Lunchtimes and Breaktimes

Lunchtimes

We have spent the last year developing our lunch time play.

These areas are taught through a variety of different ways in school including short lessons, assemblies and group activities that underpin all of what we do in the school environment.

Our Midday Assistants have a particular responsibility for a class at lunchtimes. Our overall aim is to ensure that children are happy and safe at lunchtimes. They work in the hall, together with Learning Support Assistants to supervise the children eating their lunches and encouraging them to use the ERIC skills, demonstrating good manners and independence. Staff also promote positive play in the playground and Mrs Gardener is our designated play leader who promotes fun games and activities. Play leaders have responsibility of setting up resources and supporting the younger children in play. ERIC tokens are given out at lunch time for children who demonstrate positive behaviour and inclusive play where all children and adults are valued and respected.

The playground is split into different zones at lunch time. Skipping zone, basket ball zone, reading zone, What’s the time Mr Wolf zone, dressing up zone, yoga zone and construction zone. There is also a central area where a variety of team games are played. Recently, INSA, our school parent’s association has funded a new buddy bench and reading shed – some lovely additions!

Children stay in classrooms during wet lunch break sessions and are supervised by the Middays and Learning Support Assistants on duty. Each child has a wet time play book and a range of games and resources are accessible. We aim to make lunch times fun, using resources that we currently have. Our favourite is ‘Boombox Friday’ when Mrs Fairbairn brings out the boombox and the whole school dances!

Play Leaders and Mini Middays

We have a number of children who have taken on the responsibility of Play Leader at lunchtimes.  These children help to initiate games on the playground and help to support the younger children.  We also have some Mini Middays and these children help in the school hall at lunchtime.  Children receive awards and certificates for their hard work and support.

School Dinners and Packed Lunches

School meals are provided free of charge to all Infant children. A menu will be sent home each term and is available on our website. Children are able to choose from a hot school dinner and from September 2026, a school packed lunch. We ask that dinner choices are made 3 weeks in advance. Our school lunches are provided by St. Andrew’s Junior School.
If you do not wish to take up this offer, you can still send a packed lunch in with your child.

Home Packed Lunches

If you will be sending your child in with a packed lunch, please do not send fizzy drinks, glass bottles or Frubes. Please put the packed lunch in a small plastic container clearly marked with the child’s name and class. Sweets and nut products are not allowed. We encourage healthy eating at all times. Drinking water is available on request if children do not have a drink in their lunchbox.

A packed lunch guidance sheet has been produced by School Council and is available in the Reception induction pack and on our website.

Breaktimes

Reception children go out to morning break at 10.15am-10.30am and Key Stage One children go out to morning break at 10.30-am-10.45am.

There is a theme for each day led by the class teacher on duty at morning break time.

Monday – Movement Monday (encouraging fitness circuits, daily mile, use of playground markings, dance)

Tuesday – Tuesday Chooseday (encouraging new friendships – playing with somebody new)

Wednesday – Wonderful Wednesday (circle times, parachute games, mindfulness activities)

Thursday – Throwback Thursday (encouraging old fashioned games such as hopskotch, skipping, clapping games)

Friday – Fun Friday (dance related activities plus ‘Boombox Friday’ at lunch time)

Free Fruit

A free fresh fruit snack will be on offer every day for every child before or after morning breaktime. If your child is allergic to any item please ensure this is recorded on your child’s admission form.

Drinks

There are water fountains available around the school and all children are encouraged to bring in a plastic drinking bottle daily so that they have continuous access to fresh drinking water. There is free milk available for 4 year olds.

Please do not put juice or flavoured water in these bottles as only plain water is allowed in the classrooms.