Our Board of Governors and staff wish to offer you a warm welcome to St. Anthony’s Nursery School.

St. Anthony’s Nursery School, the only Nursery School in Larne, has been providing quality pre-school education to our 3 and 4 year olds, from all sections of our community, since we opened in 1981. Our children transfer to a number of Primary Schools in the area.

Here in St. Anthony’s Nursery School we believe that each child entrusted into our care, is individual and unique and is treated with respect, understanding and warmth by a highly skilled, nurturing and dedicated staff.

By working in partnership with our families, we aim to provide an environment, which will support our children in becoming happy, secure, resilient, curious, independent, kind and enthusiastic learners.

Together we strive to lay the foundations for a life-long love of learning and a brighter future.

Our School offers 52 full -time places for children (funded by Dept of Education), generally in their target pre-school year ie, the year before they start Primary School. The Nursery day runs from 9.00am-1.30 pm and children have the option of a cooked school meal or a packed lunch.

Children are accommodated in two classes of 26 children with a Teacher and Nursery Assistants supporting learning. Our classrooms are bright and cheerful with lots of children’s work on display. We make use of all available space and have a Quiet Room and a covered veranda area off each classroom. Our foyer is used for Rainy Day Circuits when we cannot get outside to play.

Each classroom’s veranda opens onto our award winning outdoor play area. (We have an Eco School Green Flag and were awarded runner up in the Mid & East Antrim In Bloom Best School Garden Project Oct 2021)  We have a very attractive grassed area which allows for planting and gardening opportunities, a mud kitchen and tree stump seating, a football net, a digging area,  sand and gravel pits, an obstacle course, book nook and much more.

We have a safety surface with a track for our tricycles and a climbing frame with swings and a slide.

The six areas of the Pre School Curriculum are taught through a holistic range of activities and hands on experiences. We support the social and emotional wellbeing of our children, their physical cognitive and speech and language development through our daily practice and the fun learning experiences we create for our little pupils.

Comments from Education and Training Inspectorate

“In their written comments, the parents praised the supportive, hardworking staff and the high quality and variety of the children’s learning experiences.”

“The staff put much thought and effort into the presentation of the literacy-rich, colourful playrooms and the outdoor environment.”

“….They learn to care for the world around them in the stimulating playrooms and the outdoor play environment.”

“….in most cases they (children) interact and co-operate thoughtfully with peers in play and in the daily routines and respond positively to the staff’s high expectations for them.”

“The written planning is comprehensive and guides the staff well in their work with the children.”

“The staff know the children and their individual needs well.”

“….The very good leadership and management of the nursery is effective in promoting excellent teamwork and maintaining a consistent focus on providing high quality care and pre-school education.”

“The children with additional needs are integrated very well and access all aspects of the curriculum with skilful and caring adult support.”

The nursery has developed an impressive range of links and partnerships with others…… to bring benefit to the children in broadening and enriching their learning experiences.

“….They provide effective support and nurture for the children identified with additional learning needs.”

“The positive relationships and effective communication with parents keeps them well informed about their children’s progress and how to support their children’s learning at home.”

“Based on the evidence available at the time of the inspection, the arrangement for safeguarding children reflect the guidance issued by the Department of Education.”

“The children’s personal social and emotional development is a strength: in most cases they interact and co-operate thoughtfully with peers in play and in the daily routines and respond positively to the staff’s high expectations for them.”

“The Nursery’s systematic approach….leading to continuous improvement in the best interest of the children”