Loanends Prospectus 23/24

Assessing and Reporting Teachers continually assess children in a wide variety of ways. Teachers discuss children’s progress at two Parent Teacher Meetings in October and February/March. Targets are set and areas for development highlighted. Standardised Tests from P3 onwards are used in May of each year in order to provide information on the areas of strength and areas for development. This information is passed on to the receiving teachers and recorded for parents on the Annual Report. This is given to parents at the end of June each year. School Trips and Visits All classes usually enjoy a variety of educational trips each year. Many visitors also come to the school to add another dimension to the topics delivered by the teaching staff. The pupils in P7 have the opportunity to participate in a residential trip, every year. Valuable links have also been made with local industries and within the community.

Charging Policy and Remissions During the course of the year we provide additional activities in the form of sports coaching, visitors to the school or trips out. In cases where a voluntary contribution is requested, there is no obligation to make a contribution and pupils will not be treated differently according to whether or not their parents have made any contribution. As a school, the consideration for us is that if we are not in receipt of enough voluntary contributions, the activity may not be financially viable and therefore be cancelled.You will be advised if this is the case. The school almost always subsidises these opportunities and on occasions, parents too have generously sponsored the transport costs for the entire class. I would wish to assure you that the school does not make a profit when seeking voluntary contributions. In providing such activities, we are endeavouring to make them accessible for as many pupils as possible and to enrich and complement the experiences that pupils are already given. Where the parents of a pupil are in receipt of Income Support or Family Credit, the Board of Governors will remit in full the cost of board and lodging for any residential activity that it organises for the pupil if the activity is deemed to take place within school hours or where it forms part of the curriculum.

Loanends Primary School Prospectus 2023-24

Pastoral Care and Positive Behaviour If you are ever worried about your child’s progress, behaviour or welfare please contact either the Principal or class teacher concerned. In a similar way we may wish to contact you if your child’s progress, attitude or behaviour is causing concern. We attempt to detect learning difficulties at an early age and to offer intervention as soon as possible. Pupils with special educational needs will be catered for within their own class situation with additional support when possible. Parents are always notified when additional support is being contemplated for their child. Consultations are arranged twice a year when parents have the opportunity of a formal interview with the class teacher to discuss their child’s progress. This is in addition to the informal contact which we encourage throughout the year. All teachers have a responsibility for the welfare and care of all the pupils in the school. By offering a broad and balanced curriculum which allows each pupil to achieve his/her potential we hope to minimise discipline problems. Our Positive Behaviour Policy details our high standards of education and behaviour. It encompasses aspects of positive reinforcement, setting examples, giving encouragement and developing confidence and sound attitudes. Only when these approaches fail, we then implement an agreed set of graded sanctions. This is always a last resort. Teachers will be responsible at all times for the behaviour of pupils in their care and this policy will permeate all aspects of school life. The Positive Behaviour Policy has been recently updated and is available on request from the school office.

Special Needs and Inclusion Provision is made within the resources available to the school. Please ask for our separate policy on Special Educational Needs and Inclusion. It is our belief that every child should have the opportunity to succeed, and achievements will be recognised and measured on an individual basis. The school implements the requirements of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, (The Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs) and any of the subsequent amendments. This is currently changing with the new SEND Legislation 2016. The principle aim for children with special needs is the maintenance of their self-esteem and their full integration into the life of the school. It is our priority to identify attainable learning objectives for each child with special needs; objectives which he/she can reach in a short period of time. The SENCo (or Learning Support Coordinator) provides information and ideas about appropriate individual or small group learning activities and co-operates with the class teacher in monitoring progress. From the date of first identification of special need, a child’s progress will be closely monitored and communicated to parents. Parents are asked to sign the Individual Education Plan (Personal Education Plan) and are given ideas how they can best support their child at home. Education Plans are reviewed three times during the year.

Loanends Primary School Prospectus 2023-24

SchoolMoney is an online payment system that was introduced in 2020 and allows parents to pay for uniform, school meals, school trips, etc. Parents can make payments using their credit/

debit cards, or by bank transfer. This cashless approach is easy to use and ensures that all payments are made safely and securely.

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