Home visit

[TheRealMrsJohnSimm]

DS2 is starting school in September and apparently we get a Home Visit from his teacher. DS1 also attends the same school but started his education at different school (we moved house a year ago). Never had a home visit from a teacher before and just wondering two things:

1. How common are home visits?

1. What should I expect from it?

[ChasingSquirrels]

we had one last year and were told it was now Gov best practice.
the teacher and the TA came, about 10-15 mins. Teacher chatted to me about ds, TA played with him.
Just a getting to know a bit about the child.

In the next village the school subcontract it out to the HV - which seems totally pointless.

[minnisota]

Our school does this. The Nursery and Reception teachers come. The Reception teacher spends time playing and speaking to the child and the Nursery teacher sat with me answering any questions I had. they were here no longer than 15 minutes.

[posieflump]

we have to go in for half an hour on his 1st day to talk to the teacher

I'll have dd with me too so not sure how much will get discussed in half an hour!

[MrsWeasley]

1 of our local schools does HV but another doesn't.
I think its nice for the children to all start school with a 'clean sheet'.

[mrz]

The purpose is mainly so the child doesn't see the staff as complete strangers and parents have a chance to discuss any issues informally. Tell the teacher about any particular interests, favourite past times, friends, likes dislikes, allergies, difficulties.

[hellywobs]

I think it's intrusive and is about finding out whether you're a nice middle class family with books in the lounge or not. Glad my son's school didn't do it (even though we do have lots of books!).

[mrz]

My school is in an area of social and economic deprivation so it has nothing to do with finding out class structure.

[MrsWeasley]

The infants school we used invites all its "newbies" to lots of events to ensure they get used to the teachers. Assemblies, playtimes, story times etc.

The teachers also visit the local pre-school loads to see the children there.

[funnypeculiar]

All our local schools do it - in fact dd's even getting one for her playgroup! My mum (prim school teacher) has been doing them for years. As I understand it, they are now established 'best practice'

Theory goes:

• child gets a chance to meet teacher in his/her own territory - ie in position of relative power
• parents get the chance to talk about any concerns in a non-threatening environment

Although my mum said it was also a useful way to get a sense of what the child's household back ground was like. Not nec in a judgy-judgy way (my mum is the least tidy person you could meet - I'm sure lots of mums cleaned up for her & she never noticed) but ito knowing that - child A had 5 siblings and the world's most organised mother = would never forget PE kit, child B had a brilliant garden, & his parents who could probably be roped into helping out with the school garden etc

[mrz]

I only have one child starting in my reception class in September who doesn't already attend our unit and he has visited one day a week all the summer term and have visited his nursery class. The idea of also having a home visit is that parents and children often feel more confident in their own surroundings. Some parents find the school environment intimidating.

[TheRealMrsJohnSimm]

thanks everyone! Sounds like its quite common practice but have never heard of it before in our area. Shall make sure all intelligent looking books are pride of place