St Teresa’s Nursery

Dear Parents and Carers,

We want to take a moment to speak with you following the very distressing events in our wider community this week.

In nursery settings in particular, very young children require high levels of care, close supervision and strict, regulated staff-to-child ratios.

Because of this, some settings may have to consider temporary closures if risk assessments indicate concerns about the safety of staff travelling to and from work, or if we are unable to maintain these essential ratios safely.

We fully support the statement issued by nursery, primary and post-primary school leaders across West Belfast.

The stabbing incident in North Belfast earlier this week has been deeply shocking, and our thoughts and prayers remain with the victim and his family and friends at this time. No one should ever experience such an attack, and we hope that justice will follow through the appropriate legal processes.

Today, we are aware that many of our classrooms have children missing. Some families have been forced from their homes and are now trying to find alternative accommodation under extremely difficult circumstances. Others are understandably too afraid to leave their homes to bring their children to school.

We know this will be deeply upsetting for many of you. As a community, we also recognise that some families carry memories of past trauma, and it is particularly distressing that incidents like this have occurred again—targeting families who have done nothing wrong.

We want to reassure you that the safety and wellbeing of your children and our staff is always our highest priority. Every child has the right to feel safe, to attend school, and to live free from fear and intimidation.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep you informed of any developments. Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you need support.

We hope that, with the support of those in positions of leadership and influence, all children will be able to return safely to school as soon as possible

02890616944

📣 Applications for Free School Meals and Uniform Allowance for the upcoming academic year are now open!

If you are in receipt of one of the following, you will need to upload a Proof of Benefit letter when applying for Free School Meals and Uniform Allowance for the 2026/27 academic year:

➡️ Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
➡️ Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit

You can request a Proof of Benefit letter online: https://t.co/vhcVyDRoi5 (It will take at least five days to be sent to you)

If you receive Universal Credit, you do not need the Proof of Benefit Letter. However, you will need to upload evidence of your Universal Credit entitlement when you apply.

More information on eligibility and supporting documentation can be found at www.eani.org.uk/fsm

Delighted to receive this Active Communities Network award for our Roots & Routes community garden project 🌱
Proud to work alongside Choice Housing to create meaningful, intergenerational experiences that build connection, belonging and opportunity for our children.
A true team effort—thank you to everyone involved.

A very proud moment for St Teresa’s 🌱
Achieving the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award is a testament to the care, commitment and teamwork across our nursery.
A heartfelt thank you to Miss Maeve Dorman, whose leadership as Eco-Coordinator has been exceptional. Her dedication, creativity and passion have driven this work forward and made a real difference for our children and their understanding of the world around them.
We are so grateful for all her hard work 💚

“Small actions by little learners can make a big difference.”

Enjoying exploring and caring for our Intergenerational garden