SCHOOLS that have gone above what is expected to support children's emotional health and well-being have been rewarded for their outstanding pastoral care.
Five schools were honoured at an awards ceremony hosted by the Department of Education and the Public Health Agency.
The Derrytrasna Awards provide recognition to school communities that demonstrate exceptional co-operative effort in supporting the pastoral care of pupils and their families.
The awards was created in honour of the care that St Mary's PS in Derrytrasna, Co Armagh gave its pupils when one was battling cancer.
Adele Madden, a P5 pupil at St Mary's, was diagnosed in 2009 and died in February 2011 aged eight. Her mother Eleanor wrote to former education minister John O'Dowd last year praising the school, a letter he described as moving and inspirational.
Mrs Madden described how principal Joan Aldridge, her staff and daughter's classmates all worked together "to make Adele's last days at school so happy and so special".
The department said exceptional pastoral care was not about the everyday support offered by schools - it is about a level of care and support that is "over and above what is expected and what is offered to pupils by teachers or the school community".
St Mary's PS in Killyleagh was nominated by a volunteer worker for the assistance the school provided to a family following a referral from the St Vincent de Paul helpline.
Another winner, St Paul's PS in Irvinestown was nominated by a parent for their support they provided following her son’s diagnosis with an aggressive form of childhood cancer and after his death.
Other recipients were Stanhope Street Nursery School in Belfast, Belfast Boys Model School and Tor Bank Special School.
Department of Education permanent secretary Derek Baker said pastoral care was an integral part of the school experience.
"Young people, as they grow up, face so many challenges and it is reassuring that schools can provide help and support during what can be a difficult time in their lives," he said.
"Exceptional pastoral care is not about the everyday support that schools offer their pupils. It is about those schools that go that extra mile to support young people's emotional health and well-being, support that had a genuine positive impact on those who received it.
"All the winning schools have demonstrated their commitment to supporting their pupils’ individual needs and are rightly being recognised."
