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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Home visits by teacher?

39 replies

caitlinohara · 05/05/2016 13:16

Ds3 is about to start school in Sept. In the induction letter it mentions that as part of the settling in process the reception class teacher visits the children in their own homes to get to know them better "in their own environment" Hmm

The letter stresses that visits are optional. My initial thoughts are that I'd rather they didn't visit, but then would that be seen as stand offish and count against ds3 in some way? Confused

Is this a thing now? My other kids went to a different primary school and they didn't do this. Has anyone else had this?

OP posts:
Balletgirlmum · 05/05/2016 13:20

It's been a thing for a while.

We couldn't have done it though due to work - dh also used to work from & have clients at home so visitors were restricted.

Blueberry234 · 05/05/2016 13:21

We had an option to either go to school or teacher come to home, friends with slightly quieter kids chose home visits and those who wanted to discuss any issues.

Idliketobeabutterfly · 05/05/2016 13:21

We had it last year when ds started nursery and probably will this year when he starts school. They stayed ten minutes (if that) and only spoke about toys and favourite things and tried him with a basic puzzle.
I did a mad cleaning spree but tbh I think all their attention was on him.

curren · 05/05/2016 13:22

When Dd started at the school nursery at 3, they did this.

She is now 12 in year 7. So it's not new. I was really happy with it. Gave her a chance to meet the teacher without all the other kids there and helped settle her in.

By the time ds started (he is now in reception) we didn't bother as the school knew us and him very well and his teacher is family friend.

Becky546 · 05/05/2016 13:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GastonsPomPomWrath · 05/05/2016 13:24

My oldest is 9 and we had a home visit when he went into reception so yes, a thing for a while now. I've had one with each child going into primary so far.

They just gave us the welcome pack and said hello to the dc. In and out in less than half an hour.

Hygellig · 05/05/2016 13:24

We had this when DS started at the school nursery but not in Reception. It was very short - about 10 minutes - and just a chance for the teachers to meet him in familiar surroundings, and for me to ask any questions I had.

ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets · 05/05/2016 13:24

We had one, I thought it was odd but we let them come anyway.

It was fine, one sat and entertained DS while the other talked to me about uniform etc and let me ask questions. Then they told DS about school and showed him his book with his name on and that he could draw in it when he started.
And they took a picture for his peg.
It was nice actually.

situatedknowledge · 05/05/2016 13:26

Our school does this. The teacher brought their book bag (donated to each YR by the pta). I was nervous, DD was very very excited.

dizzytomato · 05/05/2016 13:26

We got two home visits. From about 2011 for two children so it's not really a new thing. I remember thinking at the time that they just wanted to be nosy and see what kind of homes the kids come from.

Is there any reason why you wouldn't want them to visit? In some cases it helps the teachers to know the children better but I'm not sure if I think it is a good idea or not. I don't think it is necessary and I doubt they will think you are stand offish or if it will have any negative impact if you decline.

Original poster
caitlinohara · 05/05/2016 13:27

butterfly I sort of get the nursery thing because I suppose it helps the child to understand that this person is someone they can trust. But school? Confused

I think I am a bit sensitive because I used to see ds2's teachers socially and then when I moved him to another school they stopped speaking to me, so I am very wary now of blurring lines.

OP posts:
curren · 05/05/2016 13:31

Them coming to your home for 15 minutes, in a professional capacity won't make them your friends or blue lines.

It's up to you wether you do it or not, but I think you are over thinking it.

Original poster
caitlinohara · 05/05/2016 13:32

dizzy that was partly my thoughts as well!

Ds3 is very shy and I don't think he would engage with her much anyway so I am really not sure how it would benefit him.

I remember ds1 adored his pre school teacher, absolutely loved her, but would NOT speak to her if we saw her in the street or in the shops or anywhere. He was quite happy to chatter away at pre school but couldn't cope with seeing her out of context. I think he thought she lived in the classroom or something. Smile

OP posts:
JimmyGreavesMoustache · 05/05/2016 13:34

we had this with dd2, having not had it with dd1
like the OP we would have preferred not to, but wanted to show willing
the TA sat and played with dd2, while the class teacher chatted to us
our visit lasted 30mins, but then dd2 is a gobshite - her sister would probably not have engaged for anything like that long.

Indantherene · 05/05/2016 13:34

My DD is now 9 and we had a visit pre Reception. It was quite useful as we were new to the area and she'd been to nursery in a different town.

sirfredfredgeorge · 05/05/2016 14:05

I think he thought she lived in the classroom or something.

Which would suggest first meeting them in your own home would make a lot of sense...

I'm also not sure why if you understand it for nursery, then you don't understand it for reception? At 4, kids are hardly worldly sophisticates that can immediately recognize if someone is trustworthy or not, no matter how many Charley Says information films they've seen. You do seem to be overthinking it rather a lot.

TheFuckersBitingMe · 05/05/2016 14:11

I work in a Reception class and do home visits with every child in the run-up to September. It's a hugely useful way of getting to know a child's family and background and getting to know their likes and loves so that we have something to encourage them/relate to them with once they begin school. Family set-ups can vary so much, siblings/half-siblings/blended families are so much easier to commit to memory when you've met a family. I think it helps staff support children more thoroughly.

DS2 is in Reception and had his home visit last August, and again, it was genuinely lovely seeing his teacher and TA get to know him. I genuinely believe it makes the nursery-to-school transition a little easier.

idontlikealdi · 05/05/2016 14:14

We had it - the TA played with the kids and we spoke to the teachers (job share) about what would be helpful if they could do eg bum wiping, feeding themselves with cutlery etc. They were excited about going in after that because they really liked the TA.

Not sure why you'd want to refuse it really.

tinyterrors · 05/05/2016 14:16

Our school do it when the children start either the school nursery or reception if they go to a different nursery.

It lasts about 15 minutes and is mainly filling in forms for enrolment, allergies, special needs, permission forms to take photos at school and to allow the teachers to help the child change if they have an accident.

Oh and I had to show my child's birth certificate to prove parental responsibility and that their date of birth.

If you couldn't have the home visit you could go into school to fill the forms in but it was easier for them to come here.

dietcokeandwine · 05/05/2016 14:42

Our school does this too for new reception children. For all the reasons mentioned above, and it was a lovely way to meet the teacher in an environment where the children were most at ease. However they also, I think, do a home visit to check that people actually live where they say they live! Our school is highly sought after and it's not uncommon for people to try to use family or business addresses in the catchment area to get their child in. More than one school place has been withdrawn after the home visit when school have realised that parents have basically lied about their real address.

AugustRose · 05/05/2016 14:59

Our school do this for new reception children too. Most of the children already know the staff as the nursery is within the school but run separately. However not all the children go to that nursery so it's nice to meet the teacher in their own environment so they don't feel uncomfortable. For our visit it was the teacher and teaching assistant.

I think it's nice as they ask them about their family, what they like to play with, favourite toys and snacks, etc and you get do discuss any concerns/issues in private. Our teacher also asked DS to draw a picture of himself and write his name, I suppose it gives them a little idea of a child's ability before they start.

DD1 went to a different school and they did this before she started the school nursery which was 11 years ago. These are village schools so maybe it's more of a thing here, I suppose it would be quite hard to organise if you have a large intake.

Pengweng · 05/05/2016 16:16

The DT's had one for starting nursery. They will be attending the school attached to the nursery so as far as I know they won't have another one as I think it is just for students who are new to the school. They have recently started mixing with the reception classes to get to know the teachers and TAs etc.

Oh and they took photos for their pegs at school and i filled out a million bits of paperwork while they played with the teacher (think it was actually one of the TAs and the Pastoral Manager).

BarbarianMum · 05/05/2016 16:22

Ds2 was very shy so it was quite useful for him to meet his teacher 'on his own turf'. He wouldn't draw for her (hates drawing) but showed her our pet tortoises of which he was inordinately proud. When he started school his coat peg picture was a tortoise. Smile

Of course I cleaned for about a week before she came.

katemiddletonsnudeheels · 05/05/2016 16:24

It is a way of seeing the home environment so I don't know if I'd be keen.

chelle792 · 05/05/2016 16:26

When I taught year r it was lovely to be able to meet the parents and have a chat. It allowed me to answer any questions, for parents to get to know me a little and to learn a little bit about each kid. I didn't care about the home environment so much but it allowed teacher and parent to get acquainted - the relationship with teacher and parent is so important in the early stages and it was the start of getting to know the parents