At Ballykelly PS/NU we fully believe and implement the principles of Nurture.  As a nurturing school we:

• Take a holistic approach to education
• See emotional wellbeing as central to the development and mental health needs of our pupils
• And to the effectiveness of teaching and learning
• Believe in supporting our families to ensure the best for our pupils

PATHS® School

At Ballykelly PS/NU we are proud to be a Barnardos PATHS school. The PATHS® Programme for Schools (UK Version) empowers all children to develop the fundamental social and emotional learning skills which will enable them to make positive choices throughout life. In May 24 the school was recognised as a Paths Model School in recognition of their commitment to this approach. 

Nurture is at the heart of all we do at Ballykelly PS/NU.  All staff have received Level five training on Nurture in Schools by the Education Authority.  We also have dedicated ‘Nurture Nook’ where pupils can visit to have time to themselves or to work through any issues with an adult.  Our Nurture room also serves as the base for our Play Therapist and School Counsellor. 

Pupils also have the opportunity to partake in a range of  after school clubs with a ‘Nurturing’ focus such as Yoga and meditation. 

School Counsellor

We also have our very own school counsellor.  Claire is a BACP accredited counsellor who specialises in children and young people and she's been part of the Ballykelly PS/NU family for the past 6 years.  Claire works in school one day per week and supports children and staff through talking things out, playing games, engaging in art work and creativity. Claire provides a listening ear for anyone and is here to support pupils and staff with anything big or small. 

Art Therapy

We have recently introduced Art Therapy for our pupils in the Foundation Stage.  Our Art Therapist offers one to one support as well as small group work.