24/11/2006

Education Minister visits Special School

Education Minister Maria Eagle has today visited Dunfane Special School in Ballymena to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the school.

Dunfane Special School currently caters for approximately 150 pupils between the ages of 4 and 17-years-old who have moderate learning difficulties.

It is due to merge with Beechgrove and Loughan Special Schools and move to a new building in the centre of Ballymena.

Speaking during her visit, Maria Eagle said: “I congratulate the school on its 25th anniversary and commend it on the excellent work it has done in that time. The school has served the community well and in its anniversary year it is pleasing to know that this service will soon continue in purpose-built accommodation as part of a new amalgamated school.”

The Minister also praised the school for its moves to become a new ‘Extended School’, which now receives almost £20,000 from the Secretary of State’s Children and Young People Fund to enable it to provide extra-curricular activities for pupils outside normal school hours.

The Minister said: “I am pleased that Dunfane Special School has decided to become an Extended School. This move will enable it to provide services that will benefit not only the pupils, but also their parents and beyond – cementing the school’s place at the heart of the community.”

The Minister completed her visit by unveiling a plaque to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the School’s opening.

(EF)

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