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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Damien Edgar

Belvoir Park Primary scoops three awards at Families First event

A Belfast school is celebrating after scooping three awards at the Families First awards at Titanic Belfast.

Belvoir Park Primary School were awarded one for the school itself, one for its principal Pamela Jones and another for teacher Katherine McKnight.

The primary school combines classes for mainstream children and those with additional needs.

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One worker at the school said Mrs Jones, who only joined in her role last August, had "given the school back its sparkle".

The principal was keen to praise the work of the "amazing classroom assistants and staff" who had helped the school develop so much for the children.

The school and staff picked up three awards (Supplied)

She praised Katherine McKnight for the work that saw her recognised with a pastoral care award, saying she "thoroughly deserved it".

"She keeps in touch with all the children and parents, even after they've left here, she wants to know how they're all doing and getting on," Mrs Jones said.

"She's always doing extra courses to try and meet the ever changing needs of the children.

"Whenever she sees a need somewhere, she just automatically goes and does it, even in her own time and that's why she deserved the award because she's so pro-active and always looking out for the children."

Katherine McKnight won an award for pastoral care (Supplied)

Pamela told Belfast Live she was just pleased in the first instance to even be nominated for three awards, even before winning them.

"The school is such an inclusive school for all types of children and the awards were such an honour," she said.

"Katherine got the award then and whenever I got one too, we thought 'what on earth is going on here?'

"We've actually been put through for another next April for the education sector awards, so we're looking forward to that too."

Pamela Jones was awarded as an education leader (Supplied)

The school has developed resources like a sensory den as well as outdoor areas for the children, with the focus on taking learning outside the classroom.

"We're currently becoming a forest school as well, so I have four members of staff doing their accreditation for Northern Ireland Forest Schools," Mrs Jones said.

"We're on the door of a forest but also the grounds already have lovely forest areas.

The school is in the process of getting a Forest School accreditation. (Google)

"The local church have now told us we can use their hall and they would like to create an area for us up there.

"It's just giving children learning experiences outside of the classroom, which is great for everybody, but particularly for children who have additional needs as well.

"If it's not properly outside, it's just a different environment and children just think differently when they're somewhere else."

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