Carnlough Community Nursery

Located in the picturesque village of Carnlough, our nursery unit is situated in the grounds of St. John's Primary School, providing a unique and harmonious environment for children to learn and grow. Established in 1998, our nursery unit was set up with the involvement of both sides of the community, and through funding from the European Union's Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. Our aim is to provide a safe, secure, healthy, and stimulating environment where children are free to make choices and decisions, and to provide opportunities for all children to investigate, satisfy curiosity, and explore.

Our nursery unit is staffed by a fully qualified teacher and classroom assistant under the management of our Principal, Mrs. McHugh. We are governed by St. John's Board of Governors, and we are committed to providing a nurturing and inclusive environment that caters to the needs of children of all faith backgrounds.

Our Day

We offer two part-time sessions: the Morning Session, which runs from 9:00 am to 11:30 am, and the Afternoon Session, which runs from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm. We believe that this structure allows children to learn and grow at their own pace, with opportunities for socialization and development throughout the day.

Our Curriculum

Our Nursery Curriculum is based on guidelines issued by the Department of Education (Curricular Guidance for Preschool Education) and utilises and builds upon the learning that has taken place in the home and its immediate environment. We believe that all children should have the opportunity to follow a curriculum that allows them to progress at their own pace.

Our Nursery Curriculum is divided into six areas:

• Early Mathematical Experiences
• Language Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development and Movement
• The Arts
• The World Around Us

Our staff plan, observe, and review regularly in order to provide the best learning opportunities for the children, and to ensure they each develop to their fullest potential.

Our Staff

We have two full-time members of staff who work with your child in Carnlough Community Nursery:

• Mrs. Anna Scott, our Nursery Teacher
• Ms. Jacqueline McGaughey, our Nursery Assistant

Our Principal, Mrs. McHugh, oversees our nursery unit and ensures that we provide a nurturing and inclusive environment. Occasionally, students may also work with your child.

Our staff regularly observe and listen to children as they play, and their ideas and interests are taken into account in order to provide further learning opportunities for them.