Comittee for Education

MEDIA OPERATIONAL NOTICE

14 June 2010

 

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE VISIT S NURTURE GROUP AT HOLY FAMILY PRIMARY AND NURSERY SCHOOL, DERRY

Members from the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Education will today visit a Nurture Group Unit in Holy Family Primary and Nursery School, Derry.

The visit has been organised to provide Members with an opportunity to see first hand how Nurture Groups work and the benefits they offer to children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. The Committee will also meet with parents, staff and Members from the Board of Governors to discuss future developmental options and current funding issues which may impact on the future of Nurture Groups in schools throughout Northern Ireland.

VISIT DETAILS

Venue: Holy Family Primary and Nursery School, Airleach Road, Derry

Date Wednesday 16 June 2010

Time: 11am – 12pm (Photographs Available from 12.00-12.15pm)

FURTHER INFORMATION

• The Committee Members attending this visit are:
  David Hilditch MLA, Committee for Education Deputy Chair.
  Mary Bradley MLA, Committee for Education

• The Principal of Holy Family Primary School is Mr Garry Matthewson and the school’s website can be accessed at http://www.holyfamilyps.com/.

BACKGROUND

Nurture groups are classes of around 10 children set up in schools, mostly in primary schools but also in some secondary schools. Nurture groups help children to re-establish good relationships with adults and promote a sense of security and safety for children whose wider experience may be chaotic and disturbing, enabling children to begin to see school as a place to experience success. On becoming more secure emotionally children find that their capacity for cognitive learning also increases and they begin to make progress with normal school tasks. The groups are an integral part of the school’s provision, understood and supported by all the staff.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

There will be opportunities for photographs with the Committee members during their visit. Interviews will also be available with Committee for Education Deputy Chair, David Hilditch, MLA and/or other attending Committee Members. Please contact the Communications Office to schedule.

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY

More information on media opportunities is available from:

Jennifer Pleavin
Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Tel: 028 9052 1606
Mob: 07502 379339
Email: jennifer.pleavin@niassembly.gov.uk

Sinead Murphy
Deputy Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Phone: 028 9052 5938
Mobile : 07899 864368
Email: sinead.murphy@niassembly.gov.uk