A new state-of-the-art £197,000 community nursery school has been opened at Kesh, Co. Fermanagh.

The Western Education and Library Board's Chief Executive of the Western Education and Library Board, Mr. Joseph Martin, officially opened the Community Nursery School, which is hosted by Kesh Controlled Primary School.

The £182,000 capital funding was made available by the WELB's Pre-school Education Advisory Group (PEAG) through the Department of Education with an additional £15,000 spent on the purchase of furniture and equipment.

The Community Nursery is a new purpose-built, self-contained unit situated within the grounds of Kesh Primary School.

The new building encompasses a nursery classroom, a quiet room, a shelved storeroom and a utility room. There are unisex toilet facilities with access for the disabled.

There is a partially covered, expansive all-weather play area, an area for a safety-tiled surface with climbing equipment and an open grass area.

The Nursery Unit caters for 26 pre-school children on a part-time basis operating from 9.15am - noon.

The first intake of pupils into the Nursery School took place in September, 2001.

Welcoming Mr. Martin and other guests to the function, Mr. Harold Hamilton, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Kesh Primary School, said the Community Nursery was very much welcomed in the area and that the new nursery will contribute significantly to the support of families in responding to the needs of children.

Mr. Hamilton thanked the Western Board for its support over the years and commended the Board for the commitment, endeavour and vision displayed in its bid to secure funding for the provision of nursery education in the Board area.

Performing the official opening ceremony, Mr. Martin said that good quality pre-school education has important benefits for individuals, families, communities and society and the economy as a whole.

Mr. Martin thanked the Pre-School Education Advisory Group for its co-operation and efficiency in processing the application for funding and thanked all other partners involved. April 2003.