About Us - Key Information 

At Copthorne Community Infant School, we believe children learn best through hands-on experiences and meaningful time outdoors. Our approach is rooted in creating a warm, nurturing, and inspiring environment where teaching reflects and supports the unique ways every child learns. We are proud to offer a broad, creative, and ambitious curriculum that is valued by our whole community, celebrating achievement and success in every area of school life.

School Times

The school’s main entrance gates open each morning at 8:40am. Reception children enter through the front green gate, which leads directly to their classroom. Year 1 and Year 2 children should use the car park gate, where you may accompany them across the playground to their classroom door.

All gates close at 8:55am. Children arriving after this time will be marked as late. If you arrive once the gates have closed, please use the front green gate to access the school.

All children have a morning break from 10:30am to 10:45am. During this morning break, all children receive a free piece of fruit from the 'School Fruit' service, and any children who have registered for school milk will receive this too. Please refer to our separate page on 'Cool Milk'. 

Reception have a morning break from 10:15am until 10:30am and KS1 have a morning break from 10.30am until 10.45am. During this break all children receive a free piece of fruit from the School Fruit service and any children who have registered for school milk will receive this too. (please see separate page on Cool Milk). 

Lunchtimes are staggered for each age group. Reception lunch is from 12:00pm to 1:00pm, Year 1 and 2 are 12:15pm-1:05pm.  During this time the children have their school dinner or packed lunch and enjoy playtime in the playground, with games and interactions facilitated  by our mid-day supervisors. 

Wet, icy or snowy weather means that playtimes will be spent either in classrooms or in the hall. Please ensure that your child has weather appropriate clothing for their outdoor sessions. 

The end of the school day for KS1 is at 3:10pm.  EYFS doors will open at 3:00pm. 

The Reception class will leave from the outer door of their classroom.

Year 1 and Year 2 classes will be dismissed from their classroom doors onto the playground. To help ensure a smooth and efficient collection, please stand on the side of the playground that corresponds with your child’s class.

We kindly ask that parents arrive promptly for collection, as it can be upsetting for children to be the last to leave if there are delays. If someone different will be collecting your child, please inform the school office in advance. If you are running late or need your child to attend Care Club, please contact the office as soon as possible so we can make the necessary arrangements.

The doors are open at 8:40, we expect children to arrive at this time to be ready for registration at 8:55am. The door to release is at 3:10pm. We will open the school gates at 3:00pm to allow access.

This equates to 32.50 hours of school in a typical week.

After School Clubs

At Copthorne Community Infant School, we’re proud to offer an exciting and varied programme of after-school clubs — from energetic athletics and creative construction to inspiring computing, joyful singing, imaginative art, and hands-on science adventures.

At the start of each term — Autumn, Spring and Summer — we’ll send out details of our clubs along with information on how to sign up. If a club is particularly popular, we’ll prioritise children who haven’t had the opportunity to attend before, while doing our very best to ensure that every child is able to take part in at least one of their chosen activities.

   After school clubs run from 3:10pm until 4pm and are ran by either our class teachers, or our AVSPP Sports Coach.