Harmony Hill Primary School Prospectus

Welcome to Harmony Hill Primary School

Our school has been in the heart of the Lambeg community since 1964 with the nursery unit being added in 2001. We have a long-standing reputation for high standards in education and are so privileged that many families come back to us with each subsequent generation, but equally, every year, we are also delighted to welcome new families from the surrounding area and much further afield. There are many cultures and countries represented within our school community and we celebrate the warmth of the inclusive atmosphere we share.

Our school motto is, “Together we Flourish” and this belief in strong partnerships and positive relationships is core to who we are.

Each member of our teaching and support staff team is highly invested in every aspect of school life. Enabling children to emerge into their full potential is a journey that gradually unfolds as we work together to help each child to keep growing and to keep going in all aspects of their learning and development, no matter what obstacles they may face, as they grow and learn together within this safe positive and nurturing environment.

Our partnership with parents is strong and there are many opportunities for shared communication as we focus together on helping each child to discover and achieve.

Our nursery unit has a full-time teacher, and the learning is also supported by highly experienced assistants. This facility is situated within the grassy area of the school grounds at the very rear of the complex.

Rich indoor and outdoor play experiences are integral to these opportunities for development within all the key areas of learning as the children are encouraged and enabled not only to learn at their own pace but to explore, experiment, make decisions, persevere, concentrate, communicate, problem solve, remain curious and creative- all while having fun, building relationships and growing in confidence and independence.

As children move to primary one, they enter the foundation stage which also encompasses primary two. We have three classes within every year group across the school. The experiences and skills gained at home and in pre-school education will continue to be built upon as the areas of learning unfold and expand. Purposeful play experiences will continue to enrich the curriculum alongside, and often woven within, the key areas of learning.

At every stage of the children's development, we believe that motivating, stimulating classroom and school environments help the children to embrace learning as a very natural process, where they have appropriately high expectations of themselves, but equally where they know they are supported, particularly if they have personal challenges to face.

We have a strong sense of purpose and vocation, and every member of our staff team contributes positively and diligently to ensure that there is cohesion and consistency in our pastoral care for the children and our shared professional values and practice. This is the bedrock foundation upon which everything else is built.

Beyond the classroom, opportunities are created for further rich experiences through outdoor learning, to enhance and bring to life topics being explored in the classroom.

We have a designated Forest School area where the children thrive in a world of creativity and imagination, developing skills such as self-regulation, taking risks and achieving – or coping with failure; problem solving, collaborating, communicating, flourishing.

More recently, to complement our existing Eco Garden, we have been developing a living outdoor classroom, through funding obtained by application to the National Lottery and Department of Infrastructure, and then topped-up by PTA funds. Indeed, we are richly supported by an exceptionally diligent and successful PTA who fundraise on our behalf and support the planning and implementation of many inspiring events which enhance the life of our school community and bring much joy to the children.

This ‘Living Outdoor Classroom’ will ultimately be surrounded by wildflowers and native trees, including some fruit-bearing varieties. The wooden structure will gradually be overgrown by willow around the pillars. A corrugated roof, with drainage to a water butt, will enable this space to be used in all weathers and to support our promotion of Eco themes. Split tree trunks provide adequate seating for at least a full class of children. There is a fully accessible pathway to this classroom to ensure that pupils or adults with limited mobility will also be able to enjoy this inspiring space.

Active promotion of healthy lifestyles is hugely important to us. Over the years, Harmony Hill has celebrated many significant achievements in inter-primary school sporting events and beyond, but the opportunities for the children and the skills they have learned through all these experiences are infinitely more important than the achievements themselves, although we do love to celebrate the wins!

Similarly, curriculum music and the wider development of musical skills at personal and key stage levels form a rich part of school life. We have thriving choirs in key stage 1 and key stage 2, a music theatre group, instrument ensembles and a school orchestra.

From primary four upwards children have the opportunity to book private lessons in piano, trumpet, voice, guitar, flute, clarinet and violin

The children showcase their talent and growing skills performing at a high level and with great enjoyment. Without a doubt there is plenty to get the feet tapping and the spirit's lifted.

Our usual program of after school activities is rich and varied with many clubs being taken by class teachers, as well as others offered by outside agencies.

There are many moments of great pride when we sit back and celebrate every child's unique contribution to our school family, as we create memorable moments for children, parents, and staff alike, with numerous special events that showcase our children thriving as they work together to plan, create, rehearse, perform and grow together.

Alongside the children's academic success and personal achievements, these are often the highlights of our school year.

This has been a brief snapshot of our school, a great place to learn together. A place where the heartbeat of our Harmony Hill community resonates with the belief that, Together we Flourish.

Perhaps who we are is best summarised by our school mission statement which states that;