School
Calendar

The School Day

Start time

Gates open at 8.30am and all children should be in class by 8.45am. Children should enter their classrooms on arrival. The register will close at 8.55am. Pupils who arrive later than this will be marked as late in the register and need to sign in at the school office. Late marks affect attendance data for children. In total, the children are in school for 6 hours 30 minutes per day, for a total of 32 hours and 30 minutes per week. This does not include extra-curricular activities at the end of the school day. Gates open at 3.10pm. Children will come out at 3.15pm. Please collect your child promptly from their outside classroom door.

Persistent Absence Approach – please see section 5.6 of our Attendance Policy: Attendance Policy 2026

Recent Attendance Data – Attendance_Data_Academic_Year_2025-26

Attendance_Data_Autumn_Term_2026

Lunches

Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 lunchtime is 12 – 1pm. Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 lunchtime is 12.15 – 1pm.

Hot school lunches are provided by ISS Education, under an external contract by West Sussex County Council. Menus are regularly reviewed and updated to provide balanced, nutritious meals that comply with healthy eating standards.

Parents or carers must order their children’s hot dinners via the FEED app up to 8am on the day and are currently charged at £2.95 per meal, including a pudding. Currently children in Reception, Y1 and Y2 receive Universal Free School Meals. Children in Key Stage 2 (Y3-6) that are not pupil premium will need to pay for their meals; this must be done at time of selection.

A packed lunch will need to be provided if you are not ordering a hot lunch for your child. Please note the school is a nut-free environment due to allergies. This includes nut-containing and nut-derived products (e.g. Nutella chocolate spread, sun creams containing almond oil). Any nut products will be removed from children and safely disposed of.

If you are in receipt of Universal credit, please make sure you have applied for Free School Meals via Free school meals – West Sussex County Council

Allergies

To provide a special diet menu for your child in the case of allergies, parents must inform ISS by registering on the FEED app by selecting the food allergens your child needs to avoid, or indicating additional allergens or other medical dietary requirements through the ‘something else’ option. For more information, please contact them by emailing: westsussex.specialdiets@uk.issworld.com

Please also notify the school of any allergies or treatment plans as soon as possible.

Fruit & Milk

Fruit is provided for all children in Early Years and Key Stage 1 (R-Y2). Please let the school know of any allergies that your children suffer from. Children may bring in their own piece of fruit for their snack if you wish – applicable also to Key Stage 2 (Y3-Y6).

Children under 5 years old are entitled to free milk. This is supplied by Cool Milk and will be ordered by the school. Once your child has reached 5, if you still wish them to receive milk then you can order and pay via Cool Milk directly: 0333 400 11 99 or https://www.coolmilk.com/

Uniform

All St. John’s children are encouraged to take pride in their own appearance whilst valuing their own property and that of others. We want our children to have a sense of community and security and for these reasons, we have a school uniform, including a PE. kit.

There are three suppliers of uniform:

• We sell our uniform – please order via the My Child At School app
• Taylor Made Uniforms – https://www.taylormadeuniforms.co.uk/
• Friends of St John’s (Second hand uniform) – friends@stjohnshorsham.school

In line with latest guidance from the DfE with the Cost of School Uniforms, we require only 3 items of uniform to be branded with the St John’s school logo: a branded bookbag for Years R and 1, boys maroon logo jumper or girls maroon logo cardigan, and PE hoodie.

Where to buy

• Order from the school via the My Child At School app
• Taylor Made Uniforms
• Our PTA offer pre-loved options: friends@stjohnshorsham.school

Extra Info

• Jewellery: a watch and one pair of small studs (if ears are pierced).
• Hair: shoulder-length or longer hair must be tied back all day. Accessories should be plain and in school colours, and hijabs should be maroon. Please check regularly for head lice.
• Make-up and nail varnish: not allowed.
• Labelling: please name everything, including shoes and hats, with a permanent marker or name label.
• Bags: a logo book bag in Reception and Year 1, and a rucksack in Years 2 to 6.
• Pencil case (Years 3 to 6): a plain, see-through case containing HB pencils, colouring pencils, a small ruler, rubber, sharpener, highlighters, a glue stick and a black pen.