What should we expects from a primary school visit?

[CultureAlienationBoredomandDespair]

DS is due to start reception next September so we’ve been looking at schools. We’re quite new to the area so don’t know much about school reputations and Ofsted and websites can only tell you so much (they’re all rated good).

Of the 6 schools we’re interested in only 2 are offering any sort of open event and 2 more have offered times where we can visit just to see the school after hours but we’ll be shown around by a member of reception staff and won’t meet any teachers.

We went to one of the open day events yesterday and it wasn’t what I expected at all. It was basically just a look at the reception class room, no work out, no discussion of the broader school or what they offer, one reception teacher was there (it’s a 3 form entry) and although he was nice he didn’t engage at all and basically after 30 seconds told us that 3.30 on a Monday was a silly time for it to have been arranged so he’s all up the wall and it’s not a good time to ask questions.

Is this normal? We live in a big city so there’s lots of schools nearby but at this rate I’m going to find it very hard to know how to rank them!

I genuinely find that visits don't actually tell you much about the school and I agree with the teacher that straight after school on a Monday seems a daft time to show parents round. I also would expect to see children's work or formally meet the teachers, they might not even be the ones teaching in reception next year.

To rank schools think practically. Do you need wrap around care? Can you walk to the school? Are you likely to get a place?

Do you meet the criteria for all six schools, in terms of distance, faith etc?

I don’t think the teacher you saw did the school any favours, but agree that it’s not a good time for a visit.

I agree too, that you need to look at convenience of travel and wrap around care.

Realise my post said would expect as it autocorrected from wouldn't. Obviously you would see work on the walls but definitely not children's individual books or journals of work.

Every school will do it differently. The school DD ended up at had physical, art and craft activities in a hall (more than one event so not over crowded), head, and reception teachers and TAs, then a group are shown around the school by a couple of pupils from Year 6. Anyone that misses the events or is moving into the area with an older pupil are welcome to be shown around - usually at the end of play/early afternoon registration. The other school we went to, we met an abrupt headmistress, were escorted along a corridor where we could look in a couple of rooms.

I would at least ask if you can be shown around during school hours. If you can't go into classrooms, there should be work on display from the infant children.