ESSENTIAL INFORMATIONMill Strand Integrated School and Nursery
Address: 35 Ballywillan Road Portrush Co Antrim BT56 8JL Telephone: 028 7082 3090 e-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.millstrand.co.uk Status: Grant Maintained Integrated Co-educational Primary & Nursery Principal: Mr C. Hannigan ESSENTIAL DOWNLOADSPlease note that enrolment at Mill Strand Integrated School & Nursery is conditional on an acceptance of the Policies & Procedures of the school. Copies of policies are available from the school office and we will introduce additional downloadable versions below over the coming months.
Please click on the links below to access printable versions of essential policies, school menus and additional information.
ADMISSIONSWe believe that a place in an Integrated School should be available for every child/family who want one. As the ONLY Integrated Primary & Nursery School serving the three towns of Portrush, Portstewart, Coleraine and the surrounding area, we will therefore do all that we can to meet parental demand pending increased provision by the Department of Education.
To this end, the school submitted development proposals for a double nursery and double school intake. Following a five year process we were delighted to eventually be granted approval to double our enrolment , allowing us to admit up to 58 pupils into Year 1 and 52 pupils into our Nursery from September 2019. The school now has two classes at every year group from nursery to year 7. Admissions. Year 1 58 places Nursery 52 places In December 2024 as part of the Department of Education Pre-School Standardisation programme the school will now received the funding to extend equal provision to both Nursery settings for the 25/26 academic year, with both classes operating full-time hours. 
APPLICATIONS & ADMISSIONSAPPLYING FOR A PLACE AT MILL STRAND
The application process for all schools, including integrated schools is overseen by Open Enrolment at the Education Authority. All applications are done on-line through the admissions page on the EA web site: APPLYING FOR A NURSERY PLACE
To meet demand for nursery provision in an integrated setting Mill Strand Integrated School can now offer 52 Full-Time places. To ensure that no child is disadvantaged, both nursery classes operate on a full-time basis (8.30am-1pm). Given that Mill Strand Integrated Nursery is the only integrated nursery in the area and that it has been set up to provide children applying for a Year 1 place at Mill Strand the following year with a foundation in an integrated environment, priority will be given to those stating a clear preference on their application form for integrated education. The criteria for selection has therefore been set to reflect this. Priority is given, therefore, to applications that have listed Mill Strand Integrated Nursery (full-time) as first choice. Click on the link below for more information. Should you need any help or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the school. APPLYING FOR A YEAR 1 PLACE
Although all children attending Mill Strand Integrated Nursery are guaranteed a place in the school, all parents, including those of children attending Mill Strand Nursery classes, MUST apply for a Year 1 place in Mill Strand Integrated School should they wish for their child to attend as this is treated separately by the Education Authority. Click on the link below for more information. Should you need any help or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the school. |
DROP OFF & COLLECTIONThe doors of Mill Strand Integrated School & Nursery open to parents at 8.30am. We appreciate that many families travel a considerable distance and by opening at this time we hope to enable parents to drop off their children before travelling to work. Our Nursery begins from 8.30am and ends at 1.00pm with parents asked to collect their children from the Nursery gates. The main school day is 9.00am to 2.00pm for Years 1 & 2. The Year 3 day ends at 2.50pm Mon-Wed and at 2pm Thu & Fri. The school day for Year 4: 9.00am-2.55pm daily. Year 5- 7 pupils is 9.00am to 3.00pm daily. This staggered collection is intended to help reduce congestion. Parking is limited at the school and while we understand that some degree of 'double parking' will be necessary for Nursery collection we would ask that parents park on the school side of the main road, walking up to school if possible. We would ask that cars are not parked or abandoned on the access road as this causes serious congestion and poses a risk to children and adults at pick up time. We keep all children safely inside the school grounds until they are collected. The school is completely vacated within 5-10 minutes at the end of the school day. The Department of Education has installed a traffic flow system to allow older pupils to be collected in our 'pick up zone'. This requires parallel stopping with pupils exiting cars out of the nearside doors and walking through the bollards to the pedestrian area. Please note that to aid traffic flow and ease congestion we operate a clockwise one way system at drop off and collection times and would ask that all vehicles, even those parking along the boundary fence, use this one way system. We have outlined information on the most frequently asked questions below. Separate aspects of school requiring a more detailed response can be accessed using the "Titled Buttons' elsewhere on this page.
If you cannot find the information you require, please do not hesitate to contact the school. In addition to promptly responding to your request we will review our published information and amend this page as appropriate. ACCESS TO SCHOOLAll visitors are required to report to the school office/reception.
From 8.30 - 9.00am this provides a point of contact with staff on duty and messages can be passed on to office staff at this time. With the exception of Year 1 parents, during their child's first week in school we would emphasise that, to comply with Safeguarding guidance, only staff and pupils are allowed into the school corridors and classrooms without prior appointment. SCHOOL UNIFORM/DRESS CODE
Mill Strand Integrated School & Nursery has a school uniform policy. We appreciate your support in ensuring your child wears our full school uniform every day.
Below you will find a list of the items available from McKenzie’s, The Prom, Portstewart, S & T Moore, Railway Road, Coleraine and The Waterside Superstore, Lr Captain Street, Coleraine. Families can also avail of our pre-loved uniforms, organised by our Parents’ Council. Please Note – All items of uniform MUST be marked clearly with your child’s name and class. Unfortunately, the school cannot be responsible for lost items of clothing. GIRLS Black ‘school’ shoes Jade polo shirt with logo Navy sweatshirt/cardigan with logo Navy pinafore/skirt/trousers/knee length shorts Navy tights (Blue/green gingham dress with white socks optional summer term) BOYS Black ‘school’ shoes Jade polo shirt with logo Navy sweatshirt with logo Navy trousers/plain knee length navy shorts Please note: Plain navy jogging bottoms may be worn by Foundation Stage pupils in Nursery, Year 1 and 2 only. SCHOOL SHOES All pupils should wear plain black ‘school’ shoes. Children should only have shoes with laces if they can tie these independently. Trainers must only be worn on P.E. days. It is important that your child brings a waterproof coat to school as children play outside whenever possible, in all weather HAIR A pupil’s hair should be kept neat/tidy and a natural colour. Long hair should be tied back/prevented from hanging in pupils’ eyes. Extreme haircuts are not permitted. Nail varnish and/or make-up are not permitted for any pupil. JEWELLERY On health and safety grounds we do not allow children to wear jewellery in our school. The exceptions to this rule are small earring studs in pierced ears and small objects of religious significance such as a cross on a chain. We ask children to either remove these objects during P.E., games and swimming or cover them with a plaster to avoid injury. Watches are permitted but should be removed for P.E. and swimming. SMART watches, with video and camera capabilities, or with the ability to make phone calls are NOT permitted. 
P.E. KIT
Children should come dressed for P.E. on P.E. days (days will be confirmed by class teacher). Trainers must only be worn on P.E. days. Nursery, Year 1 & Year 2 1. Jogging bottoms 2. School jade polo shirt with logo/ Navy T-Shirt 3. Trainers Year 3 -Year 7 Children should come dressed for PE on PE days (day confirmed in new academic year). 1. Plain navy shorts/bottoms/leggings 2. Plain navy t. shirt 3. Trainers When swimming, swimming costumes/trunks must be above the knee. Long hair requires pupils to wear a swimming cap. Should your child be unable to participate in P.E. lessons for any reason please provide the class teacher with a note. 
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