The School Day & Term Dates

St John’s Church of England Primary School Term Dates

Our school terms can be found via the links below.

Please note that on the last day of each term school closes at 2pm and there is no After School Club available.

St John’s Church of England Primary School Term Dates 2023-24

Monday 4th September- Inset Day- School closed

Tuesday 5th September: First day of term for all children. School reopens to all children, families and visitors.

Monday 23rd- Friday 27th October 2023: Half Term.

Monday 27th November 2023: Occasional Day. School closed

Wednesday 20th December 2023: Last day of term. School closes at 2pm.

Thursday 21st December 2023- 3rd January 2024: Christmas holidays. School closed

Thursday 4th January 2024: Inset Day. School closed

Monday 19th February – Friday 23rd February 2023: Half Term. School closed

Thursday 28th March 2024: Last day of term. School closes at 2pm

Friday 29th March – Friday 12th April 2024: Easter holidays. School closed

Monday 15th April 2024: Inset day. School closed.

Monday 6th May 2024: Public holiday. School closed

Monday 27th- Friday 31st May 2024: Half term. School closed.

Monday 3rd June 2024: Inset day. School closed.

Thursday 11th July 2024: Hertfordshire Transition Day

Wednesday 24th July 2o24: Last day of term. School closes at 2pm

Thursday 25th July 2024: Inset day. School closed

Friday 26th July 2024-September 2024: Summer holidays. School closed.

 

Drop off and Pick up Times

Reception:   

Drop off: 8:50

Pick up: 3:10

 

Key Stage 1 (Years 1& 2):   

Drop off: 8:40

Pick up: 3:15

 

Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4): 

Drop off: 8:40

Pick up: 3:25

 

Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 & 6): 

Drop off: 8:40

Pick up: 3:25

Reception

The Reception Curriculum has a child centred based philosophy. We firmly believe that children are innate learners with a curiosity and natural approach to problem solving and learning. As practitioners we work alongside the children to support and encourage their next steps. Alongside this we also promote and extend key skills in phonics, reading, writing and maths. Through the use of the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework we help our children to flourish as independent learners who love learning.

Through the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)  curriculum Reception children have free flow access to outdoor play across the school day.

Lunch is served between 12:00 and 13:00 in a family style dining experience where children are encouraged to serve each other and take responsibility for the setting up and clearing away of the dining provision.
In addition to this, Reception children have free access to daily fruit, vegetables, water and milk. Milk is provided free to under 5’s and is available for parents to buy into after that.

At the end of the school day we ask parents/carers to pick their children up promptly at 15:10. Children attending the Eagle Play Club after school are taken directly by school staff to the club.

There is a flexible approach to the timetable and changes may occur on a daily or weekly basis. The day’s learning routines will develop and change as the children progress through the year, both personally and in their learning. At the beginning of the school year, there will be a greater focus on child-led activities. Once the children are settled into the daily routines, phonics and reading groups will be introduced. On going assessment will support planning for children’s next steps in learning. As the year progresses, adult-led learning will be increased, and by the end of the year the timetable will reflect the preparation for entering into Year 1. The children’s involvement in Collective Worship is encouraged very early to when they start school so that they can feel part of the St John’s family as quickly as possible.

 

 

Key Stage 1

Building on from the child centered approach in the EYFS, the curriculum in Year 1 and Year 2 is practical, challenging and exciting. The key skills of reading, writing and maths remain at the heart of the curriculum and continue to be developed alongside a love of learning for all areas of the curriculum.

The Key Stage 1 Curriculum is planned with an emphasis on the importance of developing the depth of children’s learning. This means providing children with increased cognitive challenge, allowing them to retrieve and apply the skills which they have learnt independently in a range of contexts. This then enables them to master skills and knowledge at a deeper level. At St John’s we will be challenging our children to be independent learners who will acquire their knowledge and skills from real life contexts.

Children have a morning and lunchtime play and enjoy family style dining every day.

All children take part in daily Collective Worship and have the opportunity to participate and lead.

 

 

Key Stage 2

In Key Stage 2, we continue to promote a love of learning whilst extending retrieval and cognitive challenge. The school day is a balance of the key skills of reading, writing and maths alongside a broad and balanced curriculum. The school day is slightly extended and our children still learn both in and out of the classroom with our ethos of learning from and supporting the local community.

Children have a morning and lunchtime play and enjoy family style dining every day.

All children take part in daily Collective Worship and have the opportunity to participate and lead.