MAGHERAFELT NURSERY SCHOOL

40 Meeting Street,
Fairhill,
Magherafelt
Co. Londonderry
BT45 6BL

Tel: 028 7963 2981
Principal: Mrs.S.A.Campbell B.Ed., DASE., M.Ed.

HISTORY & DEVELOPMENT

Magherafelt Nursery School, as it is known today, was built in 1895 and was first known as ‘The Fair Hill National School’. The school accommodated boys and girls separately in the one building and schoolyard. When the school ceased to be used for Primary Education the Presbyterian Church used it as a Church hall until it was converted to as a school for children with special educational needs in January 1963. When these children moved into new premises the old Fair Hill National School was then converted once more and opened by the North-Eastern Education & Library Board as Magherafelt’s only Nursery School in 1975 admitting 75 children.

In 1998 in response to local needs, the school changed the pattern of attendance to part-time places only, increasing the numbers to 100 children.

In June 1999 Magherafelt Nursery School was granted an additional unit under the Special support Programme for Peace & Reconciliation and will become the first Nursery school in Northern Ireland to operate with three units and 156 children!

At Magherafelt Nursery staff work continually to provide a learning environment, which encourages all children to work co-operatively, and with appropriate adult support and stimulation, enable children to discover the world around them.

Research has shown that quality pre-school education has lasting effects well into adulthood. At Magherafelt Nursery school a planned curriculum covers the social and personal skills and academic foundations necessary to prepare children for future life.

Staff and Governors work together to ensure that the needs and interests of the local community are reflected in the patterns of attendance and the extra-curricular events that are organised. A high priority is given to involving parents in their child’s education as well as providing opportunities for parents to further their own education.

In 1997 Magherafelt Nursery became the only Nursery School in the UK to become involved in a partnership with nursery schools from France, Spain and Italy working on a project entitled ‘Looking after our World ’ under the European Union Education Programme.