Understanding the school day
Have you ever asked your child what they did at school, only to be answered with ‘… nothing, really!’ Read on to see what the pattern of an average school day might be. Of course, trips and residentials, music activities and performances, visitors and sports fixtures can all alter what is supposed to be a ‘normal’ school day!
Gates open - Juniors into side playground when bell is rung.
Collection of children and registration
Lesson 1: Often Phonics and / or guided reading
Assembly Gathering together either as a whole school or separately as Infants and Juniors
Lesson 2:Usually English or Maths or a themed lesson that enables children to put their English or Maths skills to good use Sometimes children will be taught as a class, sometimes in friendship groups and sometimes in ability groups
Infants 10:15am/Juniors 11:00am
Playtime This is the time for having a snack, running off steam or just chilling out with children of a similar age.
Infants 10:30am/Juniors 11:15am
Lesson 3: Usually English or Maths or a themed lesson that enables children to put their English or Maths skills to good use Sometimes children will be taught as a class, sometimes in friendship groups and sometimes in ability groups
Infants 11:45am/Juniors 12:15pm -
Lunchtime Infants are served in two sittings. Each sitting has 30 minutes to play outside with the ‘big’ toys (bikes, scooters, space hoppers etc.), 30 minutes to sit at a dining table chatting and eating and 20 minutes to play traditional playground games with the Lunchtime Playleaders.
Juniors have 25 minutes to play outside, 30 minutes to sit eating and chatting and maybe a last 10 minutes if they have finished after half an hour. In warm, dry weather, older Juniors are allowed to eat packed lunches ‘picnic style’ outside.
In very bad weather, children will be kept inside and entertained with ‘wet play toys’ and/or dvds. Infants often have an impromptu ‘singalong’ with the lunchtime supervisors at some point!
12:45 Infants /1:15pm Juniors
Lesson 3:Could be (in no particular order): topic/ PE/History, Geography/Performance Skills/ PSHE/RE/Computing/Art/Music/French/DT/Cooking or any one of a raft of other activities
Mixed Playtime - Angel Play
This is the time for running off steam or just chilling out with children from right across the age ranges. Classes are mixed across the 2 main playgrounds, with one class from each year in each playground. Each class has a designation Gabriel or Raphael, which decides which playground they will use. The playgrounds are swapped through the year to ensure the children have a chance to use the different spaces.
All younger children have an older Jedi (mentor) buddy and older children have an Anakin (learner) buddy. Towards the end of Year Three, Anakins become Jedis and take on the Reception children that will be transitioning in the summer term.
Lesson 4: Could be (in no particular order): topic/ PE/History, Geography/Performance Skills/ PSHE/RE/Computing/Art/Music/French/DT/Cooking or any one of a raft of other activities
End of school day Children are dismissed from the playground to parents; to extra-curricular clubs or to After School Child Care providers.
For the first term, Year One are dismissed a few minutes earlier so that they can become accustomed to the routines.
3:30 – 3:40pm
Teachers remain in the playground so that parents can deliver messages, make enquiries, deal with problems etc.