£8,500 funding boost secured for Taylorstown Cross-Community Pre-School
(L-R) South Antrim DUP MLA Trevor Clarke pictured with Taylorstown preschool teacher Emma, Bannside Councillor Tyler Hoey, and Councillor Linda Clarke.
Monday 2 November 2026
Taylorstown Cross-Community Pre-School has secured £8,500 in additional funding to help meet essential running costs, keep fees affordable and support early years education for local children.
The funding was confirmed by South Antrim DUP MLA Trevor Clarke, who worked alongside Councillor Linda Clarke and Bannside Councillor Tyler Hoey to secure the financial support for the community pre-school.
The money will help cover everyday expenses including heating, electricity, food and learning resources, easing financial pressures on the setting while helping families continue to access affordable early years provision.
The announcement has been welcomed as a positive development for Taylorstown and the wider Grange community, where the pre-school provides an important local service for young children and their families.
Funding to support essential costs and affordable fees
The additional £8,500 will help the pre-school meet the everyday expenses involved in providing a safe, welcoming and supportive learning environment.
The funding will contribute towards several key areas:
• Heating and electricity costs
• Food for children attending the setting
• Learning resources and educational materials
• Helping to keep fees affordable for local families
By helping to meet these costs, the additional support is intended to ease pressure on the pre-school's finances while protecting access to early years education within the community.
Mr Clarke also highlighted his family's personal connection to Taylorstown, explaining that his children and grandson had previously attended the setting.
He said:
“I know just how great a Pre-School Taylorstown are, my children and Grandson are past pupils, and it’s thanks to Taylorstown that they got such a great start in their educational journey.”
Councillor welcomes good news for the Grange
Bannside DUP Councillor Tyler Hoey welcomed the funding, highlighting both the practical benefits for Taylorstown and the importance of supporting early years provision in rural communities.
He said:
“This vital funding will go towards running costs, heating, electricity, food and learning resources.
“This is a welcome boost for Taylorstown Pre-School and a good news story for the Grange.
“I want to place on record my thanks to Trevor Clarke MLA and Cllr Linda Clarke for working in partnership with me with this.
“Our most rural settings are sometimes the least funded so this be a boost.
“It’s a great pleasure to have Taylorstown Pre-School in Bannside and I look forward to working with them again soon.”
His comments reflect the challenges smaller rural pre-schools can face in meeting operational costs while maintaining affordable provision for families.
The funding will help Taylorstown continue providing learning opportunities for young children without placing additional pressure on parents through higher fees.
Recognition for work behind funding success
Mr Clarke also praised Jessica Graham from Taylorstown Cross-Community Pre-School for her involvement in securing the additional financial assistance.
He said:
“A massive congratulations to Jessica Graham from the Pre-School, who has been working with us on this project. She has been fantastic, an absolute credit to Taylorstown, and this wouldn't have been possible without her.”
The MLA acknowledged the partnership with Councillors Linda Clarke and Tyler Hoey, describing the funding award as an example of local representatives working together to support families and community services.
The support will allow the pre-school to direct additional resources towards the everyday needs of children, from maintaining comfortable facilities to providing food and educational materials.
For Taylorstown Cross-Community Pre-School, the £8,500 award offers practical financial support and recognition of the role it plays in the Grange community, helping the setting continue to provide local children with a positive start to their educational journey.
