Smile and be respectful
Always try and do the best
Learn to read and write
Be ambitious in life and in the Hereafter
Be mindful and honest
Below are FAQ and answers for your information.
Dear parents
We pray that you, your family and those around you are in good health, insha Allah. We are sorry that SIS has been temporarily closed since April 2020 due to the pandemic. The school is closed as it is not safe for children to attend school during these difficult times. We have tried to support children’s learning at home via the SIS website. However, we are mindful that not everything runs as smoothly as planned. We know that parents have many questions that require a response.
Please see below SIS’s response to most frequently asked questions.
Q: When will SIS open again?
A: SIS will open as soon as it is safe to do so, insha Allah. The school buildings that we use will need approval from the Department for Education (DfE) so that they can allow SIS to use their premises. The DfE is currently making the necessary arrangements so that children can return to their schools in September. Once that is accomplished and if everything goes well then DfE will allow schools to hire their premises to other users like SIS.
Two of our partner schools have indicated that they are unlikely to be able to allow SIS to use their premises until January 2021.
Q: What else will SIS do before re-starting the classes?
A: SIS has children from a large number of schools within and beyond Tower Hamlets. It will be very important that there is adequate risk assessment to minimise any risks to pupils, parents, staff and family members. SIS will start its classes once it is satisfied that adequate actions are in place to mitigate any risks.
Good and bad, life and death come from Allah (swa) and we have a duty to ensure that we have taken all possible measures to protect ourselves and those around us. In the current situation, children’s health and well-being have to be prioritised over SIS classes.
Q: What do you suggest that parents do in this situation?
A: SIS requests parents to make provision for children’s learning at home. School is closed but learning must continue at home. Parents can spend 15-20 minutes each day or longer sessions twice a week. They can follow the SIS syllabus which is available on the school website.
Q: Why is SIS not offering virtual classes via zoom or other platform?
A: SIS has thought very carefully and decided not to offer virtual classes to children. The structure, content and natures of SIS classes mean that it will be difficult to offer virtual lessons. Virtual lessons Education & Fun in the Islamic Way are effective for 1:1 or for small groups. Virtual lessons with 20-25 pupils will not be of benefit to anyone. Not all pupils will be able to access this learning and it will require the parents to be available to support their children with the technology. More importantly, there are issues of safeguarding that may compromise the personal information of families as well as the staff members involved. The benefits of virtual lessons are comparatively low for the school and less value to money for parents. It is much better if children can be supported at home by a family member. All the necessary resources are available on the SIS website.
Q: What does SIS expects children to do at home?
A: We request that parents take this opportunity to spend 20 minutes a day or 2/3 longer sessions each week with their child/ren. Parents can follow the SIS syllabus for (a) Qur’an, (b) Arabic language, and (c) Islamic Studies that are available on the SIS website.
Q: When will SIS do the enrolment for new students?
A: Enrolment for new children will take place when we know the date when SIS will open. Please be reassured that SIS will do everything possible to ensure that everyone who wants to attend SIS are accommodated when the school is open. If your child attended school before the temporary closure then you do not need to do anything. Your child/ren will automatically have a place at SIS, insha Allah.
Q: Will SIS refund the fee for the summer term (April to July 2020) when there were no classes?
A: Yes. SIS will deduct the fees for the summer term (April to July) when collecting the fees for the next year when classes resume again insha Allah. The non-refund policy will not apply in this case as it is a unique situation. The fees for the new year will also be adjusted depending on when the school opens insha Allah.
Q: Will children repeat the year when SIS opens again?
A: We have given a great deal of thoughts and feel that it will very much depend on a number of factors that are unknown at present. For example, have children been able to retain what they learnt; have they learnt new things at home; how much revision has taken place at home and other related issues. The school will make collective assessment and ensure that the focus is on learning rather than the class. The school has identified strategies to address the gaps in the syllabus and will share this with parents once the school is open, insha Allah.
Finally, you will be pleased to know that we are providing ‘Weekly SIS Support’ sessions via electronic means from 12 September 2020. There is no charge and it is free for all SIS pupils. This includes:
Providing specific homework via SIS website, email and texts
Sharing links & resources electronically
Short live sessions using SIS YouTube channel (if possible)
Responding to queries electronically
We thank you for your patience and continued support. Please keep us in your du’as and pray that Allah (swa) protect us all and provides His mercy upon us all in this world and in the Hereafter.
SIS team