Our School Day

 

The school day starts at 8:45am and ends between 3:15pm and 3:30pm, depending on the class. Please see the table below for guidance:

	Start time	Registration	End of the day	Daily no. of hours	Weekly no. of hours
Reception	8:45am	8:55am	3:15pm	6.33	31.65
Y1	8:45am	8:55am	3:20pm	6.42	32.1
Y2	8:45am	8:55am	3:25pm	6.5	32.5
Y3-Y6	8:45am	8:55am	3:30pm	6.58	32.9

 

Children arrive at school between 8.45am. and 8.55am. They should not arrive beforehand as the school cannot accept responsibility for their care on site before 8.45am, unless, of course they are attending the school's Breakfast Club or an Extra-Curricular Club. Registration starts at 8.50am and closes at 8.55am.

Entrance doors will be opened at 8.45 a.m. and children go to their classrooms. The children are engaged in important early numeracy and literacy activities until the end of registration at 8.55am.

Given the busy narrow road outside the school. parents are encouraged to distance park in the village and walk the rest of the way into school. Children may cycle to school. 

 

Road Safety courses; Balanceability (Reception class), Walk SMART and Scoot SMART (Years 1 - 4) and Bikeability (Year 5) are arranged annually. In the interests of pedestrian safety, all cyclists and scooter riders should dismount and walk up the school drive. Bicycles and scooters can be stored in the shelters at the front of the school.

 

Play is an important part of our learning offer. We know that research points to the benefits of play-based learning ... sometimes even described as 'superfood' for the child's brain - especially in the younger years. 

 

Meanwhile, we know that pupils need opportunities for play beyond the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and plan play into our provision in Year 1 and Year 2. Meanwhile, some of our teaching approaches include a play-based approach - for example, our implementation of Forest School from Reception to Year 6.

 

Morning
Y2 - Y6	10:40am - 10:55am
Lunchtime
EYFS / Y1	11:45am -
Y2 - Y6	12:00pm - 1:00 pm
Afternoon
'Buzz Time' and 'Golden Time' Y2 - Y6	At teachers' discretion

On wet days staff remain in the classrooms to supervise the children. A teacher and assistant supervise the children in the playground during breaks.

Water and fruit are supplied to the EYFS/KS1 classes at morning break as part of the National Fruit Scheme. Children in KS2 are encouraged to bring a piece of fruit for a snack at morning break.

 

All children in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 are eligible for free school meals. For children in Key Stage 2 free school meals are available on application to the Local Authority. Forms may be obtained from the school office or from the Local Authority. 

 

Children may choose weekly whether to eat a school meal or bring a packed lunch. School dinners should be paid for in advance. 

• Lunch menus are on a three week rolling cycle. These are published at the beginning of the school year so that parents and children can make choices together. 
  For more information see the Cambridgeshire School Meals site

• Payments can be made

• Online by registering with School Gateway using direct bank credit, debit and credit cards.
• By cheque. Cheques should be made payable to Shelford School. The cost of a meal is £2.25 for Infants and Juniors.

• Packed Lunches
  Children may bring packed lunches. In the interests of healthy eating please do not include chocolate bars, sweets or fizzy drinks in your child’s lunch. Water is available at every meal or children may bring fruit juices. Shelford School has a Nut Free Policy (see Policies), please do not include any food items which may contain nuts as we have several children with a nut intolerance. 

• Lunchtime Activities
  Responsibility for the children ultimately rests with the Headteacher at lunchtime as at all other times, and with the Deputy Headteacher in the former's absence. Playground and dining room supervision are, however, delegated to the Lunchtime Team from 12.00 p.m. to 1.00 p.m. daily.
  
  Our Lunchtime Team know the children well and are proactive in promoting a very happy atmosphere.
  
  Playground games and clubs form part of the active programme of provision at lunchtimes, which includes 'The Golden Mile'. Our Year 6 play leaders oversee various outdoor curriculum activities, including den building; science, art and geography activities and the story telling/drama area, which are all based around the field and linked by an all-weather path. Our much-loved meadow area provides further opportunity for investigation, exploration and imaginative play.