The working day at Abbot's Hill is a long and action packed one. Whilst children benefit from all that is on offer we recognise the value and importance of giving children opportunities beyond the academic curriculum. With a lengthy day we are able to provide an exciting programme of sports and activities.
Our day begins for Infants and Juniors at 8.20am and finishes for Infants at 3.20pm with Year 3 and 4 finishing at 3.40pm and Years 5 and 6 at 4.00pm. The needs of our school community are such that we can provide care for the individual child from 8am until 6pm. There is a Breakfast club for EYFS and Infants from 8am in the Pump House, a space used entirely to provide care outwith the working day. For Juniors breakfast is available in the main school dining room from 7.40am and the playground is supervised from 8am. At the end of the teaching day there is After School Care which aims to be as flexible as possible, enabling children to attend for any length of time regularly or occasionally.
The range of clubs and activities at St Nicholas House is constantly under review and changes from term to term. The range currently includes origami, board games, knitting, ICT, a Science based club known as Young Investigators as well as a host of sport and musical activities. Sports clubs vary with the season and aim to encourage all, not just the team players to have a go.
Although some musical activities need a prior knowledge or ability to play an instrument: Band members should be of grade 1 standard or above there are those for whom all are invited to come and enjoy. St Nicholas House boasts two choirs: St Nick's Singers which is open to girls in Years 5 and 6, and Songbirds for those in Years 3 and 4. In addition to these a guitar club, percussion group and string group also enjoy meeting to make music on a weekly basis.
Children from Nursery to Year 11 are able to learn Ballet and Tap in school with a specialist dance teacher. This is in addition to the dance which forms part of our curriculum from Reception.