The Education Minister has approved plans for a 26-place nursery unit in Waringstown Primary School.
John O’Dowd said yesterday the Co Down unit will provide for children who travel outside their locality for a pre-school place.
“On this occasion there was a clear gap in provision and a need to create more pre-school places for the benefit of the children in the area,” he said.
Although the local education board had proposed a full-time nursery unit, Mr O’Dowd only granted a part-time unit, saying research has shown “there is no discernible benefit to children of a longer daily pre-school session”.
Upper Bann UUP MLA Jo-Anne Dobson said: “It has been a long fight, with a number of setbacks, but today’s announcement is what we have all been fighting for.”
Also yesterday, Mr O’Dowd declined a proposal to increase the provision at Brefne Nursery School from 26 to 36 full-time places in north Belfast.
The minister said the plan would have been in conflict with departmental policy on staff to child ratios. There is also capacity in nine voluntary playgroups within two miles of the nursery, he added.
Mr O’Dowd made a third announcement yesterday, turning down a proposal for 26 full-time place statutory nursery unit at Gaelscoil na Móna, in Belfast.
He said he was satisfied that there are already sufficient Irish-medium pre-school places in the area.