Term Dates and School Times

Academic Year 2026-27 – Starting Thursday 3 September 2026

Term 1

Start: Thursday 3 September 2026

Finish: Friday 23 October 2026

Inset Days:

Thursday 3 September 2026 (school closed to pupils due to staff training)
Friday 4 September 2026 (school closed to pupils due to staff training)
Monday 7 September 2026 (school closed to pupils due to staff training)
Friday 23 October 2026 (school closed to pupils due to staff training)

Term 2

Start: Monday 2 November 2026

Finish: Friday 18 December 2026

Inset Days:

Monday 2 November 2026 (school closed to pupils due to staff training)

Term 3

Start: Monday 4 January 2027

Finish: Friday 12 February 2027

Term 4

Start: Monday 22 February 2027

Finish: Thursday 25 March 2027

Inset Day:

Monday 1 March 2027 (school closed to pupils due to staff training)
Thursday 25 March 2027 (school closed to pupils due to staff training)

Term 5

Start: Monday 12 April 2027

Finish: Friday 28 May 2027

Bank Holiday: Monday 3 May 2027 (school closed to pupils)

Term 6

Start: Monday 7 June 2027

Finish: Friday 23 July 2027

School Day

Main school times:

Breakfast Club starts at 7.45am

Morning

Front gate opens at 8.39am
Rear gate opens at 8.39am
Preschool gate opens at 8.45am
School starts at 8.40am, the children come straight into class. This is followed by morning registration
Gates close at 8.50am. Children then need to enter through the main front door.
Registers close at 9am

Afternoon

Front gate opens at 3.10pm
Rear gate opens at 3.12pm
Preschool gate opens at 3.15pm
School finishes at 3.15pm - official end of the school day
After School Club at XTND meets at 3.15pm
After School Club at XTND closes at 5.45pm

Total = 32.5 hours per week

The start and end times provided show the duration of the compulsory school day. From September 2023, the DfE set the expectation that schools provide a minimum school week of 32.5 hours. Windwhistle are meeting this requirement.

The 32.5 hour minimum expectation includes the time in each day from the official start of the school day (i.e. morning registration) to the official end to the compulsory school day (i.e. official home time). The 32.5 hour minimum includes breaks and lunch times as well as teaching time and any extra-curricular activities that all pupils are expected to attend. It does not include optional before or after school provision.

Preschool times:

8.40am - 11.40am
12.20pm - 3.20pm

If your child is entitled to 30 hours of preschool then there will be a charge of £3.00 to cover staffing for the lunch period. Alternatively, you may pick up your child at the end of the morning sessions and return them for the afternoon session.