ST MALACHY'S NURSERY SCHOOL
11 Martin's Lane
Carnagat
Newry

TELEPHONE:    (028) 302 68536

Principal:  Mrs. C. Campbell

THE NURSERY

St. Malachy's Nursery is a modern, two unit Catholic Maintained school situated in a rural setting overlooking the City of Newry.

The school opened in December 1982 and can boast a pleasant airy building which is well equipped and situated on an attractive site adjacent to the Primary School.

The school has a large outdoor area, which is being developed in order to bring the indoor classroom outdoors.

The school places a great importance on children developing independence, imagination, creativity and a respect and awareness of the environment around them.

Children are provided with an extensive range of activities designed not only to cover the D.E.N.I. Curriculum Guidelines for Nursery Education but also allow the child to experience learning through their five senses of touch, smell, vision, hearing and taste.

The school caters for 52 full-time children.

It is now widely recognised that a Nursery Education is of great value.  A Nursery school, with its professionally trained teachers and nursery assistants is able to provide a wide range of opportunities for the intellectual, physical and social and emotional development of each individual child in its care.

In St. Malachy's Nursery, we welcome and encourage your support and interest in the day-to-day activities.  This enables your child to gain a positive attitude towards nursery and a sense of security in his/her new environment. 

During their time at St. Malachy's Nursery, the teacher is aware of the development of each child and his/her individual needs.  Therefore, the variety and arrangement of the materials provided is of great importance.

The teacher helps each child to form stable relationships with his/her peers and other adults outside the family circle, thus encouraging a sense of responsibility and consideration for others  The new found independence helps to develop his/her self confidence and self esteem.

The wide variety of materials provided in the nursery i.e. arts and crafts, sand, water, dough, paints etc. give the children the opportunity to be creative and expressive.

Language development is also a very important part of our curriculum.  We encourage the children's use of language in a variety of situations, including the use of books, stories, poetry, rhymes and songs and varied play situations.

Within our nursery curriculum each child will also experience daily - early mathematical experiences, and introduction to reading and writing, early experiences in science and technology, knowledge and appreciation of the environment.

At every opportunity the teacher or assistant is there to enable the children to learn and achieve success through the material provided and also to stimulate his/her curiosity thus encouraging his/her intellectual development.

Equally important is the child's ability to use his/her body effectively by providing the opportunity to run, climb, slide, cycle etc., in the safety of an enclosed play area.  The Nursery is purpose built and easy access to the bathroom and wash sinks encourages training in personal hygiene.

Nursery school provides your child with his/her first 'taste' of school.  It is therefore vitally important that we (you and I) 'get it right'

As you can see St. Malachy's Nursery school is not a baby minding service, but a place of learning for your young child under the direction of the Department of Education.  Just as you go to work each day, so will your child.  His 'work' is play - and play is 'hard work'