Alicia Nolan

St Maria Goretti Nursery School

www.stmariagorettinursery.co.uk

Subject or Primary School Year: ASEN SPEYFS Nursery school

Place of Birth: Belfast

Where you studied: St Louise's College Belfast 

What was your first job? Curley's supermarket

What did your first job teach you? My first job taught me a number of life lessons that I still implement today especially in my current job role. I have learnt compassion, team work, work ethic and determination. 

Family/Status: Married with four children.

Best advice you would give to someone thinking of a teaching career: Think out of the box and try to understand someone else's point of view, listening could be your best strength. Little moments and there will be many that are so rewarding. 

Alicia is 45-years-old and has four children – three adult sons and a nine-year-old girl. She has lived in Ballymurphy, West Belfast all her life. From when she was a little girl she always knew that she wanted to work with children. This stemmed from her play-time as a child playing school where she even had her own roll call book. During her studies at St Louise's College, Alicia had got her first part-time job in Curley's shopping centre. After studying at St Louise's College she went on to further education where she achieved her NVQ qualifications in Childcare.  

For the past 15 years Alicia has been extremely fortunate to work within the educational system as a SEN assistant, starting from her first job in the sector at St Aidan's Primary School to now growing and developing her skillset at St Maria Goretti. Reflecting on her journey into St Maria Goretti she says it has been nothing short of amazing, where she gets to spend each day working with amazing women that she is grateful to call her friends.

In 2024 Alicia was diagnosed with breast cancer and the support that she has received from the team at St Maria Goretti has been "fantastic". She says, "They did and still continue to make me feel valid." She added that every journey she has experienced in life she has always approached with a positive mindset and she loves to keep herself busy. Working as a SEN assistant has given her so much experience and a whole other perspective on life, where she gets to help, teach, encourage and bond with these children. "This job is a massive achievement for me and I am truly grateful for this opportunity."