New Nurture Unit announced for Harpur’s Hill Primary School

HARPUR’S Hill Primary Schoo in Coleraine is among twenty schools selected as locations for new nurture units in a move that will benefit up to 480 children and their families.

The units, which will help address barriers to learning among children arising from social, emotional or behavioural difficulties, will also require the recruitment of 20 teachers and 20 classroom assistants. They are being funded under the Delivering Social Change Signature Project, first announced in October 2012 by the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland, and Education Minister, John O’Dowd, revealed the list of schools that will receive new units and provided further details of the scheme that will be funded for a two-year period at a cost of £1.5million per year.

Education Minister, John O’Dowd, said: “Nurture units provide short term, focussed interventions to children who face barriers to learning.

“Trained staff in these units will select the children who will benefit most from the support.”

The units will be operational by the new school year and advertisements for the posts will be placed soon.