Business Details
46 Years
experience
Trusted Nursery School in Downpatrick
St Colmcille's Nursery School has been providing high-quality early years education since 1980. Our dedicated team of qualified professionals delivers a play-based curriculum designed to nurture children's cognitive, social, and emotional development. We maintain strong partnerships with parents and have achieved multiple awards for our environmental initiatives and health programs. Our purpose-built facility includes specialist areas like an Irish cottage and eco-friendly outdoor spaces.With over four decades of experience, we combine proven educational methodologies with innovative approaches to create a stimulating learning environment that prepares children for primary school and beyond.
Services
Nursery Education
Speech Therapy
Autism Support
Daily Mile Program
Canine Therapy
Equine Therapy
Dental Health
Remote Learning
Eco Initiatives
Parental Engagement
Details
- Year established: 1980
Highlights and features
- We have over 40 years of experience in early childhood education
- Our team includes qualified Speech and Language Therapy Assistants
- We offer specialized support for children with autism
- We provide a broad curriculum focused on learning through play
- We have achieved multiple awards for environmental and health initiatives
Associations and certifications
- Eco-Schools Green Flag
- Daily Mile Fit for Life Award
Services
Speech and Language Therapy
Our qualified Speech and Language Therapy Assistant provides targeted support for children with communication difficulties. Sessions occur twice weekly in small groups or individually, with home activities provided to reinforce progress. This program has successfully helped many children overcome speech challenges by year-end.
Autism Support Program
We implement a specialist Autism NI Action Plan with trained staff and adapted environments. Our approach includes tailored teaching strategies and speech therapy input to create a supportive space where children with autism can thrive through structured yet flexible learning experiences.
Daily Mile Program
Children participate in our Daily Mile track sessions two to three times weekly, improving physical fitness and mental wellbeing. This award-winning initiative enhances classroom focus while promoting healthy lifestyle habits through regular outdoor running and jogging activities.
Canine Therapy
Our weekly canine therapy sessions with trained dog Ruby help children manage stress and emotions. The program supports social skill development through animal interaction, providing therapeutic benefits that complement our emotional wellbeing curriculum.
Equine Assisted Learning
Selected children participate in ground-based equine sessions that develop communication and emotional regulation skills. This experiential learning approach builds confidence and teamwork through structured activities with horses, focusing on specific developmental goals identified for each child.
Questions
What age group does the school cater for?
We provide nursery education for children aged 3-4 years preparing for primary school.
How does the school support children with special needs?
We offer specialist programs including speech therapy, autism support, and animal-assisted therapies with trained professionals.
What extra-curricular activities are available?
We provide daily mile fitness sessions, eco-schools initiatives, dental health programs, and specialist therapy sessions.
How does the school involve parents?
We encourage active parental involvement through regular communication, home learning activities, and scheduled discussion meetings.
What facilities does the school have?
Our purpose-built school includes specialist learning areas, an Irish cottage, covered outdoor play space, and eco-friendly gardens.
How does the school prepare children for primary education?
Our play-based curriculum develops essential skills through structured activities that build academic foundations and social competence.
