The School Day

Our school day is 8.40am to 3.10pm daily, a total of 32.5 hours per week.

School timetable

Classes

Children in Reception are in either Foxes or Squirrels class. In Year 1 we have Parrots and Turtles, in Year 2 Dolphins and Sharks. A complete list of our teaching and support staff is available here. Classes are arranged to facilitate the best combination of children, bearing in mind age and social adjustment and to allow the most efficient deployment of staff available.

Arriving

Pupils and their families are met by a senior member of staff daily, when our gates open at 8.30am. The school doors open at 8.40am and learning begins as soon as the children step into the classroom. The doors are closed again promptly at 8.50am by which time all children should be in their classrooms to be registered.  Late arrivals should report to the school office.

We encourage children to enter school on their own – both to avoid congestion and to help develop their independence. Naturally we make an exception to this rule during the first week for our Reception starters.  Our staff greet the children on arrival at school each morning, take non-urgent messages and assist parents with their children’s needs.

Children should bring their book bag, a bottle of water, and 2 snacks with them every day. We suggest fresh/dried fruit or vegetables, plus a savoury snack such as breadsticks. When they arrive at school in the morning they will hang up their coat, place their water bottle and snack on the shelf and put their book bag away.

Going home

At the end of the school day, Year 2 children are collected from the Ocean door (nearest the hall), Year 1 from the Woodland door (near Squirrels class) and Reception exit via their garden gate. Please call the school office if you may be late collecting your children, or if your child will be collected by someone else.

Attendance

Excellent attendance and punctuality are very important to the school. Both are closely monitored and followed up where necessary. There is a strong link between a pupil’s attendance and their attainment, and excellent attendance and punctuality in a child’s formative years establish good practice for their adult, working lives, enhancing their opportunities in life. Therefore we have both a legal and moral responsibility to ensure all pupils attend school regularly, on time.

All schools must keep a record of authorised and unauthorised absences. Parents must notify the school if their child is unwell and give advance warning of any planned absence, for example for medical appointments.

Absence during term time

Holidays in term time will always be recorded as unauthorised unless, very rarely, exceptional circumstances for the absence can be established. Our attendance policy outlines the process for requesting absence and the consequences of repeated unauthorised absence. This may include referral to the local authority for a penalty notice or further action.

Appointments during the school day

Please report to the school office when you take your children out of school – e.g. to a medical appointment – and when you deliver them back to school. Not only do we have to record reasons for absence in the register, we also have to quickly account for all children in an emergency. If your children will be arriving late to school because of an appointment, please let the office know whether or not they will be there for school dinner/packed lunch.  Wherever possible, please try to book appointments outside the school day.