Daily Routine
Start of the day
Our school day runs from 8.45am to 3.15pm, which is in line with the government expectation of 32.5 hours per week.
The gates open at 8:35am for pupils to come onto school grounds.
Children should not arrive before this time as no supervision is available.
From 8:35am, children are able to make their own way into their classrooms. All pupils should be in school by 8:45am for the start of the school day. Morning tasks ensure that children make a productive start to their learning from the very beginning of the day. Any children arriving late should sign in at the school office.
Morning break at 10.20 -10.35am. We encourage children to eat healthy snacks at morning break, this might be a piece of fruit, a snack of vegetables, or a savoury item such as cheese, breadsticks or crackers.
We do not allow sweets and chocolate as a breaktime snack.
Lunch
Lunchtime for all Year groups is 12:00 - 1:00pm
Parents can purchase a hot school lunch (currently costing £3.09) which needs to be ordered in advance via ParentPay. Alternatively, you may provide a packed lunch from home.
Lunch boxes should be small and clearly marked with the owner’s name. Fizzy drinks, glass bottles, breakable flasks and cans are not allowed. Due to the increasing number of children with severe allergies, nuts must not be brought into school.
Children entitled to a free school meal will be provided with a hot meal each day. If you feel that your child may be entitled to free school meals you can apply online, please do not hesitate to ask for help if needed at the school office. It really helps the school’s funding if you register for free school meals even if you do not intend to take up the meal each day.
Further details about free school meals and how to apply are available from West Sussex County Council: Apply online
End of the day
The school day ends at 3.15pm, when children are dismissed via the exits into the main playground from their classrooms.
Parents are invited to wait on the playground to collect their children. For children up to Year 4, we ask that an adult is available to collect children every day. From Year 5, parents may choose to let their child walk home unaccompanied.
If you need to make changes to your child’s collection arrangements, please contact the school office with plenty of notice, and before 2.50pm at the latest.
Welcome to Downsbrook Booklet for Parents