To not be ok with choosing a school for dd sight unseen?

[newwnamme]

Dd 3 is due to start school sept 21. There are a few local possibilities. We know noone who attends any of them and have no knowledge beyond what's on their websites. I called today to ask what is happening with the admissions process this year. Apparently a decision has been made today that no visits will take place. Instead, a 'virtual tour' will be available on the school website.

Am I being unreasonable to think there is no way I would enrol my child in a school which I have never stepped foot inside, never met a member of the staff, had a chance to observe the atmosphere there or anything else? I do get that this is an unusual year. But that does nothing to make me feel better about what is on offer.

I am strongly considering homeschooling, at least as an interim measure. What would you do in this situation?

Everyone will be in the same boat, it isn't ideal but it isn't the end of the world either.

Even if you are thinking of home educating I would apply anyway, you can always decide later about home education - it would be harder to decide the other way as there may be a shortage of places.

I'd look at virtual tours, ask other parents etc and apply.
Once you get a place and the CV19 has died down a bit you'll no doubt have the opportunity to visit.
If you don't like what you see then you can go on waiting lists, and if you really want to, home-school.

However if you just don't apply then you have no place and if you change your mind you'll get whatever places are left, which may well be in less good schools.

(You can always go and hang around a school at dropping off / picking up time and see if any parents will stop and talk to you about the school.)

You can always try local social media for views of current parents. Though I'm surprised that you know no one who knows anyone who goes to any of your local schools. Do you know no one with an older child? Not even through pre-school/clubs/neighbours etc?

If you homeschool bear in mind that if you want a school place when your child is older, you will be restricted to the more narrow choice of whichever school(s) has a place.

Same for us. But we know lots of parents of the local schools through nursery etc. Could you try local FB groups or similar to link up to parents who can advise? I agree it's very unideal although I completely understand the decision to limit visitors.

Read what's on the website, take the virtual tour, ask them any questions you have. Try any local Facebook group for views from current parents? Everyone else will be in the same position. I personally hadn't stepped foot in the school my son started this year before his first day, it wouldn't have crossed my mind to think of not sending him for that reason. Definitely apply, you can always not accept a place. Equally you can change your mind and withdraw to homeschool if you are able to view at a later date, or even after September

There are 5 schools in our area. One v local and 4 less so but all doable. Only one with a decent Ofsted, which is one form entry - we are too far away. The others are all ok but not great and have been under subscribed every recent year. There is a problem round here of too many places, rather than the other way around.

I would probably see what I can gain from the virtual tours and meetings with the head and teachers which there will no doubt be, and read what I can in the Ofsted reports including parents views. Only after that point could I weigh up how I feel and whether there was no way I could make a decision. If you don't apply now it could be hard to get a place at your preferred school later as there may well be no places or a long waiting list. It feels a little dramatic to me, and I don't mean that horribly but everyone will be in the same stressful situation and I am sure the schools will do what they can to help. Letting you and any other adults who want a physical tour into the school breaks the bubbles and puts the pupils and teachers at risk.

Yes I’m In the same shitty boat. I called all 3 Today that we live near and none are doing tours, so I just asked the person on the phone lots of questions. I’m also Being a weirdo and going to local parks at school kick out time as asking parents what they think of the schools!! It’s a huge decision to me and basing it on a 4 Min virtual tour seems Mad

It's not ideal no but they cannot have you in on tours. We have banned (banned sounds awful but you know what I mean) all parents and visitors from our building this year. Tbh I love it, along with the rest of staff but can see why it would upset new parents

Definitely apply, you don't have to take up the place (though I think you should) but don't leave yourself stuck.

Meh that’s what I did. Was moving to a new area and chose the local school and was put in waiting list (as we hadn’t actually moved they had to use our old address). In the May half term I got a call to say there was a place but I had to say yes or no there and then! So I said yes and looked around later! Best decision ever!

You can get a feel without Going there. What events do they do? How does sports day work. Are they a community or school separate from parents? Have you read the newsletters? Is it full of whingy notices and reminders or positive news etc.

Some people where I live are having to choose between an oversubscribed school or one not yet built!!

You should definitely still apply. You have no guarantee there will be places available for year 1 in your preferred schools and I wouldn’t want to miss reception. There is so much for them to learn about being in school, it would be hard to just jump in a year later. You’ll pick up a lot from neighbours, community face group pages etc. Also look really closely at last year’s admissions data. Your local possibilities might not all be viable.

Yabu, ask on local social media groups.

Genuinely we dont know anyone with kids in these schools. We have a childminder not a preschool so there are kids of all ages there rather than a fixed cohort. I dont know any of the parents though (it is there to facilitate my work). We were the first of our friends to have children so no, we don't know anyone with older kids. I could stop a random neighbour or lurk around outside a school I guess but surely a person's opinion is only of value to you if you know they prioritise the same things as you?

I didn't look around any schools when applying for my daughter. schools are simply unable to accommodate open days currently. Everyone is in the same situation.

I am guessing it would be too obvious to ask if you have asked your childminder? Does having a childminder narrow your options if you need any wrap around care?

Various people have said I might not get a place at my preferred school - I don't have one! This is exactly the issue! I know nothing about these schools. I think what people say about them on social media is a poor way to reach a preference tbh.

Of course I understand why normal tours cannot take place. I asked why evening visits were not an option - too much cleaning apparently. I am interested to know what the private sector are doing.

DS started school this year and I couldn’t visit any due to work commitments. Local facebook groups and google are your friend.

Every school is in the same boat and they’re doing the best they can. I’m sure you can understand why doing tours for possibly 100s of potential parents is a big risk.

Do the virtual tours, call them with questions, go on local facebook groups, look up ofsted and key stage results ... it should be enough.

I'd apply, see what the situation us like in the summer term - you may be able to look round the allocated school by then - and make a decision from there.
If you currently use a childminder, presumably you work, so how would home schooling work?
FWIW, we moved back to an area last year from abroad. I applied for 2 school places. The only place which could take both kids was (unsurprisingly) the school that we knew from our previous time living here was unpopular. It's been fantastic.

There is a lot to be said for having a very local school, so I'd focus on that if there is nothing else to choose between them.
If many are under subscribed, it sounds like youd be able to move fairly easily if you find one at a later date that is much better suited to your child.

It sucks, but I wouldnt not apply because of it.

We chose our school based on a good visit, good ofsted, good reports from other parents. The school turned out to be no more than average actually, but all 3dc left able to read competently and mathematically able. The school I discounted as it was in special measures at the time is now were I wish I had sent all 3 dc. A change of head teacher can happen at any time and seriously affect the standard of what is going on.
The next school up was inadequate when dd started, but all 3dc have flown and I Am so impressed With them. They have done more for dd2 in a month than the other school did the whole time she was there.

I think you are just going to have to do what every other parent is going to have to do and hope for the best. If they are generally undersubscribed you are better of than most as you can always change your mind if you don’t like it.

Why do people keep pointing out that everyone is in the same situation? Isnt that rather an obvious statement? It remains my decision to make for my child.

It would be more interesting to hear whether you would accept those terms or (given the option) explore the alternatives and why.

Why do people keep pointing out that everyone is in the same situation? I

Yea, I agree. Those were annoying me to. And the ones saying they didn’t look around any schools- well that was a decision you’ve made, we have not made that decision it’s been made for us!

Most private schools are doing in person tours if that's an option for you.

I'm in the same boat, OP, although one local school is, offering tours in small groups. I've seen a lot of prospective parents asking for opinions and experiences onocal SM groups. Deferral could maybe be an option, depending on your child's age?

It's odd that the state provision has received different guidance in that case - as that is what they said.

I am really struck by how many people think a straw poll of local Facebook groups is a valuable insight. Do most people not like to think they have made a good choice for their children? So reflecting on a school that might have many faults, the might present a more positive picture than the reality? Then there's the opposite, with the unhappy customers - a serious bad experience might lead you to bad mouth a school unreservedly. But even if you assume those cancel each other out, there is still a bigger issue which is what I value in a school might not be what you value in a school? And if you are a stranger in my local facebook group, how can I know that our values even remotely overlap?

*undeservedly