Nursery proposal for St Anthony's

It had been hoped the new unit could be provided for the start of the new school term, but a lengthy consultation period means it's more likely to be September 2011.

The third nursery unit at the Craigavon school would replace the reception class which is being phased out this year.

"An awful lot of data had to be gathered to put this paper together," said principal Anthony McMorrow.

"There's a lot of consultation needs to be done and the Department of Education will have the final say.

"Our hope is by extending nursery provision we will meet the need for full-time places in the area."

The school provided the SELB with evidence that applications for places in the existing nursery provision as well as applications for reception places have been oversubscribed. They also provided the board with baptismal figures for Moyraverty Parish to show a three-year annual average birth rate of 128.

St Anthony's currently has two units for children with moderate learning difficulties, two nursery classes incorporating 52 full-time places, and a reception class which is set to close.

Along with St Brendan's the school serves the educational needs of children in the Moyraverty Parish and adjoining areas. The proposal would provide 130 full-time nursery places between the two schools.