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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Reception New Starter Visits - Going Round In Circles.

67 replies

RoundInACircle · 28/09/2023 09:46

I wasn't sure the best way to word this but hopefully it makes sense.

DS will start school next September so I know around now I should be looking into visiting the schools we are considering applying for and that they will hopefully be hosting open days of some kind but apparently I live in some sort of Bermuda triangle area where not one of the schools are actually advertising when these days/evenings are, nothing on their websites or social media platforms etc.

So two weeks ago I emailed all the schools a generic email asking for more information...none of them replied.

This morning I've called 3 of the schools, the ones I want to look around most to ask if they have anything planned and all 3 have said they're not sure so took my name and number and said they will call me back.

I don't want to come across as over the top and I know term only started back a month ago but schools around have 2 weeks off in October and if I don't know the dates soon then I can't guarantee I can get the time off to actually visit.

Just wondering when your schools had these visits I'm guessing it will be before Christmas? Also how did you find out about them, I feel like I'm missing some secret insider knowledge.

OP posts:
Bearbookagainandagain · 28/09/2023 09:49

My kids are too young still, but I was looking at my local schools' website last week and they all advertised the open days for October/November

Caroparo52 · 28/09/2023 09:49

Look at your local council education dept website?

PenelopeTheShroudWeaver · 28/09/2023 09:51

None of the primary schools near me have open days, I think it varies locally tbh.

JustMarriedBecca · 28/09/2023 09:52

Our school offers visits by the head. You call and book an appointment. There have been a flurry of them in recent weeks. It's crap they didn't email you back but not unheard of.

That said, I think YABU. The staff said they will respond. They took your details. Give them time. If you just rang it's register time, they'll be sorting out absent children and notifying teachers.

Welcome to the world of low school funding, overworked teaching and support staff and then dictating to you what works for them. It's a world away from normal working life where people do things when you need it

But it is what it is. Wait until he starts reception and you don't have a clue what's going on like you do at nursery with daily handover reports.

Teachers reign supreme in their mini kingdoms.

Original poster
RoundInACircle · 28/09/2023 09:53

PenelopeTheShroudWeaver · 28/09/2023 09:51

None of the primary schools near me have open days, I think it varies locally tbh.

So how do you make a decision on which school to choose if you can't visit? I thought all schools these days had some way of letting parents come and look around the school so they could see what it was like?

I genuinely thought they'd all have something on their websites but there nothing and the council doesn't seem to say anything either it just has information on how to apply for a place.

OP posts:
Georgieporgie29 · 28/09/2023 09:56

With primary schools around here you just go to your nearest one. You can put another one on your form if you would prefer it and try your luck but mostly you need to be in the catchment area so it’s not really a choice. I think if you contact the school you can have a private visit but they don’t do open days as such. For high schools it’s different and they all have open days.

Iwillnotdancewiththedevil · 28/09/2023 09:58

Our local primaries didn't do open days, we just arranged direct with the school for a tour.

PerfectMatch · 28/09/2023 09:59

Same here - primary schools don't have open days as nearly everyone goes to the local one (unless you're going private).

PuttingDownRoots · 28/09/2023 10:00

Promary schools are still settling in this years reception class... applications aren't due until January. Try after the October half term.

Newusernameforthiss · 28/09/2023 10:00

I did this last year. It varies massively by school. Have a right old poke around on the website.. probably hidden under some random section called "our community" or something.

Find parents who already go and ask them how it worked. TBH this is how I found out what was going on - gossip. Ask at nursery where big siblings go. Get the intel.

Generally the more "in demand" a school is the less effort the make. The Ofsted outstanding one near us did an open morning, literally a week's notice, they put it up on the website and that was all. A less sought after one, emailed and got a guided tour with the headmaster 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think I could only book them from the start of October. Give it another week before you panic!

PenelopeTheShroudWeaver · 28/09/2023 10:01

Georgieporgie29 · 28/09/2023 09:56

With primary schools around here you just go to your nearest one. You can put another one on your form if you would prefer it and try your luck but mostly you need to be in the catchment area so it’s not really a choice. I think if you contact the school you can have a private visit but they don’t do open days as such. For high schools it’s different and they all have open days.

Exactly this. You can put down up to 3 choices on the form but unless you fit one of the priority criteria (religious affiliation, safeguarding etc.) you're unlikely to be accepted for anything else than your nearest one.

It's very much the same for secondary as well. They do have open days but if you have to rely on general admission criteria you will more than likely be allocated to your nearest one. I have known people to move house just for that reason.

Original poster
RoundInACircle · 28/09/2023 10:02

Teachers reign supreme in their mini kingdoms

There's no need for comments like this. Hmm

For those with no open days but tours, do the websites actually tell you to contact the school for a tour? Surely that would be helpful?

For those who just go to the local school, unfortunately it's not as simple as that here, it would be nice if it was that straight forward.

OP posts:
Newusernameforthiss · 28/09/2023 10:02

PerfectMatch · 28/09/2023 09:59

Same here - primary schools don't have open days as nearly everyone goes to the local one (unless you're going private).

I mean round here all the state schools do visits or an opening morning so it just depends where you are! 🤷🏻‍♀️

PerfectMatch · 28/09/2023 10:03

Yes agreed - I meant round here that's what happens.

Original poster
RoundInACircle · 28/09/2023 10:06

Newusernameforthiss · 28/09/2023 10:00

I did this last year. It varies massively by school. Have a right old poke around on the website.. probably hidden under some random section called "our community" or something.

Find parents who already go and ask them how it worked. TBH this is how I found out what was going on - gossip. Ask at nursery where big siblings go. Get the intel.

Generally the more "in demand" a school is the less effort the make. The Ofsted outstanding one near us did an open morning, literally a week's notice, they put it up on the website and that was all. A less sought after one, emailed and got a guided tour with the headmaster 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think I could only book them from the start of October. Give it another week before you panic!

I've had a very good poke, even looked at newsletters etc but alas none of them have any information.

Unfortunately the nursery we use is no where near the schools we are looking at so all his nursery friends will be going to schools a good distance away so the parents wouldn't be much help but it was a good shout.

I'll definitely give them time to get back to us but as they all have 2 weeks at October for half term it doesn't leave much time as I can't see them doing open days during December with all the Nativity and Christmas stuff. 😀

OP posts:
Mistressofnone · 28/09/2023 10:08

I recall visiting schools around late November/December time and they were only advertised a few weeks prior on their websites - usually under the 'prospective pupils' section. Some put it on Twitter too when dates were released.

I think school applications open in mid-November so they open up the tour dates then (round here anyway) and we could usually book online or via email.

They probably want you to visit when the current reception kids are all settled and can make a good impression!

IgnoranceNotOk · 28/09/2023 10:10

‘It's a world away from normal working life where people do things when you need it’

You're getting confused with a job where the main aim is to educate children rather than be available at any time of day for adults after teaching for a full day…

QueenOfWeeds · 28/09/2023 10:15

I know you say they’ve been back a month, but you can see from all the threads on here that some schools with staggered starts won’t even have their reception children in full time yet. It is frustrating, and a lot of school admin leaves a lot to be desired, but it is an early lesson in rolling with it, I’m afraid!

For the open day in my school’s EYFS department (I’m currently on mat leave and not missing the chaos at all!) the following things have to all align
Headteacher has a clear day in the calendar
EYFS lead has a clear day in the calendar - for me, this means covering my class
Reception teachers have at least a clear 30 minutes in the calendar because parents want to meet and ask questions (even though they may have different teachers next year)
SENCO has a clear 30 minutes in the calendar (see above)
No other major events on that would put too much stress on staffing - no visits, for example, or baseline testing
They want the school to look good, so need time to get displays sorted
Open mornings for current parents need to take place - see above for the levels of coordination involved
On top of this, we are trying to get to know the needs of 30+ children, who may or may not have shown up on the day they were supposed to, may or may not have significant needs which we were unaware of and need things in place to support.

We also happily host parent tours throughout the year, but it is a bit of pot luck as to which staff are available due to training etc. I really wouldn’t worry too much if open days don’t happen before half term. It’s nice to be organised and get everything submitted, but assuming you are in England (I don’t know how other countries do it), places aren’t allocated on a first come, first served basis so there is no advantage to being the first to put your application in.

SurreyMumOfOne · 28/09/2023 10:20

There's a choice of schools round here and all do tours. Most don't advertise the dates or take bookings until the new Reception kids have been in for a couple of weeks, but all of the dates are available now.

Thinkbiglittleone · 28/09/2023 10:23

I completely understand you being a bit nervous, especially if the school closest to you isn't the best one for you. You don't want to miss the boat.

It's a shame the school can't give you the information, I think that might assume the days aren't scheduled in yet.

Are you looking at schooling the kids locally to you?

Newusernameforthiss · 28/09/2023 10:24

Hi, they totally do the visits late Nov/early Dec. I saw nativity rehearsals last year! What a bigger disruption, learning some Xmas songs or getting 30 children used.to the concept of school 😜

Half term is one week in state schools, btw

I get that it's frustrating but their priority is settling the children. Their class started 3 weeks ago... no idea what a visitor would see 😂 so you're doing all the right things and now you just have to wait...

DaaamnYoullDo · 28/09/2023 10:24

I chose the nursery based on looking at the websites and going to baby and toddler groups. I never went on an open day until it was time for DS to start and they bring all the kids one by one to show them round. I also put him on the waiting list like 2 years in advance but it's a good nursery

Original poster
RoundInACircle · 28/09/2023 10:25

I know you say they’ve been back a month, but you can see from all the threads on here that some schools with staggered starts won’t even have their reception children in full time yet.

Definitely all in full time. That's one of the reasons I'm looking at these particular schools because they don't do the staggered starts that drag on until half term.

Hopefully they find a suitable date soon and get back to me. I appreciate it doesn't matter when the applications are submitted but I would like to actually see the schools before submitting the application in January.

OP posts:
Original poster
RoundInACircle · 28/09/2023 10:27

Half term is one week in state schools, btw

Half term here is definitely two weeks and has been for a while now. I know some areas still have one weeks in October but around here it's definitely two.

Fingers crossed the receptionist get told a date soon and get back in touch. In the meantime I will continue to periodically check their websites and hopefully not miss it if they make an announcement.

OP posts:
SnapdragonToadflax · 28/09/2023 10:29

We did this last year. None of the schools advertised open days, though some did have a message buried on their website saying you should call to book. They all had very limited spaces - I managed to see three of the schools we put down because my job is flexible, but my partner didn't get to see the school our child ended up at, and one school said they'd already filled their session and they weren't doing any more. Our visits were all October/November.

Hopefully the ones you've left your details with will call you back, but I'd try again in a week if you haven't heard. They are very, very busy and understaffed.