The School Day
School starts at 0900hrs and finishes at 1500hrs; this equates to 30 hours; 23.75 hours curriculum time.
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0850hrs 0900hrs 0910 - 0930 0930 - 1030 1030 - 1045 1045 - 1100 1100 - 1200 1200 - 1245 1245 - 1345 1345 - 1400 1400 - 1500 1500hrs |
Staff on duty as children arrive School begins Phonics Session 1 Assembly Morning break Session 2 Lunchtime Session 3 Afternoon play Session 4 End of the school day |
The Rationale Behind Shortening The Length of the School Week
In July 2023, the Government published non-statutory guidance on the length of the school week, a copy of which can be found here:
Length of the school week - non-statutory guidance (publishing.service.gov.uk)
In September 2023, it became clear that due to the extremely low numbers on role (4 full time children), one hour and fifteen minutes for a lunch break was too long. At a Governing Body meeting held on 12th September 2023, a proposal was put forward to consult on shortening the length of each school day by 30 minutes. This would be achieved by reducing the length of the lunch break from one hour and fifteen minutes to 45 minutes with THE LENGTH OF TEACHING TIME TO REMAIN UNCHANGED.
Advice was sought from the Local Authority and parents were formally consulted over a 5 week period in order for the change to become effective from 31st October 2023 should there be no objections.
The non- statutory guidance states the following:
“All schools should deliver a substantive high-quality morning and afternoon session in every school day” and "The quality of education that schools provide is underpinned by a broad and balanced curriculum.”
We will continue to deliver high-quality morning and afternoon sessions. The teaching ratio in Key Stages 1 and 2 is three teachers to six children. Consequently we are able to deliver high quality, targeted teaching. We have noticed the children are able to complete their learning objectives more swiftly which also means we can explore greater depth objectives too. We are now delivering an even broader and balanced curriculum. We have found that we have gained time in which we now do enrichment activities including cookery, gardening and handicrafts alongside visits off-site.
The law states that “’every school must normally have two sessions divided by a break in the middle of the day.” This will not change.
As no objections were received, the timings of the school day, with effect from 31st October 2023, will be as follows:
0900 Registration
0910 Phonics
0930 Session 1
1030 Assembly
1045 Playtime
1100 Session 2
1200 Lunchtime
1245 Session 3
1345 Playtime
1400 Session 4
1500 End of school day