Mums speak out on nursery places

Angela Parker (34) from Murray Wood in Waringstown is extremely frustrated by the education system. Her daughter Emme is almost three and a half.

“I had applied to Donaghcloney, Harrison, King’s Park and Maralin,” said Angela. “She (Emme) didn’t get in anywhere.

"The best they could offer was a nursery in Newry.”

Angela and Andrew have been married and living in Waringstown for eight years. They are both working which puts them at a disadvantage in the nursery intake criteria.

Angela continued: “Playgroups can be very expensive. Emme has a younger sister Molly who is seven months. When I go back to work we’ll just have to take it in turns to mind them.

“The nursery was refused in 2007. If it had been approved it would have been built by now and there wouldn’t be this problem.”

Alison Cunningham from the Clare Road is disappointed she can’t send her three-year-old daughter Sophie to nursery school in Waringstown.

“It’s disappointing there are no nursery places available,” she said. “We applied to other nurseries but there are no places left in this area at all. We’ve been given a list of playgroups. I’m not running down playgroups, but there is a difference between a nursery and a playschool.”

Alison is a teacher in Belfast. Her husband John owns Kingshill Bakery just outside Waringstown. As well as Sophie, the 32-year-old couple have another child - nine-month old Will.

Alison commented: “We’ve both paid our taxes. We’ve more than paid for a place.“I spend all day every day educating other people’s children and can’t get my own into the education system. It’s a real kick in the teeth.”

She added: “Waringstown has become so built up over the past number of years. You’d think they would take that into consideration.”

Murray Wood mum Dawn Percy has two children - Jacob, who’ll be four in June, and 14-month old Annabelle.

Dawn explained: “Jacob is in Dickson Nursery. He’s going to Waringstown Primary. We’d rather send them both to nursery in Waringstown, but we don’t have a choice.

“I think it’s better for children to go to nursery school and primary school in the same place. It’s a big transition for them to make friends at nursery then have to do it all again at primary school in a different place.”