Pastoral care

In order to ensure that the pastoral needs of each pupil are catered for, the teachers and ancillary staff endeavour to maintain a warm, caring and secure atmosphere in the school. The parents, teachers, principal, Board of Governors and support services all must play their parts in this vital aspect of school life.

During the regular parent / teacher consultations the children's welfare and well-being are discussed as well as their progress in more educational matters. Parents are encouraged to inform the teacher or principal of any problem which may be causing the child anxiety, and they can be sure that such information will be treated with complete confidentiality.

Should a child be injured or become ill in school, First Aid will be administered when appropriate and the parent contacted if necessary. If the parent cannot be contacted, medical help will be sought when necessary.

Pupils should not be sent to school when they are ill but sometimes doctors advise that pupils should attend school while still needing to take medicine, either because they are suffering from some chronic illness or allergy (such as diabetes or asthma) or because they are recovering from a short-term illness and are under-going a course of treatment needing antibiotics. It is the responsibility of the parents to administer such drugs but it is essential that your child's teacher is aware of the details of such cases...do not expect your child to know nor to convey such details. You must speak to the Principal before sending medicines/drugs to school and be made aware of the full details regarding the exceptional circumstances when medicines may be administered by teachers.

When a pupil joins the school, either in primary one or in subsequent years, parents are asked to complete a permission slip relating to photographs in school and Internet Access during their time at Ballymacash Primary School.  Photographs are used in various displays and promotional literature.  From time to time they are also submitted to the local press, however in the event of a child’s name being printed, parental permission is required.  With the new computer suite in operation, classes are now making use of a number of excellent educational websites.  While there is a pupil filter control in operation on the system and access is always under supervision, we acknowledge this is by no means 100% secure.

The designated teacher for Child Protection issues is Miss Colhoun. The deputy designated teacher is Mr Gray.

Miss Colhoun                                      Mr Gray

                Designated Teacher                       Deputy Designated Teacher

For concerns about other children’s safety you can speak to any of the previously mentioned staff or telephone Childline 0800 1111 or NSPCC 0800 800 500.

Ballymacash Primary School, 16 Brokerstown Road, Lisburn, Antrim, BT28 2EE

Tel: 02892 664 244 Fax: 02892 667 814