Ark Academy intends to open to all primary children from 7th September onwards, with a full risk assessment in place. We will be adjusting the first day for children so as to enable us to monitor the effectiveness of the risk assessment against smaller numbers before increasing capacity.

Beginning of Term Start dates:

Date Year Group
Monday 7th September Reception (half days for 1 week)  

Planning and preparation - Years 1 - 6
Tuesday 8th September Year 2 and Year 6  

+ directed school activities for staff
Wednesday 9th Septmber Year 3 and Year 5  

+ directed school activities for staff
Thursday 10th September Year 1 and Year 4
Monday 14th September Reception begin full days
Wednesday 16th September Nursery "stay and play" sessions
Monday 21st September Nursery begin in full

Start and End of the School Day:

To ease congestion at the front gate, children have been allocated “staggered” start and end times. Senior staff will be on hand at all times to oversee the movement of people and see that expected social distancing is maintained at all times. The school day remains the same length of time. We have removed the 10-minute window of when to arrive at school and have allocated a specific start time when children are expected to be in lessons. These arrangements are expected to be in place until they are reviewed before the end of Autumn 1.

Year Group Start Time End Time Friday End Time
Year 6 8:15 3:25 2:55
Year 5 and Reception 8:20 3:30 3:00
Year 3 and Year 1 8:25 3:35 3:05
Year 4 and Year 2 8:30 3:40 3:10
Nursery 8:30/12:45 11:30/3:45 11:00/2:45

Break and Lunch times

Break and lunch times will be held at different times and at different locations to reduce large gatherings of children. Break times will remain at 15 minutes and lunch at 1 hour. Children must be escorted to break.

Packed lunches will eat in class in years 3, 4 and 5, to reduce congestion in the dining hall.

Year Group Break Time Lunch Time Lunch Location Time to Lunch Hall Route
Reception 10:30 11:40 - 12:40 EYFS Playground 11:40 Normal
Year 1 10:30 12:10 - 13:10 KS1 Playground (zoned) 12:10 Direct from class
Year 2 10:45 12:10 - 13:10 KS1 Playground (zoned) 12:20 Direct from class
Year 3 10:30 12:15 - 13:15 KS2 Playground - tarmac area 12:25 Out through reception, up back stairs
Year 4 10:50 12:15 - 13:15 KS2 Playground - grassed area or astro 12:30 Out through reception, up back stairs
Year 5 10:30 11:50 - 12:50 KS3 Playground 12:00 Down through library stairs, out via rear door
Year 6 10:50 11:50 - 12:50 KS3 Playground/red pitch 11:50 Down through library stairs, out via rear door

Lunch systems:

11:30 Reception (seating zone A)

11:50 Year 6 (seating zone B)

12:00 Year 5 (seating zone C)

12:10 Year 1 (seating zone A)

12:20 Year 2 (seating zone B)

12:30 Year 3 (seating zone C)

12:40 Year 4 (seating zone A)

Year 5 and 6 – Friday

Year 5: Lunch 11:30 – 12:30, to dining hall at 12:00

Year 6: 11:30 – 12:30 on playground, eat at 11:50