A PARENT’S help parents/carers get the support that they need, when they need it so that GUIDE their children can do as well as possible at school. For children to do well at HELPING YOUR CHILD school, the child, the parent/carer and TO DO WELL AT SCHOOL the school need to work together, and IN SOUTH relationship with your child’s school

and particularly to the East Belfast Partnership who have helped us to develop this guide, helping parents and families across Belfast City. Here are some things you will need to do Choosing a School • Visit the school, and attend parent meetings, open nights and inductions. Starting a new school is exciting but can hold some challenges, such Meet your child’s teacher. as making new friends, and learning new things, not only for your • child but for you too. If your child will be age 4 by the 1st of July, • Ask about uniform, school lunches and facilities. then they will begin school in September. • Ask your child if they like the school, do they have Here are some tips to help make it as easy as possible: friends going there? • Ask other parents for advice. Before choosing1 • Stay well ahead of any deadlines. Keep up to date with relevant information, and keep an eye on local Next steps papers and websites. Here are some things that you need to know: Collect application forms and guidance notes from the school What are the local schools? • • or the Belfast Education Library Board. What do you need to know and do to get a place, what are the • Fill out the form, be as accurate as possible and include all deadlines for applying? • relevant information (schools or support contacts can help • What is the uniform like, what are the facilities, and how do with this). you pay for school lunches? • Find out the application deadline at www.belb.org.uk • When is the school open, is there an after schools homework Tel. 028 90564000. club, and what other things does the school do? • Hand in the form in January, BEFORE the deadline. • How will you get to the school for pick up and drop off? • Does the school have a good reputation? What do other For more information visit www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk parents say about the school? click on ‘Choosing a school’. Starting School Here are a couple more ways to prepare your child Before your child’s first day at school or nursery, there are some for school skills that it is good for them to know, to help make the first day a bit smoother. Below is a list of skills that parents can usually • Visit the school with your child, to see the classroom and meet teach or show their children to help prepare them for school. the teacher. Make sure your child can: • Chat to your child about starting school, and what it will be like. • Hold a crayon • Make sure you have uniform, a school bag and a pencil all ready • Put on or take off their coat and hat for the first day, and anything else they will need. • Go to the toilet and wash and dry their hands • Children should have a change of clothes for their first year of school, in case of accidents. • Eat a snack and lunch on their own Make sure your child is aware that they will be without you Listen to others while they are talking • • while at nursery or school, and practice this beforehand. • Follow instructions • Answer questions when asked After starting school • Recognise colours • Encourage your child about their new school by asking them • Recognise their own picture about their time at school, what they have done and what they • Put on their own shoes have learnt • Play alone and in groups, sharing toys. • Ask about the friends they are making. Visit www.early-years.org for more information, using the parents section for advice on preparing your child for nursery, or More information visit www.nidirect.gov.uk and click on the telephone 028 9066 2825. Schools, Learning and Development section. Help with homework

As homework gets more difficult, your child might need to use a computer. If you don’t have a computer at home, why not use one in the school, after schools clubs, or your local library.

The library computers have internet access and can be used for free. It is free to borrow books from a library.

South Belfast Libraries:

A Helping Hand Library 38B Finaghy Road South , Belfast, Help with money BT10 0DR Tel: 028 9050 9214 • Is your child going on a school trip that is too expensive? Why Minicom: 028 9050 9214 not ask the school for support. Some schools have special Email: [email protected] funds that might3 help with school trips. If the school uniform is too expensive, contact the Library • Road Library Board to request some support. Visit www.belb.org.uk, and 440 click on the Parents and Students section to see what help may Belfast be available. BT9 6GR Tel: 028 9050 9223 The Library Board can also help with school meals. Visit the • Minicom: 028 9050 9223 website www.belb.org.uk to find out how this works, and what Email: [email protected] help is available. • Are uniform and school books expensive? Are there other parents who share this opinion? Ask your school to run second Library hand days! 247 Ormeau Road Belfast For information on who can get support, visit www.adviceguide.org.uk, BT7 3GG and click on the section, then Education, and Tel: 028 9050 9228 School Education to find out about support for school meals, uniform, Minicom: 028 9050 9228 and transport. Email: [email protected] Dealing with a difficult situation You and the School Most parents at one time or another during their child’s education will have to deal with a difficult situation. This may be a child’s Don’t be worried about communicating with your school, the staff misbehaviour in school, or requesting extra support for your child, will want to hear from you. There are some key people in your school but either way it can be difficult. Below are some tips to help that you should try to meet at the start of the year. connect with your school at these times.

• Go to the Parent Teacher evenings, Parent mornings, and First things first school events4 to meet the principal, your child’s teacher, the parent worker, and anyone who looks after your child. • If a situation arises, your first point of contact should be your child’s teacher, or the principal, to get all the information, and Ask for the contact details of the schools Special Educational • if needed, guidance. Needs Coordinator (the SENCO). Try to stay calm so that the situation doesn’t escalate further. • Who do you contact for closure dates and information about • school fees? Make sure you keep a copy of this persons contact • If there have been several incidences, keep a written record. information. • Speak to the school on how to proceed, and if needed speak to • Keep a copy of any letters from the school, and your child’s the parent worker or outside advisors. reports in file and keep it somewhere safe. • If there has been no progress in dealing with the situation, look • Get involved in the PTA, or the Board of Governors, be part of at contacting the school board of governors. decisions that will affect your child. • Never feel that you cannot speak with the school staff. They are • Go to events held in the school and volunteer to help organise there to educate your child and your relationship with them is these events. very important. Assessing your child Special Educational Needs If the school is unable to meet your child’s need on its own, you can request BELB to make a statutory assessment. A parent can make If you are worried about your child’s progress in school, the first step this formal request in writing, or the school principal may offer to is to speak to your child’s teacher, the school SENCO or Principal. write and request the statutory assessment on your behalf. • Ask the teacher if they think your child is having more difficulty If you are writing the request yourself, you must include the than others in the class. right information, and submit the form before the deadline. For information on what to include in the request letter, contact the Is help already5 being given? Special Educational Needs Advice Centre (SENAC) on 028 9079 5770. • Children have different levels of need, and so help is given on a • Once you have written and sent off the letter: five stage basis. Ask which stage your child is on. • Stages 1-3 take place in school. At stage 2 an Individual • Keep a copy of the letter, and the date it was sent on. You Education Plan will be drawn up. It will outline targets, how should get a reply within six weeks. they will be achieved, and a date to review progress. Parents The reply will let you know whether the Board will carry out an should be kept informed, and given tips to help support their • assessment or not. child at home. At stage 3, external help can be given. Stages 4 and 5 focus on statutory assessment and statements. • If the Board does not make an assessment, you can appeal to the For more information visit www.deni.gov.uk, and use the Special Educational Needs Tribunal. ‘Support and Development’ section to read the DENI code of practice. It is important to keep up to date with changes in the Education For more information: visit www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk, system when it comes to extra support. Visit the SENAC website, and click on the SEN section. www.senac.co.uk to stay updated. Belfast Education & Library Board 40 Academy Street, Parenting NI Belfast, BT1 2NQ 42 Dublin Road, Tel: 028 9056 4000 Belfast, BT2 7HN Email: [email protected] Tel: 028 9031 0891 Helpline: 0808 8010 722 South Eastern Education www.parentingni.org & Library Board Grahamsbridge Road, Dispute Avoidance and Dundonald, Belfast, BT16 2HS Resolution Service (DARS) Support Contacts Tel: 028 90566200 This organisation will help resolve Email: [email protected] disagreements between parents and Below is a list of key contacts that may be useful throughout your child’s time at schools over the special educational school. All of these organisations are here to support parents and children. needs provision for children. Sure Start South Belfast www.education-support.org.uk/parents/ 9 Lower Crescent, Special Educational Needs Advice Centre special-education/dars/ Belfast, BT7 1NR Email: Belfast Education and Library SENAC is an independent charity offering advice and support to parents/carers 028 9094 2525 of children with special6 educational needs. SENAC can assist with understanding Board: [email protected] the system, IEPs; annual reviews; statementing; the transition to secondary Southern Education and Library Board: school and where suitable they can attend meetings and assist with letters. NIdirect government services [email protected] www.nidirect.gov.uk SENAC NI Commissioner for Children Graham House, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Citizens Advice Bureau and Young People (NICCY) Saintfield Road, www.adviceguide.org.uk This organisation can support and offer Belfast, BT8 8BH guidance in all areas of the rights of Email: [email protected] Libraries NI children. www.senac.co.uk www.ni-libraries.net www.niccy.org Confidential Advice Line: 028 9079 5779 Email: [email protected] Children’s Law Centre Tel: 028 9031 1616 Sólás This organisation will support both Supporting Children with Autism and Special Needs parents and children through the appeal Department of Education NI CRI Building, process, with the Special Educational www.deni.gov.uk 165-169 Donegall Pass, Needs Tribunal. Belfast, BT71DT Email: [email protected] The Good Schools Guide 02890247600 www.childrenslawcentre.org www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk www.solasbt7.com Free Advice Line: 0808 808 5678 • •

Presbyterian Church in Shaftesbury Community & South Belfast Sure Start Ireland Friendship House Recreation Centre (Various Locations hosted in South Belfast contacts 1 Blythe Street Balfour Avenue local communities) BT12 5HU BT7 2EW 9 Lower Crescent BT71NR An Droichead Cultural Bryson Intercultural Natalie Johnston Natasha Brennan Centre Morton Community Centre Bryson House 028 9032 2733 028 9031 2377 Joy Poots 20 Cooke Street Lorne Street 2nd Floor [email protected] 028 9094 2525 Ormeau Road BT9 7DU 28 Bedford Street BT7 2EP BT2 7FE Kevin McVeagh Romanian Roma Sorcha Campbell 028 9068 1874 Sorina Toma Community Association of Solas Happy Hands After South-City 028 9028 8818 [email protected] 077 1507 9968 Northern Ireland (RRCANI) School Club for children with South City Resource and [email protected] tomahealthworker@ 133-135 University Street Autism Development Centre brysonintercultural.org BT7 1HQ CRI Building The Methodist Complex Belfast Education Library 165-169 Donegall Pass 381 Nkeoli Nkeoli BT7 1DT BT12 6SR Ballynafeigh Community Board 028 9543 8323 Development Association Blythefield PS Chinese Welfare Association [email protected] Heather Orr Alison Simpson Ballynafeigh Community Blythe Street, Chinese Resource Centre 028 9024 7600 028 9050 4747 House BT12 5HX 1 Embankment [email protected] 238 Ormeau Road BT7 1GB Community BT7 3GG Traian Idriceanu 028 9023 6817 May Ma Centre St. John Vianney Youth Club Darren Spence [email protected] 028 9028 8277 63-77 Sandy Row Solas Happy Hands After St. John Vianney Youth Centre 028 9049 1161 [email protected] BT12 5ER School Club for children with 13 River Terrace Autism BT7 2EN [email protected] Liz Davis Belfast South Community Ballynafeigh Community 028 9032 5403 House Connie Archer Resources BSCR Donegall Pass [email protected] 028 9024 7118 BELB South Belfast Area 27-145 Sandy Row Community Centre 238 Ormeau Road 7 BT7 3GG [email protected] Project BT12 5ET 25 Apsley Street Donegall Pass Youth Centre BT7 1BL Save the Children Heather Orr Grove House Nikki Johnston 028 9024 4449 Lisa Wilson 15 Richmond Park, 028 9024 7600 St Malachy’s Youth Club 145-149 Donegall Pass BT10 0HB [email protected] St Malachy’s Youth Centre BT7 1DT [email protected] 028 9032 7661 community@belfastcity. 028 9043 2830 Lower Stanfield Street Gail Mc Givern gov.uk BT7 2HB Annette McCann South Belfast Alternatives 028 9061 1460 Benmore Parent and FAST Coordinator, NI Andrea Johnston [email protected] Toddler Group 33 Donegall Pass a.mccann@savethechildren. Belfast 075 4049 1313 or Leanne Mills Finaghy Community Centre Markets Community Centre org.uk 079 0283 1632 1-6 Geeragh Place Market Street BT7 1DQ 028 9031 5763 BT10 OER BT1 2AR Windsor Women’s Centre Scribbles Debbie Hammill 136-144 Broadway Belfast City Council Angela Marks Michelle Clarke 028 9062 0474 028 9023 5969 Community debbiehammill@alternativesrj. BT12 6HY Olympia Community Centre Forum co.uk Boucher Road [email protected] clarkemichelle@belfastcity. Shirley Simpson gov.uk 13 Finwood Park BT12 6HR BT9 6QR 028 9023 5451 [email protected] Marta Walotka Benmore Playgroup South Belfast Round Table Helen Bunney Race Relations Coordinator 028 9024 7547 38 Finaghy Road South Petals Day Care 028 9062 9218 [email protected] BT10 ODR Windsor Woman’s Centre 83 University Street 136-144 Broadway BT7 1HP Lisa Johnson BT12 6HY 028 9030 8677 Denise Wright [email protected] Shirley Simpson 078 1190 1722 028 9023 5451 windsorwomans@yahoo. co.uk Holy Rosary Primary St Michael’s Primary POST-PRIMARY Victoria College School ** School * Belfast * Schools in South Belfast Mr P McAllister Mrs B Finn Aquinas Grammar Ms P Slevin 70 Sunnyside Crescent 514 Ravenhill Road School * Cranmore Park At various times of the year it can be hard to contact your school, because of holidays etc. BT7 3DB BT6 0BW Mr P Dobbin BT9 6JA When contacting schools, you may not get an immediate response, but to make sure you get 028 9049 1817 028 9049 1529 518 Ravenhill Road 028 9066 1506 to speak to someone, avoid ringing first thing in the morning when the school is very busy, and Stranmillis Primary BT6 0BY Rosetta Primary School School 028 9064 3939 Wellington College * at lunch time when staff may be having their break. Below are contact details for schools in Mr R Irvine Mr J Wallace Mrs K Latimer the local area. Many of these schools will provide after school activities and wrap around day 21 Knockbreda Road Knightsbridge Park Hunterhouse College * 18 Carolan Road BT9 5EH provision to support your child’s learning. BT6 0JA Mr A Gibson BT7 3HE 028 9049 1650 028 9038 1164 Upper Lisburn Road 028 9064 2539 Finaghy Scoil an Droichid Taughmonagh Primary 028 9061 2293 NURSERY Fleming Fulton St Michael’s Nursery Botanic Primary School Nursery 2 Stewartstown Road School * Primary School ** Special Schools Ms F McCotter Mrs J Douds Malone Integrated Arellian Nursery Miss Jean McFadden BT11 9FY Mr P Bell Fleming Fulton School 35 Upper 6 Botanic Court 4 Cooke Street Findon Gardens College * School 028 9043 1040 Ms C Hancock BT9 6TY BT7 1QY BT7 2EP BT9 6QL Ms M Thompson Miss J Pogue 35 Upper Malone Road 028 9061 3877 028 9032 8346 028 9031 3283 028 9066 9698 45 Finaghy Road 50 Bentham Drive Scoil an Droichid BT9 6TY BT12 5NS Nursery Unit BT10 0JB St Anne’s Primary Downey House 028 9038 1988 028 9061 3877 028 9032 5280 Forge Integrated Ms F McCotter Cranmore Integrated Preparatory * Playgroup 4 Cooke Street Primary School * School * Mr A Jennings Glenveagh School Manager BT7 2EP Mr W Doherty Mr M Keenan Methodist College * Belvoir Park Nursery Kingsway Pirrie Park Gardens Ms F Leneghan Mr Watson 20 Carolan Road 028 9031 3283 47 Finaghy Road North Mr Scott Naismith BT10 0LE BT6 0AG Harberton Park Belvoir Drive BT7 3HE BT10 0JB 1 Malone Road 077 3298 8232 Stranmillis Nursery 028 9066 4410 028 9061 5414 028 9028 6660 BT9 6BY BT9 6TT BT8 7DL 028 9066 9907 028 9064 7925 Unit 028 9020 5205 Mr J Wallace Donegall Road St Bride’s Primary Fullerton House Primary School * School * Preparatory Harbeton School Benmore Playgroup Holy Rosary Nursery Knightsbridge Park Department * Rathmore BT9 5EH Mrs M Johnston Mr P Carswell School * Mr M McGlade Mrs L Johnston Derryvolgie Avenue Mr A Jennings Harberton Park 38 Finaghy Road South Mrs C McGrenaghan 028 9038 1164 Maldon Street Mrs T Hamilton Sunnyside Crescent BT12 6HE BT9 6FP 1 Malone Road Kingsway BT9 6TX BT10 0DR 8 BT9 6BY 028 9038 1700 028 9038 1525 028 9030 8677 BT7 3DB Taughmonagh Nursery 028 9032 3018 Finaghy 028 9049 1314 Unit 028 9020 5205 BT10 0LF Mrs J Douds Fane Street Primary St John the Baptist 028 9061 0115 Oakwood Assessment Bethlehem Nursery School * Primary School Inchmario Preparatory Centre School Rosetta Nursery Unit 88 Findon Gardens School * Mr R Irvine Mr S Orr Ms J Chapman Mrs P McCann Ms J Mallon BT9 6QN Mr A Armstrong St Joseph’s College * 21-23 Knockbreda Road Fane Street Finaghy Road North Mr J McCourt Harberton Park 516 Ravenhill Road 028 9066 9698 Cranmore Park BT6 0JA BT9 7BW BT11 9EH 518-572 Ravenhill Road BT9 6TX BT6 0BW BT9 6JR 028 9049 1650 028 9038 1945 028 9061 4546 BT6 0BY 028 90 5116 028 9064 0406 028 9038 1454 028 9049 1280 St Bride’s Nursery Unit PRIMARY Finaghy Primary St Malachy’s Primary Park Education Botanic Nursery Unit School * School * Victoria College Resource Mr P Bell Mr P Carswell Royal Belfast Mr A Mackay Mr B White Preparatory Centre 6 Botanic Court Derryvolgie Avenue Belvoir Park Primary Department * Academical Finaghy Road South Eliza Street Institution * Ms M Wilson BT7 1QY BT9 6FP School Dr M Barrett BT10 0DR BT7 2BJ Ms J Williamson 145 Ravenhill Road 028 9032 8346 028 9038 1020 Mrs Watson Cranmore Park 028 9061 2623 028 9032 7460 College Square East BT6 8GH Belvoir Drive BT9 6JA BT1 6JA 028 9045 0513 Cranmore Integrated St Malachy’s Nursery BT8 7DL 028 9066 1506 Playgroup Unit 028 9049 1810 Forge Integrated 028 9024 0461 Mrs P Gribbin Primary Manager School ** 47 Finaghy Road North Eliza Street Blythefield Primary BT7 2AT School * Mr N Watson BT10 0JB 20 Carolan Road 028 9066 4410 028 9023 5968 Mrs S Lennon There are a number of funded places which can be found in the BELB booklet for Blythe Street BT7 3HE 028 9049 2177 pre-school admission. A number of these will also provide afterschools and wrap around Fane Street Nursery BT12 5HX day care provision Unit 028 9032 8343 Ms S Orr Fane Street *Denotes afterschool provision BT9 7BW **Denotes wrap around provision 028 9038 1945 SOUTH Royal Belfast Academical Institution

BELFAST St Malachy’s Primary School

D A & Nursery Unit O Primary R N I OR Arellian Nursery School School L B Nursery, Primary U M EA D SS ALL PA EG U Donegall Road DO N

R G DO NE A O Primary School LL R OAD AD Scoil an Droichid Primary School

& Post-Primary AD Nursery Unit O

R Park Education Resource Centre

TY

SI

Fane Street Primary School ER Schools & Nursery Unit MethodistCollege UNIV Fullerton House Preparatory Dept.

Botanic Primary School Downey House Preparatory &Nursery Unit St Michael’s Primary School

St Bride’s Primary School Bethlehem Nursery School &Nursery Unit ORME D A St Joseph’s College O R AU E N Holy Rosary Primary Aquinas Grammar School O RO D L & Nursery School A A AD O M

R

N Victoria College R

U B S I & Preparator y Dept. L S T St Michael’s Nursery OC Inchmario Preparatory School KM Forge Integrated Primary School

A N & Playgroup

St John the Baptist Primary School S L A NE Wellington College Rosetta Primary School

& Nursery Unit

Malone Integrated College Stranmillis Primary School B AL Cranmore Integrated Primar y School MO &Nursery Unit

R & Playgroup AL AV

E N

UE

Glenveagh School

Harberton School D

Oa kwood Assessment Centre A

O R D A O R Taughmonagh Prima ry School

N E R & Nursery Unit N U O B L IS A L Finaghy Primary School M R E P P Benmore Playgroup U Fleming Fulton School Hunterhouse College & Nursery Unit St Anne’s Primary School Nursery Unit Rathmore Grammar School Belvoir Park Primary School & Nursery