Name: Sister Teresa Walsh. Position: Headteacher, Bethlehem nursery school, Belfast. Q If you had David Blunkett’s budget what would your priority be?
A More nursery schools. We have so many parents who want to send their children here. I would also review the pay of nursery nurses and auxiliary staff. Their experience and loyalty is worth so much, but is not recognised. I have one nursery nurse who has been working for 22 years and gets only pound;11,000.
Q If you had a blank cheque for your own school what would you buy?
A A quiet room (r two) for the children. Somewhere they can go when they want time out from the others. All new nurseries have one, but our school - the oldest Catholic nursery in Northern Ireland - was built before this need was appreciated.
Q What treat would you buy yourself?
A Aromatherapy. And a cordless phone so that I don’t have to leave the children every time someone rings - which is all the time.
Sister Teresa was talking to Stephanie Northen. If you’d like to publish a shopping list for education, please e-mail friday@tes.co.uk
