The School Day
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club runs from 7:30am to 8:20am, with breakfast served until 8:20am.
Breakfast Club is free for all pupils and provides children with a calm, welcoming and positive start to the day before the school doors open at 8:30am.
School Office Hours
The school office is open from 8:15am to 3:45pm.
Morning Arrival
School doors open at 8:30am and pupils should be on site by this time.
Children walk directly to their classrooms, where they are welcomed by their teacher. Support staff and senior leaders are available at key entry points so that parents and carers can share any important information at the start of the day.
Learning begins promptly at 8:40am.
Pupils arriving after 8:40am will be recorded as late.
The School Day
Our mornings are carefully structured to prioritise the core areas of learning. Pupils typically complete their main English, Reading, Phonics or GPS, and Mathematics learning during the morning, when concentration is at its strongest.
Across the week, this includes:
- Reading and Phonics.
- Writing and English.
- Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling.
- Mathematics.
- Retrieval and recall activities, including Smart Starts and Maths Meetings.
Afternoons are used for the wider curriculum, including Science, RE, Geography, History, Computing, Art, DT, PE, French, Citizenship and other enrichment opportunities.
Breaktimes
All pupils have a 15-minute morning break, and children in Key Stage 1 also have an afternoon break.
Children are welcome to bring a healthy snack from home to enjoy at breaktime. We kindly remind families that Harper Bell is a nut-free school, so snacks must not contain nuts or nut-based products.
Breaktimes provide an important opportunity for pupils to refresh, socialise and develop positive relationships with their peers.
Lunchtimes
- Reception and Year 1: 11:45am - 12:30pm
- Year 2: 12:00pm - 12:45pm
- Years 3, 4, 5 and 6: 12:30pm - 1:15pm
Each year group has a 45-minute lunch period.
A variety of enriching lunchtime clubs and activities are available every day. These are designed to give pupils additional opportunities to explore interests, learn new skills and develop their individual talents and passions.
Our lunchtime provision also supports important personal and social development. Through clubs, games and structured activities, pupils have opportunities to develop teamwork, communication, social and emotional skills, confidence and positive relationships.
We are equally mindful that children benefit from having different spaces available to them. Our lunchtime offer helps create additional places where pupils can feel safe, included and that they belong, while building friendships and enjoying positive experiences beyond the classroom.
End of the School Day
Learning finishes at:
- 3:30pm Monday to Thursday
- 1:00pm on Friday
The school provides a total of 32.5 hours of education each week.
Lunchtime Clubs
At Harper Bell, our lunchtime clubs form an important part of our wider enrichment offer.
Led by our dedicated staff, activities may include art, music, sport, chess, Bible study, gardening and other creative or interest-based opportunities.
Our aim is for lunchtime to be more than simply a break from lessons. It is another opportunity for children to connect with others, discover new interests, develop skills, build confidence and experience a strong sense of belonging within the Harper Bell community.