each academic year, to renew the commitment.
• When there are significant updates or changes to the agreement.

While signing the agreement demonstrates commitment to these principles, all members of the school community are expected to follow school policies and guidelines regardless of whether they have signed the agreement.

The school is committed to ensuring parents are informed and connected to their child’s education. We use multiple communication methods to keep parents updated, and parents can use multiple channels for different purposes so questions and concerns are addressed promptly. School leaders, educators, and parents should respect each other’s well-being and personal time, and refrain from contacting each other personally outside school hours unless it is extremely urgent.

Surveys

When necessary, the school sends surveys to parents through Notion/Google Forms to collect information and feedback so administrative decisions reflect parent opinion. Please complete surveys as soon as they are sent out, in as much detail as possible.

Feedback and complaints

We welcome your feedback and encourage you to talk to us about any concerns or suggestions. The senior leadership team records all feedback and concerns. Where patterns emerge, themes may be reviewed in Impact Team meetings to support system improvement and prevention. We work to resolve individual issues quickly and fairly, while implementing system-level changes where necessary. For the formal escalation pathway and timelines, refer to the Complaints and Grievances (Parents) Policy.

Confidentiality

We protect the privacy and confidentiality of our students and families by only sharing necessary information with those who need it, like teachers and administration. We store personal information securely and require staff and volunteers to sign confidentiality agreements. We never share personal information without written consent from the student’s parent or guardian, except as required by law.

By fostering a threefold connection between child, parent and educator, we aim to enhance the home-school relationship, enrich our learning community, and ensure each child’s potential is nurtured in every possible way.

Structure

1. 1

   Club Coordinators

   Staff members appointed by the school, responsible for organizing meetings, workshops, and resources.

2. 2

   Parent Representatives

   Parents/guardians who volunteer as liaisons between school and parents, aiding communication and organisation of club activities.

3. 3

   General Members

   All parents/guardians of Cosmos Primary students, participating in club activities and contributing to its mission.

The three Orientation pillars

Dialogue & engagement

• Orientation session and selection process: at the start of each year, new parents are welcomed and interested parents can apply as Parent Representatives.
• Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs): termly one-to-one dialogues on each child’s progress.
• PTA meetings: governance meetings with Parent Representatives covering school-wide planning and decisions.
• Tea with SLT: small-group informal conversations with the Senior Leadership Team.
• Parenting Forums: open discussions on parenting challenges, shared experiences, and practical tips.

Voice, volunteership & resources

• Feedback sessions: termly sessions to gather feedback on club activities, school programmes, and areas of interest or concern.
• Parent Volunteership Programme: opportunities to contribute time and skills to events, drives, and school activities — with induction, briefings, event-day support, and appreciation, tracked in a Parent Volunteer Registry.
• Resource sharing: regular social media updates and an online resource centre with tips, articles, and resources for supporting your child at home.

At Cosmos Primary School, we value transparency, financial sustainability, and equity in our fees policy to maintain high-quality education and a supportive environment for all students. The full Fees Policy for the current year is available from the school office.

The school management strives to provide scholarships when feasible. The fee policy is periodically reviewed, and any updates are communicated in advance. Please contact our finance team for any queries or assistance regarding fee payments.

For any questions or support with payments or other financial matters, contact the finance team during school hours — they will make every effort to resolve issues within two working days.

The following policies and procedures are essential reading for all parents. These documents outline our school’s approach to various aspects of student life, curriculum, and administration. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with these policies to better understand our practices and expectations.

Cosmos Primary School is divided into two key stages: Early Years and Key Stage. Early Years comprises Nursery, Lower Kindergarten and Upper Kindergarten — a play-based learning environment for children aged 2–5. Key Stage 1 comprises Grades 1–2, and Key Stage 2 is divided into Lower Key Stage 2 (Grades 3–4) and Upper Key Stage 2 (Grades 5–6), using the Cambridge Primary curriculum.

This division allows educators to provide a developmentally appropriate curriculum that challenges and supports students at each stage, and gives students a sense of structure and progression as they advance through the grades.

Personal grooming and adornments must be appropriate for a school setting, with minimal jewellery and no extreme hairstyles, hair colours, tattoos, or distracting elements.

If a student is absent, parents should notify the school as soon as possible by phone or email. On returning to school, the student should bring a note explaining the reason for the absence. For prolonged absence due to illness or other circumstances, the school works with the family to provide support and keep the student up to date. If attendance becomes a concern, the school works with the family on a plan to improve attendance and ensure academic success.

At Cosmos Primary, promoting positive behaviour is an essential part of our school culture. Our proactive approach begins by defining clear expectations through the S.T.A.R behaviour expectations matrix and classroom rules and routines. Expectations are taught and modelled to children, who practise them through interactive modelling, with consistent redirection, reminders, and reinforcement from teachers. Children who need additional support receive appropriate strategies — one-on-one sessions with teachers and staff, and meetings with parents where helpful. We encourage parents to keep communication open and establish consistent expectations at home.

The S.T.A.R values

S.T.A.R at home

To help children meet behavioural expectations at home too, we have developed a home S.T.A.R matrix. Parents can attend a workshop on this during Nurture Parent Club orientations.

Every day begins with a short self-regulation routine called A.I.M. for the S.T.A.R.s — part of Morning Meeting. Children learn to Acknowledge how they feel, Identify where they are on a meter, and Make a choice of a strategy that helps them get ready to learn. It takes a few minutes, and it gives children a lifelong skill: noticing what is happening inside and choosing what to do about it.

1. 1

   Acknowledge

   Pause and notice — what is my body doing, what is my mind saying?

2. 2

   Identify

   Find yourself on the meter — which zone am I in right now?

3. 3

   Make a choice

   Pick a strategy that fits the zone — a breathing exercise, a stretch, a brain dump — and use it.

The three meters

The Mood Meter — Heart

The Meta Meter — Mind

The S.T.A.R. Meter — Character

Each class at Cosmos Primary has its own special mascot that represents unique qualities and helps build classroom identity. Mascots create a sense of belonging, encourage teamwork, and make learning fun — your child’s everyday classroom team, alongside their school-wide House.

In 2026-27 we are launching our House System. Every child — and every staff member — belongs to one of four houses, named after constellations in keeping with our identity as Cosmos. Houses build a sense of belonging across year groups, encourage healthy teamwork and friendly competition, and give children real opportunities to lead.

🦅

Aquila — Red

Eagle · Altair

Vision — we see what’s ahead

🦢

Cygnus — Blue

Swan · Deneb

Grace — we move as one

🦚

Pavo — Green

Peacock · Peacock Star

Pride — we shine from within

🐦

Tucana — Yellow

Toucan · Alpha Tucanae

Wonder — we find a way

How your child belongs

Your child has two team identities that work together: their class mascot (their everyday classroom team) and their house (their school-wide team that stays with them throughout their years at Cosmos).

“Individual → Class (Mascot) → House (Constellation) → School

Children are placed into houses when they join, balanced fairly across each grade so competitions stay even. Houses stay the same year after year, so your child grows up with their house family. Siblings are placed to keep each grade balanced, so they may sometimes be in different houses — all part of the friendly rivalry!

House Points and S.T.A.R. Coins

• S.T.A.R. Coins celebrate your child’s individual behaviour in the classroom.
• House Points are earned for the whole house — through academic effort, taking part in events, winning inter-house competitions, community service, and good attendance.

House standings are celebrated in assemblies, shared with parents each term, and build towards the annual House Cup.

Student leadership

Houses give children real opportunities to lead — as House Captains (Grade 6), Vice-Captains (Grade 5), and Prefects (Grades 3–6). Children in Grades 1–2 take part as House Cadets, and Early Years children join in through their house colour and activities.

House events through the year

• ✨ Sorting Ceremony — new children are welcomed into their house
• 🏃 Sports Day and inter-house sports
• 🧠 Inter-house Quiz and academic competitions
• 🎨 Inter-house Arts — art, drama, music, and dance
• 🤝 Community Service Day
• 🏆 House Cup Ceremony at the end of the year

Cambridge International offers schools around the world the flexibility to adapt curriculum stages to their local context. Cambridge International provides three different structures for schools to choose from:

At Cosmos Primary, we have deliberately chosen Structure 3 — a direct grade-to-stage alignment — based on careful pedagogical consideration.

1. 1

   Age-appropriate learning

   Cambridge stages are designed with specific age groups in mind. Structure 3 ensures children engage with content that matches their developmental readiness. Rushing through Early Years to start “Primary” earlier does not mean children are “ahead” — it means they engage with content before they are ready for it.

2. 2

   Strong foundation in Early Years

   Cambridge Early Years (EY1, EY2, EY3) is a comprehensive, play-based curriculum developing communication, language and literacy, mathematics, creative expression, physical development, personal, social and emotional development, and understanding the world. Honouring the full programme builds the foundation children need for later academic success.

3. 3

   Alignment with India’s National Education Policy

   Structure 3 directly aligns with the NEP 5+3+3+4 framework, which emphasizes developmentally appropriate learning: Foundation Stage (ages 3–8, Nursery to Grade 2) focused on play-based learning; Preparatory Stage (ages 8–11, Grades 3–5) introducing formal classroom learning; Middle Stage (Grade 6 onwards) with a subject-oriented approach.

4. 4

   Future transition planning

   Many families may move their children to CBSE after Grade 6. Our approach ensures children complete the full Cambridge Early Years and Cambridge Primary programme (Stages 1–6) — the complete international curriculum experience — before any transition.

For families planning to move their children to CBSE after Grade 6, we are developing a structured Bridge Programme that will identify and address any knowledge gaps between Cambridge Primary and CBSE Grade 7, provide targeted support where curricula differ, and ensure a smooth academic transition.

🌱 Early Years: Cambridge Early Years curriculum

The Cambridge Early Years curriculum forms the foundation of learning at Cosmos Primary. It nurtures the whole child through play-based, inquiry-led learning, building strong early skills and positive learning habits.

Aligned to the Cambridge Early Years approach, we focus on intentional play, language-rich interactions, and meaningful routines so children feel safe, confident, and curious — ready for a smooth transition into Cambridge Primary.

📚 Key Stages 1 and 2: Cambridge Primary & beyond

Our Key Stages curriculum merges internationally acclaimed frameworks with locally relevant content for a comprehensive education.

Assessments include Cambridge Primary Progression Tests and Checkpoints. Our teaching methodologies are rooted in fostering curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills — preparing students for a successful future in the 21st century.

We have developed unique Whole School Programs to complement our Core Curriculum. These evidence-based programs implement the latest educational research and cognitive psychology practices — covering literacy, numeracy, communication, arts, life skills, and sustainability.

Beyond the school day, Cosmos offers After School Programs (ASPs) — small-group learning, movement, and creative programs designed to feel personal and purposeful, not like a second school day. Programs run as complete cycles with a clear plan, an approved instructor, and a defined outcome.

The three program families — Learn. Move. Create.

What you’ll know before each program starts

• Program dates and session count
• Weekly day and time
• Age or grade range
• Instructor and location
• Materials or equipment needed
• Fee and enrollment deadline

How enrollment works

1. 1

   Registration opens

   Announced through school communication channels.

2. 2

   Enrol

   Parents complete the enrollment form.

3. 3

   Placement

   Confirmed based on priority and capacity.

4. 4

   Payment

   Fee details are shared before the program begins.

5. 5

   Orientation

   Children and parents complete a short Day 1 orientation.

The Learnarium runs a school-wide reading quest: every student in Grade 1 and above is automatically part of the challenge to read 100 books during the school year. It’s a fun, engaging way to explore new worlds, meet incredible characters, and expand imaginations — one book at a time.

How the quest works

1. 1

   A secure quest certificate

   The Learnarium team creates an official 100 Book Challenge Certificate for every student, kept safe in the Learnarium.

2. 2

   Automatic tracking

   No logging needed at home — progress is updated weekly from the official library reports. Any book checked out and returned counts toward the goal.

3. 3

   Share your thoughts

   When checking out a new book, the Librarian asks a few quick, fun questions about the book just finished.

Celebrating 100 books

• 🏁 Challenge complete! The Learnarium team notifies your child and their teacher when the tracker reaches 100.
• 🖋️ The golden signature — the Learning Experiences Curator gives the certificate its final official signature.
• 🎉 The Parade of Heroes — the signed certificate is presented in front of the whole school at a Learning Celebrations Parade.
• 🏆 The Wall of Fame — your child’s name and photo join the permanent 100 Club Wall of Fame in the Learnarium.
• 🥳 The grand celebration — all finishers are invited to an exclusive end-of-year party.

How parents can help

• Read together — share a book with your child, no matter their age.
• Talk about stories — ask what they’re reading and what they love about it.
• Visit the library — encourage frequent Learnarium visits to check out new books.
• Celebrate the journey — focus on the joy of reading, not just the number. Every book is a victory!

We firmly believe that homework is a vital part of your child’s education. By maintaining consistency and a clear understanding of its purpose, we can all — educators, students, and parents — contribute to their success.

What does homework include?

What we expect from pupils

• Do their best to complete homework.
• Reflect on feedback given.
• Approach teachers about anything they don’t understand.
• Take responsibility for their homework books and worksheets.

What we expect from parents

• Provide a suitable study space.
• Encourage good working habits.
• Inform the school of any problems with homework completion.
• Sign completed homework and provide comments if necessary.
• Make sincere efforts to understand the curriculum.

We consider assessments an indispensable tool for monitoring students’ academic progress, informing instructional strategies, and identifying areas for improvement. Our multi-faceted approach encompasses both formative and summative evaluations. Assessment practices are governed by the school’s Assessment Policy; detailed structures (weightages, schedules, formats) are communicated through official channels during the year.

We follow a standards-based reporting system, which evaluates students on their mastery of particular learning goals rather than comparing them to their peers.

Educators prepare progress reports at the end of each term, summarizing academic performance, behaviour, and social development.

Benefits and goals

1. 1

   Transparency

   Detailed reporting ensures transparent communication between educators, students, and parents.

2. 2

   Holistic evaluation

   A balanced evaluation, factoring in various aspects of learning.

3. 3

   Targeted support

   Detailed reporting helps tailor specific academic interventions.

4. 4

   Parental engagement

   Parent involvement is key to a child’s success — we encourage ongoing dialogue between parents and teachers.

As we wrap up this handbook, we want to emphasize the importance of your engagement in your child’s educational journey. Regularly checking for updates on school activities, curriculum adjustments, and your child’s academic progress is crucial to maintaining a collaborative educational environment. Your insights and suggestions are invaluable — reach out to our Principals or Year Group Leads with any thoughts or concerns.

“We are a community bound by a shared vision: to empower students in a happy, safe, and stimulating environment to help them reach their true potential and foster a lifelong love of learning. Let’s unite to “Help our Children fall in love with Learning” and make this vision a reality for every child at Cosmos Primary.