Start of the Day

The school gates open at 8.20am and close at 8.30am. Children enter school via the side gate. Pupils in Beech and Oak classes are encouraged to come into school independently to reduce the number of adults in the playground during the morning. 

If parents/carers need to pass on a message to the class teacher for the day ahead, please contact the school office at 8am or email the class email, which are checked briefly at 8am.

Morning Circle

At the very start of the day, our children gather as a class community in a circle. This allows for all children to be seen and heard equally and draws everybody together. We check in with the children to see how they are feeling and are able to quickly manage any emerging individual needs. We use this morning circle to encourage children to speak confidently by answering a question, offering an opinion or sharing some news.  Although this is only a 10-minute session, the benefit to children's wellbeing and understanding of one another lasts throughout the day. 

Lessons

The longer morning is divided into focused learning sessions of daily Maths, English, Phonics /Spellings, Handwriting, Guided Reading and Maths Facts. English and Maths lessons are taught by 4 teachers. Phonics and Spelling are taught in smaller groupings, according to a child's needs and stage of development. The shorter afternoon focusses on the broader curriculum and is taught by the three main class teachers. The children have two P.E. lessons a week as a class.  The children in Key Stage 2 will have a weekly swimming lesson in the Spring Term. All children in school take part in Forest School on rotation across the year. Chichester Forest School and our own Forest School leader, Miss Cain, work alongside the class teachers.  The children in Key Stage One have a weekly instrument lesson throughout the year led by a music specialist, and the children in Year 3 and 4 have one term of instrumental provision.

Worship

As a Church school, daily worship is an important aspect of our day. We come together to worship, sing, pray, celebrate and learn in a variety of groupings. The weekly worship focus is shared in our newsletter. Daily worship is from 12.50 pm to 1.10 pm

Lunch

Lunchtime is 45 minutes long, giving children time to calmly eat their lunch in our school hall and then go outside to play.  Children either have a hot lunch provided by an external provider or may bring a packed lunch to school. The children eat together between 12 and 12.30pm and then have outdoor play together until 12.45pm

Play Time 

There is a daily morning play for 15 minutes, starting at 10am. Children play on the school playground or field during their morning and lunch playtimes.  We try and get outside whatever the weather, but if it is raining heavily, the children are supervised while they play indoors. During indoor play, children are supervised in either their classroom or hall, and for a proportion of the time will take part in a physical activity, led by the adult on duty and our Playground Pals.

All children finish at 3 pm (unless they are attending a club).  All families wait in the playground to meet their children. If children are going home with someone other than their usual adult, the school must be informed. 

Clubs 

Clubs are provided by school staff and outside providers. All clubs run from 3-4pm on a Monday, although we may also offer some shorter lunchtime clubs.