Portstewart Primary School prospectus

1. Prospectus
Portstewart Primary School
and Nursery Unit

3. Dear Parents/Guardians,
On behalf of the Governors and the staff, I would like to welcome you and your family to our
school. Thank you for expressing an interest in Portstewart Primary School and Nursery Unit.
I hope you will find our Prospectus both interesting and informative.
As a parent you want the very best for your child which is what we seek to offer through
delivering high quality teaching and learning, a supportive learning culture and high standards
of pastoral care. We are a welcoming and friendly school with pupils who are motivated,
enthusiastic and keen to learn. We recognise that each child is an individual and want each
child to experience success and to achieve as high a standard as possible.
In our most recent full inspection in May 2016, the Education Training Inspectorate (ETI)
concluded that Portstewart Primary School and Nursery Unit has a high level of capacity for
sustained improvement in the interests of all the learners. They also rated the quality of the
provision for pastoral care as 'outstanding' and noted that the staff are highly committed to
the academic and pastoral needs of the children.
This Prospectus will give you a flavour of all that goes on in Portstewart Primary School.
Should you wish to visit the school for more information we would be delighted to welcome
you. Please feel free to make an appointment to view our school and I will be delighted to
have the opportunity to show you around personally. We hope you will share with us in making
these important years in your child's life a successful and enjoyable experience.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs K. Taylor
Principal
Portstewart Primary School and Nursery Unit
Central Avenue
Portstewart
Northern Ireland
BT55 7BT
Telephone: (028) 70832194
Email: ktaylor357@c2kni.net
Website: www.portstewartprimaryschool.co.uk

4. Contents
 Vision , Mission Statement and Aims
 Governors & Staff
 The School Building
 Class Organisation & School Hours
 Break & Lunch
 School Uniform & PE Uniform
 Admission
 Attendance
Our School
 Areas of Learning
 ICT
 Special Educational Needs
 Assessment
 Physical Education
 Religious Education
 Online Learning
The Curriculum
 Shared Education
 Extra Curricular Activities
 Music & Drama
 Digital Literacy, Radio & Film
 STEM education
 School Council/Eco-Schools/Heart Start
 Education/Residential Visits
 Visitors to School
 Reward systems in School
Enriching the Curriculum
 Contact with School
 Communication with Parents
 Parent / Teacher Consultations
 Parent Teacher Association
Home/School Links
 Behaviour and Discipline Policy
 Pastoral Care and Child Protection
 Charging and Remissions Policy
General Information
Nursery Unit
 About our Nursery
 Connecting the Nursery Curriculum
 Enriching the Nursery experience

5. The welcoming ethos at Portstewart Primary School and Nursery Unit is achieved
through good relationships between pupils, staff, parents, Governors and the local
community. We continually strive to maintain this friendly and caring reputation.
The staff, parents and Governors understand
their interconnecting responsibilities and
work to create and maintain a climate where
children feel secure and happy, where they
experience success, are encouraged to show
imagination and originality and where they
develop a positive attitude to school and
begin to develop an understanding that
learning is a lifelong process.
”Achieving Excellence through:
Creativity, Innovation, Inclusion,
Resilience and Reflection.”
Our School
Vision
Mission statement

6. Our School
Aims
1. To deliver the Northern Ireland Curriculum in a manner appropriate to the needs of
each pupil at each stage of his/her development.
2. To provide a relevant, caring and supportive learning environment for all children.
3. To provide a welcoming and health conscious environment for all members of the school
community, in which their welfare is safeguarded and their safety is preserved.
4. To develop, within school, a climate of respect in which children’s views are valued,
where they are encouraged to develop independence, initiative and responsibility, to
gain an understanding of democracy and to become active and effective members of
the school community.
5. To encourage pupils to appreciate, respect and to become involved in caring for their
environment, now and in the future.
6. To provide pupils with the experiences necessary for them to develop a positive
attitude to school and to instil a belief in lifelong learning.
7. To create and maintain a climate of creative thinking in which children are challenged
to show imagination and originality and to become independent learners.
8. To recognise and celebrate the success and achievements of pupils, staff and parents
and so create a culture of valuing people.

7. Our School
9. To provide varied and purposeful opportunities to enable children to become
confident and competent users of a range of digital technologies.
10. To provide opportunities for children to develop interests, skills and self-esteem
through participation in a range of curricular and extra-curricular activities.
11. To encourage and support staff participation in study and in-service training in order
to enhance continued professional development, improve the learning experiences on
offer to the children and promote organisational growth.
12. To foster an awareness of the religious and cultural diversity that exists within
school and society and to develop a sense of citizenship, which encourages an
appreciation and respect for the views and traditions of others.
13. To develop the use of self and peer-evaluation as a means to more effective,
independent and reflective learning.
14. To foster meaningful links between home, school and the wider community and to
engage in purposeful shared education initiatives.
15. To promote a safe, tolerant and challenging work environment for all staff where good
communication and mutual respect is fostered and maintained through shared aims
and a belief in the importance of individual and staff review.
Aims

8. Chairperson: Mr I Paul
Secretary/Principal: Mrs K Taylor
Transferors: Mr R Pollock Mr B Hall
Mr I Paul Mr N Handforth
Parent Representatives: Mr S Johnston Mrs R Lynas
EA Representatives: Mr M Fielding Mrs H Quiery
Teacher’s Representative: Mrs S Smyth
Mrs K Taylor - Principal
Mrs S Smyth - Vice Principal
Mrs C Simpson Mrs J Strong
Miss L Gilmore Miss F McCurdy
Ms G Murray Miss S Anderson
Mr J Kennedy Mrs J Bradley
Mrs C Rankin Mrs C Barr
Mrs D Baillie Mrs V Lindsay
Miss C Blackford
Secretary: Mrs C Thompson
Building Supervisor: Mr M Cutler
Classroom Assistants: Mrs A Anderson, Miss K Archibald, Miss L Bacon,
Mrs V Bratten, Mrs F Dawson, Mrs J Kidd,
Mrs K McLeister, Mrs N Nairn, Miss A Williamson
Nursery Assistant Mrs J Thompson
Lunchtime Supervisors: Mrs A Bacon, Miss L Bacon, Mrs V Bratten, Mrs E Hayes,
Mrs A Hill, Mrs J Kidd, Miss A Williamson
Cleaners: Mrs A Bacon, Mrs E Hayes
Kitchen Staff: Mrs L Holmes, Mrs P Fielding, Mrs M Culter, Mrs L Henry,
Mrs C Williamson, Mrs R Duff, Mrs D Galbraith
Our School
Board of Governors
Teaching Staff
Non-Teaching Staff

9. Portstewart Primary School and Nursery Unit occupies a large and spacious site in the
heart of Portstewart town. The original school building opened on 30th May 1938.
Following an amalgamation of two schools in 1947 it became known as Portstewart
Primary School. Throughout the 1960’s there were several extensions added onto the
school building to increase its accommodation. In recognition of the need for preschool
provision in the Portstewart area our current Nursery Unit was opened in 2001.
Our school is set in spacious grounds with large playground facilities, a grass sports
pitch, a large polytunnel and an activity trail. Over the past number of years extensive
outdoor play facilities have been purchased for use in Nursery Unit and Foundation
Stage.
Inside, the school is large and spacious and the teaching accommodation allows
teachers to facilitate learning for classes and smaller groups. Our well equipped
classrooms, learning areas, spacious hall, canteen, Library and large ICT suite enable us
to provide a rich and varied curriculum for our pupils. We have a school radio station
where pupils can be broadcast live or in a pre-recorded form across every classroom in
the school. Pupils can also avail of using our green screen room which allows them to
broadcast film and develop their digital literacy skills.
Our School
School Building

10. 8.00 am — 8.30 am Breakfast Club
8.30 am — 8.55 am Arrival (Assembly Hall)
8.55 am School Starts
8.55 am — 10.40 am Lessons
10.40 am — 10.55 am Morning Break
10.55 am — 12.00 pm
10.55 am — 12.45 pm
P1 — P4 Lessons
P5 — P7 Lessons
12.00 pm — 12.40 pm
12.45 pm — 1.25 pm
P1 — P4 Lunch
P5 — P7 Lunch
1.00 pm—2.00 pm Lessons
2.00 pm P1, P2 & P3 finish (Each Thursday P3 stay until 3pm)
2.10 pm — 3.00 pm Afternoon Classes for P4 — P7
2.00 pm —3.00 pm After School Clubs P1-P3
3.00 pm P4—P7 finish
3.00 pm — 4.00 pm After School Clubs P4-P7
2.00 pm — 6.00 pm After school provision
Our School
School hours
Class organisation
Primary 1 & 2 Foundation Stage
Primary 3 & 4 Key Stage 1
Primary 5, 6 & 7 Key Stage 2

11. Morning break is held between 10.40 am and 10.55 am. We adopt a healthy eating policy in
relation to the mid-morning snack whereby children are encouraged to bring in a healthy
snack or alternatively buy a healthy snack from our canteen at break time. Our school
canteen supports us in this venture by providing a range of healthy items that may be
bought during the morning break. These include toast, pancakes, scones, milkshakes,
drinks and an assortment of fresh fruit. Children are encouraged to drink water
throughout the day, so should bring in a drinking container filled with water which can be
topped up, if required.
Lunch time is from 12.00 pm to 12.40 pm for Primary 1 to Primary 4 and 12.45 pm to
1.25 pm for pupils in Primary 5 to Primary 7. Parents can choose whether they would like
their child to have a packed lunch or school meal. School meals are cooked on the
premises and the cost of a school meal is set by the Education Authority and will be
advised to you at the start of the school year.
Parents receive a menu in advance to make their choice and can opt for their child to have
school meals or a packed lunch. The kitchen provides a range of nutritious meals which are
enjoyed by pupils and staff alike. Families in receipt of Income Support / Job Seekers
Allowance and /or Child Tax Credit may be entitled to free school meals. Application
forms will be provided on request.
Our School
Break & Lunch
“The school gives very good attention to promoting healthy eating”. ETI May 2016

12. School uniform is to be worn by all children who attend the school. We would ask you to
support us by ensuring that your child wears the correct uniform at all times. Details of
our uniform are as follows:
BOYS: Grey trousers or grey shorts
Grey socks
Black school shoes
Pale blue school polo shirt with the school crest
Royal blue school sweatshirt with the school crest
GIRLS: Grey skirt, pinafore or regulation grey trousers
White or grey knee high socks or dark coloured tights (grey or black)
Pale blue school polo shirt with the school crest
Royal blue school sweatshirt with the school crest
Black school shoes with sensible low heels
A light blue gingham summer dress is also available for girls.
Our School
School Uniform

13. PE Uniform
In the pursuit of safety all pupils must wear
the correct clothing for Physical Education
lessons. The PE uniform is as follows:
P1 – P3: Pull-on gym slippers with no
laces please (not trainers)
P4 – P7: Gym slippers (not trainers)
Short-sleeved white T-shirt
Black or navy shorts
Hockey or football
Children playing hockey or football must
have shin guards and gum shields. Pupils
must wear proper football boots with their
football kit. Please note that, also for
Health and Safety reasons, pupils must
remove earrings and any other jewellery and
must tie hair back securely, before taking
part in any form of Physical Education.
Our School

14. A record of your child’s attendance during the year is
carefully maintained. Pupils absent for any period of
time must hand in a note on day of return, written by
the parent or guardian stating the reason for
absence.
We respectfully remind parents that family holidays
should only be arranged during holiday closures to
avoid interruption of teaching and learning.
Punctuality and good attendance is important to your
child’s progress. We ask for your support in ensuring
each is sustained throughout the year. If possible, we
request that all medical, dental and other
appointments be made outside of school hours.
If the school’s admission and enrolment numbers
have not been reached, the school will admit all
children of appropriate age whose parents wish them
to attend the school.
Places may be available for children whose parents
wish them to move school. Interested parents should
contact the Principal. We make every effort to
ensure that your child is happy and feels secure as
they make the transition to Portstewart Primary
School. To achieve this we invite you to contact the
school so that you can tell us more about your child
and we can explain our admissions process and other
arrangements.
Information on the school’s admissions criteria, as
determined by the Board of Governors, is available
on the EA website in the Admissions section and it is
available upon request from the school office.
Our School
Admission
Attendance

15. The curriculum of the school consists
of the activities and experiences
designed to promote the personal,
social and academic development of our
children. It includes the Areas of
Learning and Skills and Capabilities as
determined in the Northern Ireland
Curriculum and the wider curricular
activities and experiences available.
Although the Areas of Learning are set
out separately teachers will, where
appropriate, integrate learning across
the six areas to make relevant
connections for children. In Foundation
Stage and Key Stage 1 there is a
play-based approach to learning.
Personal
Development &
Mutual
Understanding
The World
Around Us
The Arts
Physical
Education
Religious
Education
Language &
Literacy
Mathematics
& Numeracy
Areas of
Learning
At the heart of the curriculum
lies an explicit emphasis on the
development of skills and
capabilities for lifelong learning.
Through opportunities to engage
in active learning contexts across
all areas of the curriculum,
children progressively develop the
following skills:
Curriculum
Areas of Learning
Cross-Curricular Skills:
Communication
Using Mathematics
Using Information and
Communications
Technology
Thinking Skills and Personal
Capabilities:
Thinking, Problem-Solving and
Decision Making
Self Management
Working with Others
Managing Information
Being Creative
“The children are motivated and enthusiastic
learners who engage readily with their peers and
adults”. ETI May 2016

16. ICT in Portstewart Primary School is used to empower pupils, support their learning,
develop self-esteem and promote positive attitudes to learning. We have a dedicated
ICT suite, a large bank of iPads, a Green Screen room and a Radio Station for
children to avail of. Children develop the skills of using ICT by engaging in meaningful
research and purposeful activities set in relevant contexts. Additionally, through the
creative use of ICT we seek to improve pupils’ thinking skills, providing them with
opportunities to become independent, self-motivated and flexible learners. We have
Digital Leaders appointed from P5-P7, these pupils are trained to help others in their
ICT work. Our school is extremely well equipped with a wide range of ICT resources to
enhance pupils learning experiences, including:
- Interactive Whiteboards - iPads for every classroom
- PC’s - Green Screen room and Radio Station
- Laptops - Bee-Bots
- Cameras - Spheros
Curriculum
ICT
“The children use information and communication technology (ICT) creatively,
independently and purposefully to support and enhance their learning. They use a wide
range of software skilfully and competently in meaningful real-life situations across the
curriculum”. ETI May 2016

17. The Special Needs provision caters for those pupils whose difficulties impact on their
ability to access the curriculum. When a child has been identified as needing support,
the parent will be contacted and invited to come to school to meet with the teacher. An
explanation of the needs will be discussed and, with the agreement of the parent, a
strategy will be put in place for meeting your child’s needs.
By closely monitoring progress especially in literacy and numeracy, we hope to identify
children having difficulties as soon as possible. A range of provision is made for children
who may have learning and/or physical difficulties. The class teacher will cater for the
individual needs of each child, supported by the school’s Special Educational Needs
Coordinator, other relevant outside agencies and classroom assistants, where
appropriate. Additional teaching may be provided within the school and we have a
number of successful intervention programmes in operation, catering for a range of
needs. Whatever arrangements are proposed, you will be fully consulted.
The assessment of children’s progress is an integral part of the learning and teaching
process. It contributes to a holistic view of the child’s progress and development. By
assessing pupil’s learning it helps children to reflect and evaluate, and it informs parents
and teachers about individual progress. Through teacher observations we can identify
any possible development needs and set appropriate learning targets.
Curriculum
Special Educational Needs
Assessment

18. Curriculum
Physical Education
The school’s PE policy sets out aims which are designed to:
 Encourage a positive attitude to sport
 Provide opportunities for participation to every child
 Improve physical skills and fitness
 Provide new experiences for pupils
Each class has a physical education and games lessons per week during which sports
skills are taught. P5-P7 are given swimming lessons at different times in the school year.
We are fortunate to have a large school playing field, two hardcore pitches and a
multi-purpose hall for indoor sporting activities. Children in Primary 6 and 7 are also
encouraged to participate in the National Cycling Proficiency Scheme. The children
participate in many tournaments and competitions throughout the year. In recent years
we have enjoyed much sporting success in hockey, football, swimming and cross-country
running.

19. Curriculum
Religious Education
Spanish
Online Learning
Spanish is taught throughout the
school, starting in Primary 1, with each
class receiving 20-30 minute lessons
per week. Lessons are fun and
informal, focusing on games, songs,
discussion and dialogue.
Non-denominational religious education will be available to all children based upon the
Christian religion. Children meet for assemblies during the week, both in key stage
groups and as a whole school, as we believe that collective worship enables them to
share beliefs, faiths and values. As a school we support the Christian charity ‘Stand By
Me’ and sponsor a child from Ethiopia.
Ministers and other members of the community visit the school on a regular basis to
participate in assembly, thus providing a valuable link between the school and local
churches in the area. Suitable arrangements will be made for children whose parents
request that a child should wholly, or partly, be excused from attendance at religious
education, religious worship, or both.
Pupils participate in the ‘Accelerated Reader Programme’ and the online resource
‘MyON’ to support the development of reading. Pupils are assessed online three times
per year giving them a suitable level of books to read independently. Children can choose
from a wide variety of interesting and enjoyable books available from our school library.
Children then complete quizzes on each book read to assess their understanding and
gain points. When their target has been reached children are rewarded with prizes and/
or certificates.
Children also use ‘Mathletics’, an online home/school learning tool covering all
aspects of the Maths curriculum. Pupils complete online activities to gain points towards
a weekly target and are rewarded with certificates.

20. Enriching the Curriculum
Shared Education
We first embarked on the Shared Education Programme run by the Department of
Education in 2017 with our neighbouring school, St Colum’s Primary. Since then, pupils in
Primary 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 have had the opportunity to come together for joint lessons in
each others’ schools and community venues. Pupils experience new learning opportunities,
and develop new relationships and skills. We have had the opportunity for pupils to engage
with the following Shared Education projects:
 P1 &2 concentrate on play-based learning experiences, Forest School and Beach
School initiatives
 P5 prepare for the Peace Proms Concert in Belfast’s SSE Arena
 P6 focus on health, sport and wellbeing
 P7 focus on the local environment
 Each year, we also take part in a joint Carol Service with St. Colum’s Primary School

21. We offer a wide range of sporting opportunities to all of our pupils. Staff and other
qualified instructors give the children the opportunity to participate in a wide range of
sporting activities. Normally on offer during the school year pupils are given the
opportunity to take part in the following sports:
Football Badminton
Hockey Judo
Swimming Cross Country Running
Athletics Dance
The children have opportunities to represent the school in several sporting tournaments
and over the years we have enjoyed success particularly in swimming, cross country and
football. We are always very proud of the boys and girls who represent the school for
these events, not only for their accomplishments, but for their sportsmanlike behaviour.
In addition to the sports clubs already mentioned pupils also have the opportunity to
participate in many other activities outside of school hours:
Scripture Union (All Stars) Computer Club Drama Club
Arts & Crafts Choir Ukulele
Cycling Proficiency Miniversity Eco Gardening Club
STEM Club Into Film Club Radio Club
Enriching the Curriculum
Extra Curricular Activities

22. Portstewart Primary School has a strong tradition of musical and dramatic productions
and concerts. While every child has the opportunity to work to develop their musical skills
during curriculum time, they also have the opportunity to participate in a number of
additional musical activities throughout the school year.
Each year at Christmas the pupils perform for parents and families. Pupils stage their own
Nativity based production, school production or Carol Service. The Primary 7 pupils
perform at their Leavers Assembly in June each year.
P5-P7 pupils are given the opportunity to participate in the Senior Choir. Our choir has
performs at school events, in the local community and they also take part in local
competitions. Our choir annually enter the Portstewart Festival and pupils are also given
the opportunity to enter verse speaking competitions.
Tuition in various woodwind and stringed instruments is provided weekly by peripatetic
teachers from the Education and Library Board. Ukulele and Bodhran drum lessons are
provided by an independent instructor as an after school club.
Enriching the Curriculum
Music & Drama

23. Enriching the Curriculum
In Portstewart Primary School we are fully committed to the use of Digital Learning and
Technology. In order to prepare our pupils for life, learning and work we need to ensure
they are provided with the skills needed to be successful. Digital skills are taught
alongside and embedded throughout the curriculum.
We have our own Radio Station and pupils can be broadcast live or in a pre-recorded
form throughout every classroom in the school. Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1
parents/grandparents are also given the opportunity to read stories on our Radio Station
every Wednesday morning. Pupils also have the opportunity to participate in film making
within our Green Screen facilities.
We also run a Film Club as an extra curricular activity in which pupils learn about the
process of making a film and have the opportunity to watch and review films. This year,
we have a Radio Club as an extra-curricular club for pupils wishing to develop their
reporting and broadcasting skills.
Digital Literacy, Radio Broadcasting and Film

24. STEM Education
As a school we are committed to incorporating Science, Technology. Engineering
and Maths (known as STEM) in every year group throughout the school; using the
enquiry-based learning method to encourage inquisitive young minds.
We invite industry experts to visit us and promote the accessibility of STEM
subjects and career choices for boys and girls.
Portstewart Primary School along with our partner school St Colum’s, are proud
runners up of the UK nationwide Rolls Royce Science Award and winner of the
Eden Award in 2016. In the past pupils have also attended ESB Science Blast
event in Belfast to showcase their STEM projects.
Enriching the Curriculum

25. Pupils are encouraged to make a positive contribution to all aspects of school life. Staff
seek the views and opinions of the pupils and involve them in school decision making. Each
class has its own class council that holds class council meetings. We have a school council
that is made up of elected representatives from Primary 3 to Primary 7 pupils. Pupils in
Primary 6 run their own School Council Election campaign every June and all pupils in
Primary 1 to Primary 6 are eligible to vote.
Portstewart Primary School is an Eco-School. The
Eco-Committee and School Council is the driving force
behind the school's participation in the Eco-School’s
programme. The committee meet school to oversee
many aspects of promoting our school environment,
reducing waste, conserving energy, developing
biodiversity and promoting healthy living. We have
been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award. We
are a Heart Start School and children are taught
simple emergency life support skills. P7 pupils are
taught how to give CPR.
Enriching the Curriculum
Eco-School and Heart Start School
School Council

26. Enriching the Curriculum
Education/Residential Visits
In connection with The World Around Us curriculum educational visits are great
opportunities to inspire and stimulate the children. First hand experiences and real
life situations are hugely beneficial to creating exciting, quality learning and we
value the role they play in school life. Some of the places visited by the children
include…
- Watertop Farm - Riverside theatre
- Springhill House - Peace Proms in SSE Arena
- Mountsandel Forest - Radar NI
- Rosepark Farm - The Dogs Trust
In Primary 6 and Primary 7 the children are given an opportunity to participate in a
residential visit to London or Birmingham. Activities in the past have included:
visiting local sights and attractions, shows and theme parks. Pupils have had the
opportunity to visit Legoland, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, and various shows and
performances.

27. We invite a variety of visitors into the
school to help enhance our curriculum.
Visitors bring with them a passion for what
they do, which can be used to support our
children’s learning. The range of visitors
includes: people from the caring profession,
the police, the RNLI, charities, ministers,
Heart Start, theatre/drama groups, local
business people and babies through the
Roots of Empathy programme.
Representatives from various professions
also come in to speak to the children and
often answer questions posed by the pupils.
Our emphasis is on the positive approach of praise and encouragement for both academic,
social and behavioural merit. We consistently seek to acknowledge the effort, positive
attitudes, achievements and good behaviour of all children to develop their self esteem as
well as acknowledge success.
Pupils are encouraged and rewarded in many ways including:-
* A quiet word or smile/kind look
* A written comment on pupils’ work
* Visit to senior staff/co-ordinator for commendation
* Public word of praise in class or assembly
* Class reward systems including stickers, charts, certificates, prizes
* Pupil of the week certificates
* Monthly House certificates awards which reflect progress and effort
* ‘Star Writer’ and ‘Rocker Reader’ monthly awards and certificates
* Principal wristbands and Headteacher stickers
Enriching the Curriculum
Visitors to the School
Reward systems in School
House merit system
Each child who comes to the school will be allocated into one of our four ‘Houses’. The
houses are called Agherton, Drumslade, Roselick and Cromore. At various times
throughout the year inter-house competitions are organised where children have the
chance to win points for their House, including our annual Sports Day.

28. Two way communication is essential if the partnership
between parents and school is to remain strong and effective
and we therefore endeavour to keep parents fully informed
and involved in all aspects of school life. Just as we would
encourage you to keep the class teacher notified about
relevant matters, we will also make contact if we have any
concerns or worries relating to your child. At the start of
each academic year all parents are invited to attend a year
group curriculum meeting at which they will receive
information about class routines, homework and curriculum
content for the year ahead. We have two TV screens in
school which advertise school events, birthdays and school
news. Additional information is also on the school website and
Positive home-school relationships are essential if your child is to fully benefit from
all that our school has to offer.
Our ‘open door’ policy means that parents may see the Principal at any time, but for
your convenience, it is helpful if you phone ahead to the school office to check that
she is available.
On occasions other than the scheduled parent/teacher meetings, parents may wish to
meet with the class teacher. This can be facilitated either before or after school, but
as all teachers have after school commitments, duties and meetings to attend, it
needs to be by prior arrangement. For reasons of security, it is important that all
parents report to the school office when coming onto the premises.
In October all parents have an individual interview with
teachers to review progress. This is an important interview
as, at this early stage in the year, teachers are able to
advise parents as to how they can support their child’s
learning. This is followed up with another interview in
February/March. The Annual Report is issued in June to all
parents which outlines pupil progress and development.
Home/School Links
Contact with School
Communication with parents
Parent/Teacher Consultations

29. Portstewart Primary School has a long history of well established close links with
parents and a thriving Parent Teacher Association (PTA). The committee is a voluntary
group of parents who are willing to work on behalf of all the parents, planning social
activities and fund-raising events throughout the school year.
The PTA Committee meet in the school from time to time, normally once or twice a term
and thanks to the support of all parents and teachers, they make a lot of money for
the school and all of the children benefit from their fundraising efforts.
In the past few years, the PTA has presented the school with :
 Interactive whiteboards and iPads
 Reading books
 Hockey kits
 Updating the ICT suite
 Outdoor play equipment for Nursery and Foundation Stage
Some of the events they have organised have include; Discos, a Summer Fair, Quiz
nights, a Treasure Hunt and Supper with Santa. In addition the PTA provide
refreshments at Sports Day, Open Day and Primary 1 Induction nights Performances
held in school.
We also have a number of parent volunteers and helpers who come in to school to
support pupil learning, work with small groups and help organise whole school events.
Home/School Links
Parent Teacher Association

30. We consider the safety of your child of paramount importance and ensure that the school
does everything possible to keep everybody, children and staff alike, safe.
The school has a controlled access policy. Parents or others wishing to visit during the
school day should only use the main entrance doors at the front of the building. Access is
monitored by security video systems. Children arriving late for school should also use the
main entrance doors.
In the interest of safety children will not be allowed to leave the school during the day.
Where a child has to leave, for example to visit a doctor or dentist, you are asked to send
a note to your child's class teacher briefly outlining the arrangements being made for the
collection of your child. It would be useful if you could let us know if your child is likely
to be returning to school later in the day.
General Information
Health & Safety

31. Every child has a right to be educated in an environment where they feel safe,
secure, happy and confident and every child has a responsibility to behave in a
manner which allows this to happen.
School rules are frequently explained in a language that is appropriate to the age of
the children. We strive to form good relationships with children helping them to
develop their self-esteem. We believe true success and increased self-esteem occurs
when children learn how you expect them to behave and then choose that behaviour
as their own.
We are concerned with helping children to set and achieve their personal, social and
academic goals within a supportive atmosphere. Each class teacher has a pastoral
role and works to establish stable, supportive relationships with the children in their
care, encouraging them to become increasingly capable of making independent,
responsible choices. When we are following up incidents of misbehaviour we try to
discuss feelings and attitudes and more appropriate forms of behaviour with the
children concerned.
A copy of the school’s Behaviour Policy is provided for each new family prior to their
child’s admission to the school. It is expected that parents seeking admission to the
school for their child(ren) are willing to give their full support to the Behaviour
Policy. Our aim is to promote positive behaviour by helping each child to behave in a
responsible way, showing consideration, courtesy and respect to others in school and
on the way to and from school. Through our teaching and example, we expect children
to be responsible and accountable for the actions they take.
General Information
Behaviour & Discipline Policy

32. As a school committed to offering excellence in pastoral care to all our pupils, we
offer additional support for those children in need. Primary aged children are in the
early stages of their personal, emotional, social and educational development. As
such, they deserve the highest standards of pastoral care and support to assist them
to develop their full potential.
Every member of staff is committed to looking after the pastoral needs of the
children in Portstewart Primary School and Nursery Unit. We recognise that children
cannot work to their full potential if they have anxieties or worries and we welcome
information from parents and the children when problems at home or school may be
causing distress or anxiety. All children and parents are encouraged to express any
concerns they may have to a member of staff in assurance that the matter will be
pursued. School policies on Anti-Bullying, Child Protection and Discipline are
distributed to parents when their child starts school.
When a child is sick or injured our first action is to inform the parent or other
contact available to us. Should this not be possible, we will seek medical
treatment for the child in all cases where we feel this is necessary. If you are
concerned about the safety of your child or another from a child protection
perspective then you should speak directly to the school’s designated
teachers, Miss Gilmore and Mrs Taylor.
General Information
Pastoral Care

33. We promote a child-centred ethos where children are listened to by adults and taken
seriously. We recognise that everyone in our school community has a part to play in
safeguarding the children in our care. We ensure that all members of staff, teaching and
non teaching, and all adults who have contact with the children in our school, have been
subject to appropriate vetting procedures and have been provided with Child Protection
training.
We also want to keep parents informed about Child Protection. We encourage all parents
to make a point of accessing the information displayed on our Child Protection notice
board which is prominently displayed in the main school foyer and in the Queenora foyer.
We will also issue information from time to time to keep parents updated on important
Child Protection matters. Our Child Protection and other related policies are available on
the school website or by request from the office.
Parents or others who have any child protection concerns should raise these immediately
with the Designated or Deputy Designated teacher. Information about how to make a
complaint about a member of staff, or other adult in the school, in given in the school’s
Concerns and Complaints Policy but Child Protection concerns should always be raised
directly with the designated teachers. We recognise that raising a concern is always
difficult but the over-riding issue must always be the safety of the child.
General Information
Child Protection Policy

34. In accordance with the requirements of the Northern Ireland Education Reform Order
1989 it is the policy of the Board of Governors to: maintain the right of free education
for all pupils; establish that activities organised wholly or mainly during school hours
should be available to all pupils; require parents to pay charges for board and lodging for
their child(ren) on residential trips, taking account of any relevant remission
arrangement; confirm its right to invite voluntary contributions for the benefit of the
school or in support of activities organised by the school. It is our policy to request
voluntary contributions to ensure that our programme of visits and activities does not
become a drain on the school’s budget and to reserve the right to cancel any visit or
activity if sufficient contributions are not made. A fully copy of the Charging and
Remissions Policy is available from the school office on request.
There is a requirement to make certain current information available to parents. This
includes curriculum details, pupil attendance information, End of Key Stage assessment
results, statements of school policy and some materials sent by the Department of
Education to schools. Copies are held in the school office and can be viewed by
arrangement with the Principal.
The dates of school holidays and any exceptional closures will be circulated to parents
at the start of the school year and is available from the school website.
General Information
Charging & Remissions
Other Information

35. Nursery Unit
About our Nursery
Connecting the Nursery Curriculum
Our Nursery Unit provides an excellent start to school life
and is the foundation for future learning, It is our policy to
share positively with parents in creating a safe and caring
environment where each child, through a play-based
curriculum, can flourish and develop their full potential. The
nursery caters for children aged between three and four
years old and has full time provision for 26 children. The
team consists of a qualified nursery teacher and a nursery
assistant.
Number of spaces: 26 full time spaces
Hours: 8.45 am to 1.15 pm daily
Personal,
Social &
Emotional
Development
The World
Around Us
Physical
Education &
Movement
The Arts
Language
Development
Pre-School
Curriculum
Areas
Early
Mathematical
Experiences
“In the nursery unit, the adults work very well as a team
to care for and support the children”. ETI May 2016
The Nursery follows the Curricular Guidance for Pre-School
Education, as set by the Department of Education. It
consists of a play based curriculum, centred around six
interconnecting learning areas.

36. Nursery Unit
Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Physical Development & Movement
The World Around Us
This is a vital aspect of children’s development and includes:
 A smooth transition from home to nursery life
 Developing a love of learning
 Learning how to cooperate with other children and
enjoy friendship
 Growing in independence and self-esteem
 Exploring emotions and learning how to manage them
 Respecting and caring for others
 Developing concentration for focused tasks
 Learning how to make choices and develop thinking skills
 Develop turn taking and sharing
The nursery children are encouraged to be physically active
and learning includes:
 Climbing, pedalling, balancing, jumping, hopping and digging
 Developing balance, coordination and control
 Learning how to throw, catch and strike a ball
 Moving to music using actions and props
 Using space safely and imaginatively
 Developing fine motor skills using tongs, rollers, brushes,
scissors, pencils, etc.
 Play cooperatively with one another
The children will be encouraged to be curious and explore
the nursery and local environments. Awareness includes:
 Talking about experiences from home and family life
 Learning how things work and making models
 Learn about scientific concepts such as push and pull, full
and empty, magnetism, light and colour
 Work with natural materials such as soil, mud, sand, water
 Learning how to keep safe in nursery and when out and
about

37. Nursery Unit
Mathematical Development
Language Development
The Arts
We encourage the children to use mathematical language and
develop concepts and skills during play and exploration.
Activities include:
 Sorting by type, colour, shape or size
 Developing counting skills
 Matching objects and understanding the same/different
 Learning about size, weight and length
 Ordering objects by size, capacity or weight
 Exploring pattern and sequence
 Learning counting songs and rhymes
 Developing problem solving skills
We seek to enrich the language used and understood by
your child. Activities include:
 Circle time and sharing experiences
 Enjoying sharing books together
 Listening to stories, rhymes, jingles and songs
 Enjoying mark-making and writing using chalk,
markers, brushes and chunky pencils
 Talking to others and learning the skills of
conversation
 Recalling and recounting stories and experiences
The children have extensive opportunities to develop
their creativity and problem-solving through art, music
and movement, drama and role-play:
 Finding pleasure in the art process
 Exploring colour, pattern and texture
 Singing and responding to music
 Developing an awareness of speed, pitch and rhythm
 Enjoying dressing up and make believe play

38. Nursery Unit
Enriching the Nursery experience
Uniform
Turquoise sweatshirt with Nursery logo
Royal Blue polo shirt with Nursery logo
Navy tracksuit bottoms / leggings / shorts
Shoes with Velcro fastenings only
No jewellery or earrings
Wellies are also useful for outdoor play
Home/School Links
Links to the Primary School
We work hard to forge strong, positive relationships
between home and school to ensure each child feels
happy and secure in their new surroundings. We hope
you entrust your child’s pre-school education to
staff of Portstewart Nursery and we look forward
to welcoming you and your child.
We aim to develop a sense of belonging by
integrating the nursery children fully into the life of
the primary school. They make regular use of the
facilities in the main school and dine in the school
canteen. Our nursery staff work closely with
P1 staff to ensure continuity, progression and also to
enable a smooth transition into P1. Key Stage 2
pupils also visit our nursery pupils to read to them.
In nursery we are involved in ‘Big Bedtime Read’ and
‘Getting Ready to Learn projects’. We support these
initiatives through parental workshops. Throughout
the year we have Stay and Play mornings where
parents/grandparents/carers are invited to spend
some time in the nursery. Annually we have a
Nursery nativity and Graduation. We also have an
Induction afternoon and evening for all new pupils.

40. Thank you for taking the time to read our school prospectus. We recognise that
choosing the right school for your child, whether they are just starting out or
they are considering moving school, is an important decision. As a parent you
want the very best for your child which is what we seek to offer through
delivering high quality teaching and learning, a supportive learning culture and
high standards of pastoral care. We would encourage you to visit our school as
this prospectus can only provide a snapshot of all that goes on at Portstewart
Primary and Nursery Unit. We hope you will share with us in making these
important years in your child's life a successful and enjoyable experience. We
look forward to welcoming you and your child.