Ballyclare Nursery School is situated not far from the centre of Ballyclare in a housing estate off the Doagh Road. It was built in 1976 the enclosed veranda being added on several years later.

Ballyclare is a thriving market town, which is expanding rapidly with a number of privately owned housing developments having been built in recent years. The demand for places has always been a problem as the school caters for a wide area both in the town and in the out-lying rural areas. The number of children on rolls has risen from 75 to 104 in the last few years. The P.E.A.G. Committee decided that there was further need for expansion and plans have been drawn up for an extension. This will accommodate a further 52 children making a total of 156 children.

This building is planned to be up and running by November 2000. It is, however, subject to final approval from Department of Education

When the extension is opened the School will be operating six classes, all part-time. Three classes will be running from 9.00-11.30 and three classes will run from 12.30-3.00. There will be a staff consisting of Principal, two schoolteachers and a part-time teacher, three nursery assistants and a part-time secretary. There is also a caretaker and a supervisory assistant. We also accommodate the Colleges of Further Education by taking students every year and we provide work experience for post-primary schools.

The Policy of our school is that each child is accepted as a unique individual. By sharing in the relationship already established with parents, an attempt is made to create a safe, secure, stimulating and above all a happy environment. This will provide opportunities for our children to develop self-confidence and concentration and social skills.

It is the policy of Ballyclare Nursery School, when planning the curriculum, to take into consideration the differing skills, previous experiences and individual needs of the children.

The curriculum is planned and evaluated by the staff who are qualified teachers and nursery nurses (NVQ Level 3). The curriculum signifies the process of learning and Nursery Education is thought of in terms of activities and experiences rather than knowledge to be acquired and facts to be stored. The ethos of the curriculum is that learning can be fun and the child is encouraged to build strong relationships, become independent, increase his/her concentration span and gain a high self-esteem. All the available space and appropriate resources are used to ensure a variety of learning experiences for the child.