Bright and colourful artworks were on display at Enniskillen Castle Museums on Friday evening as pupils of Enniskillen Integrated Nursery showcased their creative masterpieces to family and friends.

Entitled ‘Perspectives,’ the celebratory art exhibition was held by Nursery staff to mark 21 years since the opening of the Nursery Unit on its current permanent site.

The evening was very well supported, with founding members of the Nursery as well as previous teaching and non-teaching staff in attendance. There was lots of excitement as the young pupils admired each other’s work and enjoyed glasses of juice and biscuits.

Speaking at the exhibition, principal Mrs. Adele Kerr commended the pupils on their work. Having attended the funeral of former Erne Integrated College principal Tom Noble that afternoon, Mrs. Kerr noted that it was a “very sad day.” She commented that as the school community looks to the future, they will still remember Tom and all his input.

Enniskillen Integrated Nursery Unit opened in September 1997. This was in response to parental demand for Integrated Nursery education for its youngest pupils to complement the already growing Integrated Primary School. The founding committee, supported by the then principal of the Primary School, Cathy Asater, worked hard to gain temporary accommodation in Ann Street, Enniskillen, and then finally moved to its current permanent purpose built Nursery Unit in September 1998. The demand for provision exceeded all expectations and due to continued over subscription, the Nursery Unit expanded under the current principal Mrs. Kerr to include a Playgroup which now operates two sessions per day. This has complemented the expansion of the primary school which also has a double entry intake from year one to year seven. The Nursery Unit currently has a development proposal pending with the Department of Education to include offering a second Nursery class to the current provision.

The Nursery Unit staff will be joining the Primary School staff to celebrate Enniskillen Integrated Primary School’s 30th Anniversary at a special Anniversary Ball on Friday May 10. Future celebrations will continue as Erne Integrated College will celebrate their 25th anniversary during the 2019 to 2020 academic year.