Welcome to Overdale Junior School
We are delighted to welcome you and your child to Overdale Junior School. We hope that this page provides the key information that you will need as your family prepares to join our school community.
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please contact the school office who will be happy to help.
Before Your Child Starts
Please ensure that you have:
- Read our School Handbook.
- Reviewed our Uniform Policy and expectations.
- Set up access to our communication systems.
- Provided any required medical, dietary or emergency contact information.
- Informed school of any additional needs or important information about your child.
Further information about Arbor, Class Dojo and school communications can be found in the Parents section of our website.
The School Day
Morning Arrival
The school day begins in classrooms at 8:50am.
- Year 3 and Year 4 pupils arrive via the Willow Playground.
- Year 5 and Year 6 pupils arrive via the Blackberry Playground.
- Staff are available from 8:45am to supervise pupils on the playground. It may be appropriate for you at this time to have a quick conversation with members of staff on duty who will be able to pass on any urgent messages to class teachers or the office as is needed.
- Children bringing packed lunches should place them on their year group’s trolley before making their way into their classrooms.
- At 8:55am, the whistle will be sounded and the children will enter the school building independently and go directly to their classrooms. Class teachers will be there to meet the children “on the threshold” where they will be welcomed to the classroom and directed towards the first task.
- On occasions where there is heavy rain or adverse weather conditions, the children will be invited to go straight into the classrooms on arrival to school where they will be greeted by a member of staff.
- Registers in each classroom are taken at 9:00am.
- The school gates will be locked at 9am.
- Any child arriving after 9:00am must sign in through Reception.
Please use the designated pathways around the school site and avoid walking through the car park.
Break and Lunchtime
Children across the school enjoy a morning break and a lunchtime break each day.
Lunchtime runs from 12:15 – 1:15 and includes opportunities for outdoor play, socialising and organised activities as well as eating lunch.
End of the School Day
The school day finishes at 3:20pm.
Children are dismissed from designated year-group collection points on the Willow Playground.
To help us ensure a safe dismissal:
- Parents and carers should wait in the designated collection areas.
- Year 3 and Year 4 children must be collected by a responsible adult.
- Year 5 and Year 6 children may walk home independently, providing that the relevant consents have been given to school via Arbor.
- If you are delayed, please contact the school office to arrange a late pick up; on these occasions, children will be taken to wait in Reception.
- Any child not collected by 3:30pm will be taken to wait in Reception.
Clubs and Wraparound Care
Children attending after-school clubs or childcare provision will be dismissed from agreed collection points. Information about clubs, wraparound care and collection arrangements is communicated directly to families.
Uniform
All pupils are expected to wear school uniform. Full details can be found in our Uniform Policy, along with information about purchasing branded items and accessing pre-loved uniform.
Working Together
We value strong partnerships between home and school.
If you have any questions, concerns or information to share, please contact the school office, who will ensure your enquiry reaches the appropriate member of staff.
We look forward to working with you and your child during their time at Overdale Junior School.