Education Minister, Terry Lister took time out of his busy schedule yesterday morning to have some fun with the children from Lagoon Park Pre-school.

The pre-school, situated in a quiet area on Ireland Island, is set to double in number later this year with the closure of Somerset Pre-school.

Mr. Lister said having two pre-schools in the West End gave parents a choice about where they wanted to send their four-year-olds, but because of the limited space at the Somerset Pre-school, it could not expand.

He said staff at Somerset also had no additional space to hold parent meetings and there was no staff room.

"So while the Somerset Pre-school has been popular because of its location, it has not been suitable for many other reasons. Lagoon Park, on the other hand, is located in a building on Ireland Island that is owned by the West End Development Corporation and it is spacious, and its grounds are attractive and inviting," he said.

Lagoon Park Pre-school was opened some 15 years ago at its current location and used to provide a service to children from the Royal Naval Dockyard, US and Canadian Naval bases as well as local children.

School administrator Sherri-lee Bucci said the closure of the bases meant numbers at the pre-school dropped significantly and while the school can comfortably accommodate up to 40 children, there are currently only 20 attending.

"One of my own daughters went to the Somerset Pre-school, while the other came here and I can tell you, this facility is much more superior. There is so much room for both play and learning activities, while there is also a big kitchen and staff area," she said.

The pre-school has a ten-to-one pupil to teacher ratio and to keep this ratio, teachers from Somerset pre-school will join Lagoon Park staff in September.

The Education Minister has big plans for this pre-school and said plans were underway to paint the facility as well as enhance the playground ahead of the 2005-2006 school year.

A privately owned van service, which currently transports toddlers to the Lagoon Park facility from home, will continue its service to accommodate children from the Somerset area.

He added that besides the teachers from Somerset who will be moving to Lagoon Park Pre-school, administrative staff would be accommodated at other facilities on the Island.

Mr. Lister was given a tour of the facility and afterwards commented that he could not think of a more fitting start for the children's formal school career than to be housed in such a wonderful and bright facility.