Our School Day

8:30am
Our school doors open and the children are welcomed at the start of the new school day in their classroom by their teacher.  Please help us to help your child become increasingly independent by letting them come into school, hang up their own coat and sort out their own book bag.
 
These ten minutes are a good time to pass on any quick messages or updates.  The teachers have more time at the end of the school day for a longer chat.
 
8:40am – 9.00 am
This time allows the children to transition into their school day, order their lunch and complete the formal process of registration.  It’s really important that the children are present for this part of the day as it helps to settle them and prepares them for their learning.

9.00am
Collective Worship happens in either hall.  The children join in singing and an act of worship with either the whole school or in the key stages.

9:30am
Learning activities for the day begin. Your child’s class teacher will have planned a range of experiences for the class which help to ensure that our commitment to high standards and a broad and rich curriculum are met.  Their learning always starts with phonics in the morning.  Teaching your child the skills to be a successful reader is so important and is needed in every area of the curriculum.  At Bitterne CE we follow the Little Wandle Phonics scheme to ensure your child has the best possible Early reading opportunities.
 
10.15am – 10.30am
Playtime. The children enjoy the opportunity to play with friends in our well supervised and exciting outside environment. We have a range of play equipment and apparatus available and areas for quiet activities.
 
10:30 am - 12:00am
The children all have a drink of water and some fruit. The fruit is currently provided by the government and forms part of our “Healthy Schools” initiative. Children are able to bring their own healthy snack to school to eat but please be aware that we are a nut free school and as so, it is vital that the snacks and foods brought in do not contain nuts.  Water is freely available during the school day.   We continue our morning with story times, busy finger activities, maths, opportunities for group reading and small group activities.  Children are given the opportunities to develop their learning through play in our free flow setting.
 
Lunchtime (12:00pm to 1:00pm)
We encourage all children to have a hot, healthy school lunch cooked on the premises.  This is free for every child under the Governments universal free school meals programme.  Children can also opt to bring a packed lunch from home. The children sit in friendship groups and are encouraged to help each other and have good table manners. We have a friendly and professional team of lunchtime supervisors who make sure the children are happy and help to develop their play skills.
 
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Teaching and Learning time continues, usually in the form of Busy Bee Time.  This is the time when children can choose their own games, which consolidate their learning.  Children are provided with the resources to draw, paint, count and be creative with construction materials or IT and essentially develop their communication and language and social skills through play which is vital to a child’s development.

Milk time happens during this afternoon session - Milk is provided free of charge to children under 5 under the Nursery Milk Scheme.  Once your child turns 5 you can register with cool.milk.com to allow your child to continue to receive milk each day. 
 
3.00pm
School ends. The children are brought out by their class teacher and again this is an opportunity for you to talk with the teachers.
 
Please check out the curriculum page to see our Curriculum Bulletin for this term!