School opening and closing times

8.45am - 3.25pm for all pupils

ie, 5 hours and 25 mins of classroom-based learning each day with 75 or 90 minutes of outside break and play (an hour at lunchtime, 15 minutes in the morning, and an extra 10 minutes in the afternoon for Reception and KS1 pupils only). This equates to 33 hours a week in school.

The beginning of the day 

School days are busy from the time school starts (for registration) at 8.45am. Children in Reception  enter through the labelled wooden gate to the right of the main gate and Yr 2 via the door under the main entrance archway. For safeguarding reasons, we do not use the main school gates in the morning. At 3.25pm, parents in Reception, Year 1 and 2 collect their children from the doors leading out onto the courtyard.

The majority of Year 1 and KS2 children enter each morning from the side gate, further along The Green by the Reception outside play area. The gate opens and supervision begins at 8.40am. The Headteacher and/or Deputy Head meets and greets each morning and is available for a quick informal exchange of information at this time. The whistle is blown at 8.45am to signify line-up time and the start of the school day.

Alternatively, children (and parents/carers) can come in at 8.30am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to run a mile before the regular school starts. Additionally, every Monday, families can join their child/ren for Reading Morning from 8.45am - 9.00am.

Morning break

All children have a 15-minute morning break whilst FS and KS1 have an additional 10-minute mid-afternoon break.  FS, Year 1 and 2 children are given free healthy snacks at break time funding by the government; KS2 children are also provided with a free healthy snack - this is funded by the school using sports premium funding. 

Lunch

We have a staggered lunchtime with Reception children going to the lunch hall first and settling before Years 1 and 2 arrive at 12.00pm.  Whether taking the hot school lunch or bringing a packed lunch from home, the children sit together at the tables. They are encouraged to be independent and carry their own lunch trays and clear them after eating. Students in Y3, 4, 5 and 6 can choose whether to go to lunch on the first whistle at 12.20 pm or wait until the second sitting (and whistle) at 12.40 pm. 

Our midday supervising team gently encourage the children to eat as much of their meal as possible be it their own packed lunch or hot meal provided by our expert Fresh Start team. Every effort is made to ensure that children with various dietary needs are accommodated.

We recognise that having a nutritious lunchtime meal is essential to our children's well-being. Governors regularly come to school to have lunch and monitor our lunchtime atmosphere and arrangements.

Top Table Lunch

Children that display school values, try new foods and display good table manners might be invited to join one of our Top Table lunches. When we have 20 names on the list, we have a special lunch with flowers, tablecloths, squash and waitress/waiter service! Staff and a member of the governing body, join us for this special lunch.
 

End of the School Day

Regular school finishes at 3.25pm.  Children in KS2 exit via the gate by the Reception play area. Parents collect Reception and KS1 children from the courtyard. 

Clubs

There are several opportunities for children to join clubs before, during and after school. Full details and timings can be found from the school office, via the class teachers and on the 'Clubs & Activites' page of the website (under Our Learning).

Assemblies

Assemblies provide a valuable opportunity for our school community to come together to share, reflect, worship and celebrate. The assemblies are led by school staff and outside visitors in the community. 

Themes for assemblies are planned at the beginning of the school year to ensure a breadth of topics recognising world events and beliefs, British culture and important school values. 

Monday assemblies are in year groups based on topical news and calendar events 

Tuesday assemblies are via Zoom with mindfulness and a positive mindset taking centre stage

Wednesday assemblies are full of singing, British values and special visitors

Thursday assemblies are year groups based on topical news and calendar events (as needed)

Friday celebration assemblies are particularly exciting as a class at a time plan a presentation for the rest of the school and their parents.  This is a relatively low-key presentation sharing and celebrating the current learning from class.  The pupils are fully involved in the planning of their celebration assembly. We also celebrate school values, reading and maths progress, birthdays, the golden broom (for the class that has kept their classroom the tidiest each week), certificates and medals from outside school and other special moments from outside school.