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over Achiev c s i D e e t rC ea Donaghadee Primary School Prospectus

Welcome Bienvenue Bienvenido Witamy Willkommen Merhaba Shalom Welkom Dear Parent Guardian Within the pages of this prospectus we have attempted to provide interested parents with information about our school s vision aims and activities A very recent independent report praised THE CARING INCLUSIVE ETHOS UNDERPINNED BY MUTUAL RESPECT AND PRIDE IN THE SCHOOL and the overall quality of our pastoral care programme All staff take their roles and responsibilities seriously and are constantly seeking to develop and improve the quality of education provided in our school We recognise that starting or moving school is an important decision and would invite any prospective parent to arrange to visit or phone to get a fuller picture of life at Donaghadee Primary School Yours sincerely Edwin Barr Page 2 Page 3

About Our School Donaghadee Primary School is a controlled co educational day school catering for pupils from 4 11 years of age The school is under the control of the South Eastern region of the Education Authority and is situated on an extensive site at Northfield Road The main building comprises 14 bright spacious classrooms with an ICT suite Our Year One classes are accommodated in a self contained annexe the James Donaldson Annexe which has an excellent playroom called the Discovery Den and an outdoor area All classes have access to a large central hall that is well equipped with a variety of apparatus for physical education There is a detached purpose built Nursery Unit catering for children from 3 years old The Nursery includes an excellent outdoor play area with garden and covered sand pit There are currently 394 pupils attending in Year 1 7 with 57 children attending the Nursery The buildings are very well maintained and throughout the school excellent displays of the children s work help create a stimulating learning environment The well maintained buildings were very recently complemented by a state of the art extension comprising of three new bright spacious classrooms and an administration block We are fortunate to be well resourced with extensive learning materials and equipment including computers interactive white boards or smart boards in every classroom iPads and a comfortable and attractive school library The school s staffing compliment is currently Principal plus 22 teachers supported in their work by 25 members of non teaching staff The Board of Governors has responsibility for all aspects of life in the school including the curriculum staffing admission of pupils child protection and finance Our Governors are representative of the local community parents staff and the South Eastern region They work extremely hard to support the work of the school and meet regularly to discuss all aspects of provision in the school The important close partnership between school and home is always encouraged and we see this as a major factor in our pupils achieving their full potential We hope that you will share with us in making this a successful and happy period in your child s life Motto Mission Statement and Aims Create Discover Achieve Our school is committed to providing an inspiring dynamic and nurturing environment Together the school community works to develop each child s emotional social and academic potential We aim to create independent responsible life long learners Our Aims are To develop the children s self esteem and sense of respect for themselves and others To help every child acquire the knowledge social skills and practical abilities needed to reach their full potential To create a learning environment where children feel happy and secure and where the pastoral care of children is of paramount importance To maintain a friendly and positive atmosphere and to continue to foster excellent working relationships throughout our school community To develop the skills of all staff so that the opportunities open to the children and the quality of their learning are always of a high order To provide a high standard of education for the community we serve and to encourage children to understand the country in which they live To encourage an appreciation of and respect for the values and beliefs of our society and the society of others To meet the needs of every child and to advance their educational emotional physical social and moral development To celebrate in a meaningful way the many successes which the children and school encounter The school is proud of its robust and caring pastoral provision and especially in the way in which it is implemented and seeks to promote an ethos of inclusivity in response to the diverse community it serves Page 4 Page 5

Nursery Donaghadee Nursery Unit is a bright welcoming and well equipped Nursery situated within the school grounds It is valued as an integral and important part of Donaghadee Primary School Our facilities include a playroom quiet room entrance hall kitchen toilets office and an enclosed outdoor play area The outdoor area includes a large garden with climbing frame a covered sandpit music area a playhouse vegetable patch and a covered section for wet days There are normally fifty two part time places available at the Nursery two classes of twenty six Each class is staffed by one teacher and two nursery assistants Session Times Morning Session 8 55am 11 25am Afternoon Session 12 25pm 2 55pm We recognise the early years as an important stage in a child s education and that the Nursery year lays the foundation for future learning success We aim to provide a high quality welcoming and stimulating environment in which children can enjoy practical learning activities These activities encourage children to develop their knowledge attitudes and values as well as essential life skills which will later be built upon in the Primary School We consider everything that happens in the Nursery as an exciting learning opportunity and strive to provide enriching and relevant activities that stem directly from the children s own ideas Children need the freedom and time to play Play is not a luxury Play is a necessity Kay Redfield Jamison Page 6 Our curricular framework is based around the six areas of learning set out by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland and ensures that these are tailored to the individual needs of the children We carefully monitor and record children s interests and their responses to the curriculum in order to ensure that we provide stimulating and challenging play opportunities to develop the thinking skills and understanding of each and every child We recognise the importance of a smooth transition between Nursery and Primary One Consequently the Nursery Unit has excellent links with Primary One and uses facilities in the main school building such as the PE hall throughout the year Parents Carers are regarded as partners in their children s learning and we greatly value their interest support and involvement We endeavour to provide a happy and rewarding year in Donaghadee Nursery so that each child has a very positive start to their school career that sets them on a path of lifelong learning Page 7

Uniform School Day Boys Girls Grey trousers Royal Stuart Tartan Kilt White shirt White shirt School V neck sweatshirt School V neck sweatshirt School tie School tie Grey Socks White socks or bottle green Tights Black shoes Black shoes Summer option Green white checked dress Please note Years 1 4 wear a shirt with short sleeves and Years 5 7 have long sleeves School Day Our target each year is to maintain an overall attendance rate of above 95 Parental support is vital in this and we request that holidays should not be arranged during term time as this can have a detrimental effect on a child s overall attendance rate School starts Foundation Key Stage 1 Lunch Key Stage 2 Lunch Y1 3 Dismissal Y4 7 Dismissal 9 00am 12 25pm 1 00pm 1 05pm 1 40pm 2 00pm 3 00pm Holidays A list of Holiday dates is distributed to all parents in the month of June of the preceding academic year Confirmation of school closures is provided for parents at the start of the new academic year Lunch time Arrangements School Meals School meals are available and may be purchased for the week ahead on Monday mornings If you think your child is entitled to Free School Meals please contact the school office Packed Lunch Supervised facilities are available for pupils to eat packed lunches before going out to play Important Safety Rule Pupils should not leave the school or grounds at lunchtime Parents requesting such withdrawal must do so in writing and will be asked to ensure appropriate supervision of their children while away from the school Page 8 Page 9

Curriculum From September 2009 all our pupils have been taught in line with the Revised Northern Ireland Curriculum There are three Key Stages within the Primary School Primary 1 2 are Foundation Stage Primary 3 4 are Key Stage 1 Primary 5 6 7 are Key Stage 2 There are six Areas of Learning for each of the Key Stages Language and Literacy including talking and listening reading and writing Mathematics and Numeracy focusing on the development of mathematical concepts and numeracy across the curriculum The Arts including art and design music and drama The World Around Us focusing on the development of skills and knowledge in Geography History and Science and Technology Personal Development and Mutual Understanding focusing on emotional development social skills learning to learn health relationships and sexuality education understanding in the local and global community Physical Education focusing on the development of knowledge skills and understanding through play and a range of physical activities In addition to this we offer a programme of Religious Education RE throughout the school RE is provided within class and at regular assembly times where we have visits from local clergy or class involvement in the assembly Parents are entitled to withdraw their children from RE if they wish If this is the case please contact the Principal Page 1 Page 10 Mullaglass Primary School Prospectus Page 11

Special Educational Needs Should a child experience difficulties in learning that warrant further investigation our Special Educational Needs Co ordinator SENCo will liaise with parents and Principal to decide on the best course of action Diagnostic and standardised tests are utilised additional teaching within school may be provided and the support of the Special Education and Psychologist Departments at the South Eastern Region of the Education Authority may be sought In particular situations specialist teaching may be provided or additional adult support employed in the classroom We have a team of specially trained staff members who offer the Reading Partnership programme providing children who are experiencing difficulty in reading with regular help over a 10 week period We also have a member of staff trained in Maths Recovery a programme designed to specifically provide support to individual children who require it in Maths Added to this we have a dedicated Learning Support Team LST who work in conjunction with the SENCo and class teachers to support children who may be struggling with a particular area Child Protection Pastoral Care A recent inspection at our school concluded that the quality of the arrangements for pastoral care in the school and the nursery unit is outstanding The report also stated that the caring inclusive ethos is underpinned by mutual respect and pride in the school A strong sense of community pervades the life and work of the school We adopt a positive approach to discipline expecting pupils to behave in a responsible manner by showing consideration courtesy and respect for others at all times This standard of behaviour is expected both inside school and on their way to and from school The Assertive Discipline programme has been very successfully initiated and embedded in our day to day school life with rewards and sanctions agreed across the three Key Stages Teachers also make an important contribution in their positive approach to pastoral care and discipline They enjoy good relationships with the pupils have high expectations of their pupils work and provide a curriculum and teaching methods well matched to pupils needs We also provide a school counselling service on a weekly basis which provides children and parents who are experiencing concerns worries or difficulties the opportunity to talk about those issues The school has an experienced Safeguarding team comprising of a designated teacher for Child Protection 2 deputy designated teachers for child protection and our SENCo Together with the assistance of other staff they work hard to ensure the safety and well being of all the children in our care Robust policies are in place which are supported by thorough Child Protection procedures The pupils have an opportunity to be selected to serve as Buddies in the playground House Captains Pupil Councillors and ECO Councillors Each week the staff nominate a pupil in each class as Pupil of the Week which is presented in Assembly We also acknowledge that in each class there are children who could be considered to be gifted in a particular area It is the policy of Donaghadee Primary School to provide challenge and stimulation for such children to ensure that they too reach their potential Page 12 Page 13

After School Activities Extra Curricular Activities Donaghadee Primary offers a wide range of after school activities which include the following Football Craft Hockey ICT Netball Dance Athletics Debutots Tennis Monkeynastix Cross Country and many more For interested parents we also facilitate the Lookout club which provides both a breakfast and after school homework club The Lookout is run by a qualified teacher If interested you can call 07709046969 or email thelookoutddee gmail com or visit the website www thelookoutddee co uk Physical Education All pupils are encouraged to participate in an energetic physical activity programme including Fundamental Movement Skills within the school timetable Children are given the opportunity to participate in Gymnastics Athletics Dance Games Skills and Swimming Donaghadee Primary competes in a range of sports against other local primary schools Children have represented our school in football hockey netball athletics cross country cricket and other sports We also regularly use coaches from the IFA and Active Communities programme Music An important part of our school curriculum Music commences in Year 1 with simple songs and percussion instruments and extends to recorders harmony singing guitar lessons and woodwind and brass tuition for the older children Peripatetic tuition is available from SE tutors An extension to classroom music is membership of the Junior and Senior Choirs These choirs regularly lead assemblies and concerts within school and entertain at various functions in our local community and beyond Page 14 Page 15

Monitoring Pupil Progress Assessment Donaghadee Primary employs a range of strategies both formal and informal to measure the progress of all of our children Assessments in the early years P1 and P2 provide valuable baselines for each child and allow the school where appropriate to make early interventions with children who need additional support Standardised tests used from P3 P7 provide teachers with valuable information on the strengths and development areas for groups and individual children This information informs teachers future planning In addition right across the school Assessment for Learning techniques are deeply embedded Learning outcomes are routinely shared with children and success criteria agreed with them Children are regularly involved in target setting and self and peer assessment Parents are invited to attend a parent teacher consultation in October and February of each year to discuss their child s progress with the class teacher Foundation Stage teachers regularly conduct class observations taking note of children s learning or any difficulties they may be experiencing while at KS1 and KS2 P3 7 teachers assess the children s progress across a range of levels in Communication language and literacy Using Maths and ICT Homework We regard homework as a very important part of the school programme It helps reinforce what has been learned in class encourages independent work helps develop motivation and gives parents an insight into their children s learning Parents are encouraged to show interest in and support the children s homework programme by asking questions sharing reading and ensuring good presentation of written work Finding a quiet place ensuring appropriate time to do homework and praising good effort are important factors in helping children Page 1 Page 16 Mullaglass Primary School Prospectus Page 17

Healthy School At Donaghadee Primary we encourage all of our children to adopt healthy lifestyles Across the school we have a healthy lunchbox policy where children are encouraged to eat healthily and achieve a balanced diet A thorough PE and sports programme offers the children regular exercise at school In the classroom the healthy living message is reinforced through class topics and PDMU lessons Our Healthy Living week has now become an annual event when an extra programme of sports coaching is offered and lessons in class focus on the issue Parents can attend information evenings on how to stay fit and healthy The School In The Community We believe that our school should be at the centre of its community With that in mind every year group seeks to develop links with various groups in and around our locality and further afield Some of the groups we have linked with most recently are Emergency services Police Ambulance Service Fire Service Coastguard Post Office Ulster Scots Agency The Rotary Club Donaghadee Sailing Club RNLI Local garden centres We believe these experiences and many more enrich the children s experiences beyond the classroom CHARITY SUPPORT To reinforce the message of respect and caring for others our Pupil Council select a number of charities to support on an annual basis Fundraisers include bun sales and charity concerts most recently in aid of Connect Christian Counselling and Blythswood PARENTS CARERS There is no more important relationship for a school than the one it has with its parents carers As a school we value and rely on the support given by our parents in so many ways We have an active PTA who each year organise a number of social and fund raising events the proceeds of which directly benefit our children Parents and Grandparents are invited to volunteer to participate in different aspects of school life including administration class support and school trips We regularly have parent seminars or evenings on areas of the curriculum and have recently established a home school liaison service allowing parents to meet with a member of staff if they have any concerns Parents who wish to voice a concern or query should in the first instance contact the class teacher If the concern remains the Vice Principal or Principal can be contacted ADMISSIONS CRITERIA Each year the Board of Governors publishes admissions criteria for the Nursery Unit and the Primary School A copy of the current admissions criteria may be found in a separate attached insert We also have positive links with many of the local churches and ministers or pastors will regularly come and speak to the children in Assembly Photography Design by www coolforschoolcreative com Page 18 Page 19

Donaghadee Primary School Donaghadee Primary School Northfield Road Donaghadee BT21 0BD 028 9188 3452 ebarr276 c2kni net Mr Edwin Barr www donaghadeeprimary co uk over Achiev c s i D e e t rC ea Prospectus Donaghadee Primary School