ESSENTIAL INFORMATIONMill Strand Integrated School
Address: 33 Dhu Varren Portrush Co Antrim BT56 8EW Telephone: 02870823090 Fax: 02870824226 e-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.millstrand.co.uk Status: Grant Maintained Integrated Co-educational Primary & Nursery Principal: Mr P Reid B.Ed DASE MSc PQH(NI) 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 At this point it remains the intention of the Board of Governors to continue to extend equal provision to both Nursery settings for the 23/24 academic year, with both classes operating full-time hours. 
APPLICATIONS & ADMISSIONSSeptember 2016 Year 1 There were 54 applications
Number Admitted 54 Nursery* There were 46 applications Number Admitted 46 September 2017 Year 1 There were 52 applications Number Admitted 52 Nursery* There were 49 applications Number Admitted 49 September 2018 Year 1 There were 46 applications Number Admitted 46 Nursery* There were 51 applications Number Admitted 51 September 2019 Year 1 There were 56 applications Number Admitted 56 Nursery There were 52 applications Number Admitted 52 September 2020 Year 1 There were 58 applications Number Admitted 57 Nursery There were 57 applications Number Admitted 54 September 2021 Year 1 There were 56 applications Number Admitted 56 Nursery There were 52 applications Number Admitted 52 September 2022. Year 1. There were 56 applications Number Admitted 56 Nursery There were 50 applications Number Admitted 52 * inc MSCC Independent Playgroup NB The above figures include first choice correct age applications only 
APPLYING 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 places. 26 of these are funded full-time, 26 of these are funded part-time. To ensure that no child is disadvantaged, both nursery classes operate on a full-time basis. The Education Authority, however, treats both nurseries as separate entities and an application to one does not automatically transfer to the second meaning parents have to list both the full-time and part-time nursery units on the application form. 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 and Mill Strand Integrated Nursery (part-time) as second 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 and Pre School day ends at 1.00pm with parents asked to collect their children from the classroom. The main school day is 9.00am to 2.00pm for Years 1 & 2 The Year 3 day ends at 3.00pm Mon-Wed and at 2.00pm Thur & Fri The school day for Year 4 - 7 pupils is 9.00am to 3.00pm daily. NB Year 1 pupils are collected at 1.50pm 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 & Pre School 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.
Unlike many schools we welcome parents into the school foyer at drop off and inclement collection times. 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 has a school uniform. From September 2007 it is school policy that all pupils enrolling in Mill Strand wear school uniform. 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. GIRLS Jade polo shirt with logo Navy Sweatshirt/Cardigan with logo Navy Pinafore/Skirt/Trousers Navy Tights (Blue/Green Gingham Dress with white socks optional Summer Term) BOYS Jade polo shirt with logo Navy Sweatshirt with logo Navy Trousers (Plain Navy Shorts optional Summer Term) Plain navy jogging bottoms may be worn by Foundation Stage pupils Nursery/Preschool and Yrs 1&2 only. All pupils should wear plain navy or black flat ‘school’ shoes 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. It is important that your child brings a coat to school in cold weather as children play outside whenever possible. 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. 
P.E. KIT
To conform to Health and Safety guidelines, children should wear the following for P.E. - Children in Foundation Years, Yrs 1&2, do not change for P.E. but remove sweatshirts/jumpers and require - Soft soled plimsolls (which can be fastened/removed without help), Drawstring bag - all items to be clearly marked Children in Years 2 – 7 change for P.E. and require – plain navy shorts, plain white or navy T-Shirt, Soft-soled plimsolls, drawstring bag – all items to be clearly marked (football/sponsored kit is NOT permitted) 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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