McKinney Primary School and Nursery Unit is a warm and welcoming place of learning, nestled at the heart of the wonderful country village of Dundrod.

Our school has a reputation of excellence and dedicated staff. Our team go above and beyond to ensure every child is cared for and they have the benefit of the very best education we can provide. 

We currently have a full enrolment of 144 Primary pupils and 26 Nursery places. 

But a school is not just about the numbers, location or facts and figures. It’s about the values, the ethos and the commitment to guiding each and every pupil to reach their own fullest potential.

Every child deserves to learn in a warm and happy environment.

 

This is the environment we strive to create each day.

 

As a school, our motto is:

'Let your Light shine!'

What does that look like in the school environment?

Co-operation

In McKinney Primary School and Nursery Unit we have created a culture of co-operation between all. That includes pupils, teachers and families.

We work alongside our pupils to guide their learning and meet their pastoral needs. We build strong relationships that are child-focused and underpinned by trust and mutual respect.

Collaboration

As a school community we believe that professional collaboration is key. We have many teams that work in tandem to ensure pupils’ learning is progressing. This includes our Senior Leadership, Pastoral, Learning Support and Assessment Teams. By sharing knowledge and ideas we get to know our pupils better and can meet the specific needs of all learners.

 

Effective Communication

As a school, effective communication is vital. We use a range of methods to ensure lines of communication are always open, transparent and timely.

Members of teaching staff are available every morning and afternoon at the school gates as points of contact.

We use the Seesaw app, Facebook and the school website extensively throughout our school to send messages and share what’s going on inside the classroom.

We also report to parents during our parent interviews throughout the school year.

 

Towards Excellence

In McKinney Primary School and Nursery Unit we strive for excellence in all we do. To us excellence means that pupils are cared for, motivated to learn and celebrated in their success.

Our Staff

• We have an excellent team of teachers and support staff in school who are highly motivated and are committed to support our pupils.

• Our staff are motivated to expand their own knowledge and learn new innovative teaching techniques.

• Our team is bursting with talented individuals and staff members who are eager to freely share their expertise with others.

• Throughout the year we have an extensive programme of staff training in place. This ensures that we are knowledgeable, prepared and enthused in our teaching.

 

All staff perform at a very high level and they benefit from the support and encouragement of our parents and governors.

We are committed to supporting pupils’ fundamental skills in Numeracy, Literacy and Using ICT. Teachers work together within and across Key Stages to ensure pupils continue to make progress in their learning.

 

We use up to date and creative resources to motivate pupils. This includes online programmes such as Accelerated Reader, Minecraft and Mathletics. These innovative resources are complimented by proven traditional methods to enhance learning.

 

Excellence outside the classroom is very important to us too. We are so proud of our pupils’ success in sport, music, drama and science.

 

We have a growing programme of after-school activities, which allow pupils to peruse their interests, develop their skills, and socialise with their peers. Our pupils and staff have achieved outstanding things together. We are proud of the many awards gained in these enriching after-school activities.

 

Assessment and Additional Needs

In order to meet the needs of our pupils we are committed to getting to know them. We take time to listen to pupils and adapt our teaching methods to suit their interests.

We also use data extensively to ensure pupils are progressing in their learning. Our Assessment Team work with staff to track pupils’ achievements and highlight areas in which they may need support.

When any pupil is facing a challenge or finding things difficult we ensure we intervene quickly and put a programme in place to get them back on track.

 

Our Learning Support Team are experts in supporting children with additional needs. This includes those who have been diagnosed as having a Medical or Special Educational Need. This team liaise closely with class teachers, parents and external organisations to ensure we have all available support in place. This includes developing support strategies in the classroom and, at times, taking the children out for individual or small group support to focus on specific areas of difficulty.

We are also quick to react to pupils who are performing at a level that is beyond that of their peers. Our Learning Support Team work with teachers to create specific programmes of work for these pupils to ensure they are motivated in their learning through challenge and suitably levelled classwork.

In McKinney Primary School we thrive upon and enjoy a culture of excellence. As a school community, we are ‘all in’, as we build capacity for growth each day.

As pupils, staff and parents we strive to being the best we can be in a creative and innovative way.

Come and join us - as we all 'put our shoulder to the plough.'