Children, educators, and families from Holy Child Nursery School and Harmony Nursery Unit in Belfast came together today (Wednesday 27 May) to celebrate their successful partnership through PEACEPLUS ASPIRE with a special tree‑planting event at Harmony Nursery Unit.

During the event, children and educators planted an apple tree to symbolise the beginning of a meaningful relationship - one that both settings hope will grow from strength to strength in the years ahead. 

The event marked the culmination of a highly successful year of collaboration through the PEACEPLUS ASPIRE Project, which both settings joined at the beginning of the 2025-2026 academic year, providing valuable opportunities for children to learn, play and grow together through shared education.

Over the past eight months, the two settings have worked closely to deliver a shared education programme involving 30 hours of meaningful contact time between children, practitioners, and families. These experiences have helped children to build friendships, develop confidence and engage positively with peers from different backgrounds, fostering early understanding, respect and inclusion.

Margaret Kielty, Principal of Holy Child Nursery School, said:

“The past year has been a truly rewarding experience for our children, families, and staff. Through PEACEPLUS ASPIRE, we have built strong, respectful relationships and developed a genuine partnership with Harmony Nursery Unit. The collaboration has enriched our learning community and demonstrated the power of working together.

We are absolutely delighted to have been involved with Harmony and look forward to continuing this journey together. It was especially meaningful to mark our partnership today by planting these beautiful apple trees.”

Emma Montgomery, lead teacher from Harmony Nursery Unit, added:

“Participating in PEACEPLUS ASPIRE has been a wonderful experience for everyone involved. We have engaged our children, staff, and families in shared learning experiences which have been extremely positive.

We hope that these early interactions will help our children grow up with openness and confidence when engaging with new friends beyond their own community. Our schools share core values of respect, inclusion, and joy, and today’s tree planting is a lasting reminder of our partnership and our commitment to working together long‑term.”

Patrick Toland, PEACEPLUS ASPIRE Project Manager at Early Years said:

“We are incredibly proud to see this partnership between Holy Child Nursery School and Harmony Nursery Unit flourish through PEACEPLUS ASPIRE. Today’s tree planting is a powerful symbol of the impact of the project, with the friendships formed, the confidence built and the strong sense of connection evident across both settings. This partnership is a strong example of how shared education in the early years can create lasting benefits for children, families and the wider community.”

PEACEPLUS ASPIRE (Advancing Shared Partnerships through Inclusive Relationships in Education) is led by the Education Authority (EA), alongside, Early Years - the organisation for young children, National Childhood Network (NCN), Léargas, and the Fermanagh Trust. The project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Through collaboration between and within schools and pre-school settings PEACEPLUS ASPIRE will promote good relations and empower children and young people to contribute to a more cohesive, peaceful and prosperous society.