Cost of school visits

[Herzie29]

DD is due to start school in 2017 and I've been looking at tours of our local primary schools. However every one is at 9.30 in the morning and says it not suitable for pre-school children (or babies). So I would need to arrange child care ( approx 25 quid a go for up to 5 school tours... £125!) to attend. AIBU to think that they could expect that parents looking around reception might have a pre-schooler ( and or young/bf baby) at home? Or that they might be more flexible in tour times (maybe run an afternoon tour)?

[TeenAndTween]

I think you need to see if you can pair up with another parent, mind their children while they look round, and vice versa.

[goodbyeyellowbrickroad]

We were encouraged to bring our pre-schooler with us for school visits as its them that'll be going to the school! There was also no issue with taking younger siblings.

[NerrSnerr]

Are the preschoolers/ babies allowed to go with you?

[FemaleDilbert]

How odd, there were kids on every school tour we went on. It does sound restrictive.

[Herzie29]

No, that what really supervised me, it specifically says that you can't take them along...

[HereIAm20]

Will you child not be attending pre-school though? Most of the parents visits in our area are arranged for a time when the child would be at the pre-school and then when you know which school you get they arrange a move up visit for the child

[Balletgirlmum]

I would be wary of a school that does not allow the prospective pupil to be part of the visit. Half of what I looked for was how people at the school interacted with my children.

[Herzie29]

I agree balletgirl but I want to check them all out to make a proper decision. DD h afternoon pre-school, which I guess is a bit unusual. Also she is a late August baby and was early too so will be going ( or at least has to apply - hoping to delay but that's a whole other thread) a year earlier than her friend/ my 'mum' friends DCs - which makes it harder for me to sort out reciprocal childcare... Although I guess it will be a good opportunity to cultivate so new contacts in her year group.

[Herzie29]

Also we are out of area for the school attached to her pre-school

[Gatehouse77]

None of the schools we looked at said this and it would put me off if they did. Surely, the majority of prospective parents will have 'pre-schoolers' so why wouldn't they want them there??

Alternatively, don't go for any open days but make a separate appointment time afterwards, don't ask about younger children and just turn up with them.

[Mumoftwoyoungkids]

None of the schools we looked at said this and it would put me off if they did. Surely, the majority of prospective parents will have 'pre-schoolers' so why wouldn't they want them there??

I'd hazard a guess that ALL prospective parents have pre-schoolers!

[SquirmOfEels]

I would not take a pre-schooler unless there was really nowhere else to leave them.

Unless you want them to fall in love with the school you think least suitable simply because it has a train-shaped climbing frame.

[Glassofwineneeded]

Often they state no children because other than looking at the classrooms they talk to you about stuff children would find very boring. Like the admissions criteria, policies, etc.

[Gatehouse77]

Mumof except for those that are moving to an area during the primary years...

[clam]

Am almost amused to see people viewing this process as if they have some kind of consumer choice in it. How a prospective school interacts with your child during a visit is, in reality, irrelevant, because in a great many areas of the country, there is absolutely no choice about where you send them anyway. You express a preference, but in the main, you're sent to wherever has space according to arbitrary criteria laid down by a committee somewhere.

Alternatively, don't go for any open days but make a separate appointment time afterwards. Many schools don't offer such appointments. Frankly, there's no time, and any good school doesn't need to tout for business anyway. They'll have a waiting list as long as your arm.

[StillRabbit]

The schools I've worked in always say no pushchairs but never any problem with children of any age coming round. I think its a bit odd to ban children TBH. We do ask that parents TRY to make alternative provision for younger children when they come to the induction meeting though because the child going into school goes off to their new class for a while and in the past, the young siblings have raised merry hell and made it hard for other parents to get everything they need from the meeting.

[Chattymummyhere]

The reason they won't want your child there is because they will be showing you class rooms with children currently in them learning showing you how the teachers and current pupils interact. They will also talk to you about the criteria etc which would bore a child to insanity.

Could you imagine being taken into a class room made for 30 pupils, 1 teacher, 1 ta etc with a group of 30 parents with 30 toddlers plus maybe a few babies and that's saying nobody goes as a couple.

[MrsMook]

I visited DS's school with him and his younger sibling (in a wrap). No issue from the school. I did get a lot of "Hello Eagle Owl!" from the junior classes as a cluster of girls in each one recognised us!