School Day

Bishop Tufnell CE Primary School provides wraparound care from 7.45am through to 6.00pm every weekday. We run our own breakfast club (free from 8am or paid from 7.45am) and JC Sports (a separate wraparound care provider) look after our children from the end of the school day through to 6.00pm. Please speak to the school office to find out more and to book your child's place.

Note for prospective parents: We have spaces in both our breakfast and after school clubs so you can be confident of a space for your child when they start with us.

Our core school opening hours equate to 32.5 hours per week.

Pick up and drop off

Our school day is:

EYFS/KS1: 8.45am – 3.15pm.
KS2: 8.45am – 3.20pm.

Gates will be open at 8.30am and close at 8.45am. Registers are taken at 8.45am.

Children should not arrive at school before our gates open at 8.30am unless they are attending Breakfast Club or a morning activity club, as the school cannot accept responsibility for their supervision before this time.

Children should be collected from your child's class door (or on the playground for some classes) at the end of the school day unless they have a walking home pass.

Please inform the class teacher if there are any changes to the arrangements for collecting your child as we will not dismiss your child to a different adult without prior notification. Please ensure that we have up-to-date records for contact numbers including work, mobile and home phone numbers.

If you are unable to collect your child from school and they are expecting you, please arrange for somebody else to meet your child and contact the School Office so that we can inform your child and their teacher.

Walking Home Passes

Children in Year 5 and 6 may be dismissed at the end of the day without being collected by an adult. This will only occur if they have applied for a walking home pass. Walking home passes are also valid after clubs except during winter (between the October and February half-term) due to fading light.

Ahead of the start of each academic year, we provide a form for parents to request that their child receives a walking home pass. At all other times, if you would like your child to have a walking home pass, please contact the school office.

What to bring

All children will need to bring a bag or book bag, coat and packed lunch (unless they have school lunches). On PE days, the children wear their PE kit to school for the full day.

We discourage children from having mobile phones and they should not come into school. Any mobile phones or wearable technology such as smart watches must be handed in to the class teacher on arrival at the start of the day. They will then be returned to the child as they leave at the end of the day.

The Timetable

Lessons begin at 8.45am and continue through to 3.15/3.20pm except for during break times and collective worship. There are daily Maths, English and Reading lessons, including phonics lessons for our younger children. The wider curriculum is taught across the week so that all subjects are covered within a week. Some subjects, such as Art and DT and Geography and History, are taught in alternate half terms so that all subjects get the time and space dedicated to them to ensure they are covered appropriately and are suitably inspiring!
Morning break is at 10.20am and lasts for 15 minutes. Children will be outside unless in very wet or very hot weather. They are encouraged to bring a healthy snack to eat during this time. Children in EYFS and KS1 are provided with fruit to eat after break time.
Lunchtime is between 12.00-1.00pm. The children can play with children across the school or in a dedicated space for children of their age. Children play outside unless it is very wet or very hot. Children go into the school hall to eat lunch with their eating times staggered by age over the lunch hour.
Worship (our daily assembly) takes place every day in the school hall. This includes a variety of input from staff, visitors and our local clergy. Worships include singing and the opportunity for reflection and an optional prayer that children can choose to join in with if they wish. Parents are invited to celebration assembly on Fridays when their child receives an award or recognition for their behaviour, learning, or achievement.
After school clubs are a key part of our provision and our vision for every child. Please see our Clubs page for more information.

Active Travel to and from school

Our school encourages walking, cycling and scooting to school. This is to help children develop a healthier lifestyle, to improve road safety, and to reduce congestion around the school. There is a Puffin Crossing on the Middleton Road to support you to do this safely.

There are cycle racks near the school office and inside the children's gate where children can lock their bikes and scooters during the day.

We encourage parents to park a short distance from the school and then walk. Please be considerate to our local residents if you are parking a car, and, for the safety of our children, do not park at any time on prohibited areas (zig-zag lines), or in the bus lay-by.