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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to WANT a home visit from the school...?

50 replies

WoodlandHills · 28/08/2012 12:59

youngest starts pre school next week sob

i was told that they would come and do a home visit before she started but when i rang today to see when they were coming they said they weren't now

i really wanted one as well :(

OP posts:

Timandra · 28/08/2012 15:47

It can be really helpful for a teacher to see a child in his or her home environment.

When planning for children's learning it is important that the activities are meaningful to the child and that they meet his or her interests.

On a home visit a teacher can glean a great deal of information about the child, their home set-up, their family structure, their interests and strengths, family activities, any significant events they celebrate or feel sad about, .... They can add small personal details to things written and made in school and give a meaningful context to things they are discussing with the child.

The teacher gets to see how the child behaves when feeling relaxed and at home and can therefore make a better judgement about how the child is settling in to the school environment.

These visits also give parents an opportunity to raise any concerns they have on home territory where they may feel more confident and privacy is guaranteed.

The main motivation is that these visits enable the teacher to personalise learning for the child which is very important, especially in the EYFS.

JsOtherHalf · 28/08/2012 15:47

Ds drew them a quick picture, and they took it with them to decorate the classroom. They also got to see him as he is at home, which then enabled them to see if there was a problem with him settling in.

grips · 28/08/2012 15:53

Just a good excuse for them to be nosy from what I can gather.

TraineeBabyCatcher · 28/08/2012 16:00

Timandra

McHappyPants2012 · 28/08/2012 16:22

I would hate this, I would have to spend hours and hours cleaning and making this house presentable.

blisterpack · 28/08/2012 16:28

If you need hours and hours to make your house presentable McHappy then the home visit might benefit you too and not just your child .

McHappyPants2012 · 28/08/2012 16:38

They can come friday my house will be perfect as I have finished decorating, new carpets being laid Thursday. I would hate to think they was saying in the staff room little McHappy house skirting board really need a scrub or you should of seen the washing basket

Acepuppets · 28/08/2012 16:39

To be honest I get the impression that unless your house was in squalor I don't think they are looking at how dusty your house is - besides every house they go to probably smells of polish when they visit. I think it is a really good idea because the teacher can understand where the child comes from every day and will be able to get a full picture of the child and the parents. They have a form to fill in too (they fill it in) which actually makes you think about what your child likes and things that may bother him. It is crucial to get a full picture of the child at this age because it is the most important time for their all round development. When they come to your house they are no longer a stranger so hopefully it will make the parting easier for the child (maybe not for us) on the first day.

WorraLiberty · 28/08/2012 16:41

I'm a governor at my local Primary and the only remark I've ever heard the teachers make about homes, is that out of the 70+ they visited, only 2 households had the TV off when they arrived.

Blu · 28/08/2012 16:46

We had a home visit before DS started school and it was great.

I did not obsess about cleaning or tidying - why would you?

The teacher spent ages with DS getting to know him in his own territory, he was able to bring her his favourite toys and books to talk about. Then the TA played with him and she went through anything I wanted to talk about or was worried about, or wanted to ask - there wasn't much, I felt clued in, but would have welcomed that opportunity had I had any worries, or any specific things to talk about.

They aren't compulsory so if you don't want one don't sign up for one. I'm not sure why anyone should feel so resentful of them!

MrsKeithRichards · 28/08/2012 16:47

It's to get a look at how you live. I'm not talking about judging you because there is a pile of ironing on the table. Same reason they send home stupid teddy bears end a camera to drag about with you all weekend's

MrsKeithRichards · 28/08/2012 16:47

Weekend not weekend's

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 28/08/2012 16:55

Is it not so that the school can check that you really live at the address you gave? (cynical)

BornToFolk · 28/08/2012 16:56

We're having one next week and I'm really pleased. I have a few things to discuss with the teacher and it'll be a good opportunity to do that on a one to one basis. It'll just be nice to get to know the teacher a bit before DS starts, and for them to get to know him.
They said they'd bring some toys for DS to play with so I suppose they want to assess him a bit - I don't have a problem with that.
I don't plan to clean up too much, just make sure the place is presentable!

Timandra · 28/08/2012 17:52

I think the primary reason for them to bring toys with them is so that the child can look forward to seeing a familiar resource in the classroom when they start school.

They have much better things to do with their time than judge peoples dusting standards. Unless the place was in such a state that they felt the child was neglected or at risk in some way the tidiness of the house would pass without comment.

Reception teachers are very busy and certainly don't have time to go round people's houses just to be nosy. The benefit to the children of the staff having this extra knowledge about them is backed up by research and this practice is common amongst pre-school staff as well as school teachers.

I would relax and enjoy the opportunity to build the relationship between myself, my child and their teaching staff.

Nanny0gg · 28/08/2012 18:01

I know some children used to struggle with starting school but I really think it's a step too far. It must take a fair bit of time to get around 30 different homes.
I think the welcome 2 1/2 days our children do, and then 1/2 days only for the first two weeks is fine. That way they get used to their new environment and their peers. Our staff do visit all the nurseries feeding into our school too (although most attend the school nursery) so they are familiar figures. They make sure they spend 1-to-1 time with each child in the classroom and observe them in the school environment.

My eldest had a 1/2 hour story in her new classroom before starting and that was it!

I really don't see the point. What does the research actually show?

Rubirosa · 28/08/2012 18:01

I do home visits in my job. It's just an opportunity to meet the child on their own turf, have a chat the parent/s (it's the most indepth chat you get usually), tell them about the school routines etc, answer any concerns. Plus the kids tend to be more relaxed if they've met you at their house.

I only ever see the kitchen or living room so not much chance to do nosing about. Occasionally you do go to a house that is totally squalid or unsafe which obviously alerts you to a family that may be in need of additional support.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 28/08/2012 18:03

My children had them, they are 12 and 10 now.

I liked it, it gave the impression that they really cared about the children as individuals and it's nice for the children to have their own visitor and to be ale to get to know their teacher in their own environment. And it gave us a chance to talk to the teacher and get to know her too.

5dcsinneedofacleaner · 28/08/2012 18:11

We are having one for dd who is starting nursery in September. The letter said they will be around an hour. I was expecting them to just have a chat with dd and they have this class bear which they seemed big on so im sort of expecting that to make a visit. My older twp didnt have any sort of visit (and my ds is only only in year 1 now - so its a new thing).
Im quite looking forward to it tbh! you dont get much chance to talk to the teachers really and who doesnt like chatting about their child to willing listeners!

I am obsessing abotu how tidy the house should be ive actually had the thought process that if its TOO tidy it will be obvious ive cleaned especially...
I clearly need more hobbes!

blisterpack · 28/08/2012 18:21

One hour?! Ours was supposed to be 10 minutes, though actually they took longer than that.

Honestly, don't worry about dusting at all. I'm glad I wasn't MNing at the time or I would have been paranoid that that's what they were there for. The thought didn't even cross my mind at the time.

StarlightMcKenzie · 28/08/2012 18:22

We're getting a visit! I see that as an opportunity to wish the teachers good luck with my dd and let my dd know that I AM on their side!!!!!!!!

Pozzled · 28/08/2012 18:26

We're having one next week for DD1, as she starts reception. I'm not too bothered either way, but I don't really see that it's needed. All the confidential chatting and getting to know the child and family could be done in a 1 to 1 at school.

INeverFinishAnythi · 28/08/2012 18:37

I have heard of them, no idea if we will have one as DS won't start til next year. I do wonder though, do some schools use it as a sneaky way of checking you haven't fibbed about your address to get into a school you aren't in the catchment for, like when people use the grandparents address etc? Just a thought.

FushiaFernica · 28/08/2012 19:02

I had one but really didn't want one, felt it was a way for teachers to judge peoples houses. I was totally amazed when I spoke to a mum at the school gates who was really disappointed not to have a home visit. You are not even missing much, all the teacher did was ask my dd what her favourite toy was and took a picture of her with it.

MissBetseyTrotwood · 28/08/2012 19:51

We had a home visit when they started the Nursery but not Reception. (It's at the same school.)

Tbh, we found it really useful. We talked for ages about the DCs and their interests. On the first day in, we rounded the corner of the Nursery garden and the NEO who'd been to our house shouted out a big hello and explained how she'd got all the trains ready for DS inside and how he should get a move on, get in and get playing straight away. All the staff knew what he was interested in, who he was and his photo (at home, with me) was already up on the wall.

Like most things in schools, it's not what they do but what they make of it. It made a huge difference to mine and I hoped that they would do it on entry to Reception.

As far as judging goes... I never felt judged. They didn't look much at the house it seemed just as well as it's a tip.

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