ENNISKILLEN primary school, Holy Trinity, has been selected as one of 15 schools to have an official Nurture unit.

Education Minister Peter Weir announced last week that an investment of up to £4 million will be put into new and existing nurture groups across Northern Ireland.

The new Nurture Programme will include the establishment of 15 new nurture groups in primary schools in the 2020/21 school year, and a further existing 31 funded nurture groups which will continue to be funded by the Department of Education.

A new ‘Nurture Approach in Education Programme’ will also be made available to all education settings without a nurture group facility to avail of training and support, and a Nurture Advisory Service will be established within the Education Authority.

Speaking following the announcement, Holy Trinity Principal Brian Treacy said the Nurture Unit will support children in the school community by developing their skills, confidence, talents and qualities so they can reach their potential.

He said: “Holy Trinity has always had a nurturing approach to child development and this new provision will add to the excellent work that already goes on in our mainstream classes, our autism unit and our Learning Support classes, where strong pastoral care provides the foundation for learning.”

The news from the Department of Education to provide a Nurture Unit follows on from the recent announcement that Holy Trinity will be getting a new school building, and work on this project is ongoing. The new school will now also have a full-scale Nurture Unit within the plans of the building.

Mr. Treacy added: “We are delighted at the news that the first Nurture Unit in Fermanagh will be developed in Holy Trinity.

“This comes after the recent announcement that a new school is to be built, so it is certainly exciting times for the children, their families, the Governors and the staff.”

Needs

He went on to explain that the Nurture room will provide a number of children with a specific provision which is adapted to suit their needs, and which develops the children’s social and emotional needs giving them more resilience in life.

“Nurture provision is about providing a secure, small class setting where children’s emotional wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem are developed through forming close trusting relationships with staff.

“While our whole school has a nurturing approach, this specific provision will be used to support those children who most need it.

“The Nurture unit will add an extra dimension to the number of supports we currently provide for the children, and enhances our ethos, which is based on strong pastoral care and supporting the wellbeing of the children,” said Mr. Treacy.