8:40 am Doors open for class registration
12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch break
3:10 pm Home time
Total time in a typical week = 32 hours and 30 minutes
At Alderton Junior School, we operate a ‘soft start’ to the school day. This means that class teachers open the doors for pupils at 8:40am, so that they can come into school and settle before lessons start at 8:50 am. We do this as it has been proven to support transitions from home to school and help children to regulate prior to engaging in learning.
Between 8:40 and 8.50am, pupils engage in Early Morning Learning. This may be a discussion based around a ‘Wonderment’ question, philosophy for children, current news or a picture. It may also include 'Fluent in 5' and 'Rapid Reasoning' Maths questions. Pupils may also engage in handwriting practise, quiet reading activities or spelling practise. It will be usual to hear music playing in the classrooms, as this helps support effective transition.
A bell will be heard in the playground in the mornings to signal when doors are open, and when to let parents know doors are now closing. Doors will close by 8:45am. Registers will be taken in class at 8.50am. If pupils are not in school by 8:50 am, they will need to enter school through the Reception area and sign in the late book. This will then be logged on our attendance information.
If you arrive early, please ensure your children do not play close to the classrooms doors as this can prevent teachers from preparing lessons for the school day.
Please also be aware that doors open outwards.
The school day ends at 3:10pm. Pupils can be collected from the same door as they entered in the morning.
We understand that sometimes things don’t always go to plan; should you be late to collect your child, they will be walked round to the office by their class teacher or a Teaching Assistant. Regular late collections will be addressed through a meeting with the Head Teacher.
The school gates are closed in the morning between 8:25am - 9:10am and in the afternoon between 12 -1pm and 2:50pm - 3:30pm.