Antrim Primary

The Curriculum of the School is designed to give a broad and balanced education to all
children and to present all children with experiences suitable to their current stages of
development. All members of Staff participate in its plan and design.
All classes are of a single age group and mixed ability. The following subject areas and
cross-curricular themes are taught within each class:
Language and Literacy, Mathematics and Numeracy, The Arts (Art and Design, Drama and
Music), The World Around Us (Geography, History, Science and Technology), Personal
Development and Mutual Understanding, Physical Education and Religious Education. We
also encourage our pupils to take an active interest in the local environment.
For P.E., classes are timetabled for our School Hall/Gym and Multi Use Games area, and
P.7 classes make use of facilities at Antrim Forum (average P.E. time 1½ hours per class
per week).

Special Educational Needs Provision

Care is taken at all times to match the curriculum provision for all pupils to their particular
stage of development and to take account of any particular difficulties or special talents
which they show. The Special Needs Co-ordinator and part-time support teachers will
assist with matters relating to children who find difficulties with class work. Where thought
necessary we will, after consultation with parents, seek further advice from the School
Educational Psychologist.

Religious Education

Religious Education is taught within each classroom and at Assembly. It is Bible based
and appropriate to the core syllabus for Northern Ireland; it is non-denominational in
character. Parents have the right by law to have their child wholly or partly excused from
Religious Education and/or Collective Worship. Parents should make contact with the
Principal if they wish to exercise this right.

Music

Music plays an important part in the life of our School. All pupils receive a good all-round
musical education and from P.4 onwards learn to play the recorder. In Primary 5 those who
show aptitude may be selected to play an Orchestral Instrument and later to become
members of our School Orchestra. Pupils playing orchestral instruments receive tuition
from members of Staff and from visiting peripatetic teachers from the N.E.E.L.B. Some
children may progress to membership of the N.E.E.L.B. Orchestras.
Pupils who show aptitude in singing are encouraged to be members of our P.6- P.7 School
Choir.

PDMU

An important aspect of PDMU is Health Education (to include Drugs Education, and Health
& Safety Education.)

The school operates a comprehensive programme of Health Education which provides our
pupils with the opportunity to develop positive attitudes towards keeping healthy. Our pupils
learn about the factors that contribute to good health, including diet, exercise and hygiene;
and also about the harmful effects of substances such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs. A
detailed Drugs Education Policy is in place. Parents are asked to keep the staff informed of
any pupil's health problems. A confidential register of serious health problems is
maintained. Essential medicines may be administered on completion of a Parent
Request Form (available from the office).

Homework

We encourage all our children and parents to spend some time each evening reading
together and discussing books and topics of interest. In addition we set homeworks most
evenings, Mondays to Thursdays. We ask parents to monitor the work and, where
appropriate, sign the completed/attempted piece of work.

Estimated times for Homework:
P.l-P.2 O mins
P.3 15 mins
P.4 30 mins
P.5-P.7 45 mins
These times will, of course, vary according to each individual child's ability and speed.

Assessment

The progress of our pupils is monitored daily by the class teacher and further evidence is
gained from a variety of regular class tests. Communication to parents is made through a
First Month Indicator report, Parent - Teacher consultations in November, a Second Term
Update report at the end of January, an Open Night in the Spring and a full written
report/pupil profile in June. P7 pupils also receive a Record of Achievement at the end of
June.

End of Key Stage Assessments (P.4 & P.7) take place in Term 3. They will have no
bearing on transfer at 11. This is decided in P.7 when all pupils are given the opportunity to
sit two Transfer Tests. We ensure that pupils are fully prepared for all their tests and
parents are invited to a Transfer Information Evening when children are in Primary 6. A new
system of Transfer for 2010 is currently under review by the Government.

Child Protection and Pastoral Care

Each child is a valued and important member of our School Community. We take a pride in
ensuring a happy, caring and secure atmosphere based on mutual trust and respect; one
which will stimulate learning and be reflected in all aspects of School Life. We also greatly
value the excellent relationships with our families which have built up over many years.
Where any concerns exist on the part of either staff or parents it is normal, in most
instances, for these to be resolved quickly and amicably through discussion.

Promoting Positive Behaviour

If a child attending Antrim Primary School is to achieve the maximum of his/her potential
then an essential condition for effective teaching and learning to take place is Good
Behaviour. We foster good behaviour by the encouragement in each child of a sense of
respect for others and their property, based on self-respect and the growth of
self-discipline. There are a number of methods used to reinforce good behaviour through
praise and rewards e.g. being given responsible tasks, being awarded stars and Class
prizes, being sent to the Principal and other teachers. Pupils in P.4 - P.7 participate in a
House System (Bruce, Orr & Massereene Houses).

Sanctions for minor lapses in behaviour usually involve verbal reprimand or loss of personal
time (such as break time). The Principal and Staff will consult parents in the event of
recurrent or more serious problems.

Bullying

Bullying is not normally a one-off incident but something which occurs over a period of
days, weeks or sometimes longer. A detailed policy is in place and we encourage pupils
and parents to share any worries of bullying with us. We endeavour to deal with all
situations of concern as quickly and effectively as possible.