Establishing routines and using them consistently is important for all learners of any age.

We know that by ensuring children know the routines and structures of the day, we are able to minimise anxiety and cognitive load. When children spend less time wondering what is coming up, they can spend more time enjoying their learning, and getting to grips with all the new skills and knowledge each school day brings!

Timings during the day

The timings of the school day remain the same all year round.

Morning routines

When children arrive in the morning, they will begin work straight away. This early morning work will be a chance to practice skills such as handwriting in Wise Owls, some maths fluency in Little Owls or some fun 'Busy Fingers' activities in Fledglings.

Additionally, our early morning routines involve putting coats, bags and water bottles away, washing hands and building those essential independence skills as soon as the day begins.

Learning in KS1 and KS2 - core subjects and foundation subjects

During the school day, we teach the core subjects in the morning. Children will have phonics and reading, English and maths lessons before lunch. The timetable after lunch changes each day to accommodate science and the foundation subjects (Art, computing, DT, French (KS2 only), geography, history, music, PE, PSHE, RE) Some of these subjects are taught each week, some will be taught in blocks. Please refer to curriculum maps and timetables for more information.

Lunchtime

To prepare children for lunch, teachers begin lunch routines at different times, dependent on age. The younger children get ready and line up for lunch earlier to get the little tummies filled first!

Playtimes

As much as possible, we encourage all our children to play together. We love seeing our children making friends and playing with others outside their own class and age group. This is a wonderful way for children to develop their social skills and negotiate the different aspects of friendship that will prepare them for life. Playtimes are supervised by our teaching assistants, who encourage children to play together, organise games and are always on hand to be a sympathetic listener and support children to sort out any playground disputes. Our playground is well-resourced with climbing and balancing equipment that promotes gross motor development, as well as sports resources, so children can organise their own games.

End of the day

At the end of each day, all children enjoy story time. In Fledglings and Little Owls, this is often a short story book. This encourages a love of reading for pleasure, and gives teachers the opportunity to unleash their inner actor!

As children move up through school, they will listen to longer chapter books. We have a fantastic library of children's literature, and all children who attend Anstey receive a healthy diet of texts that range in genre and style with the aim of catering to all interests.

Days with a different routine

We try to keep the days consistent but may need to change timetables to accommodate events throughout the term. Where possible, we will give notice of these changes in advance.

On PE days, remember to come to school wearing PE kits.