What to look for in primary schools

[Em32]

Starting to look for ds - what should I look for (do have some common sense obviously) but suggested questions welcome.

Class sizes

flexibility and a willingness to see you and your ds as a person

Head lice problem

I always like it if the staff showing you around know the names of the children!

I always think if they have a thriving out of school activity program, it's a positive.

Areas I would consider important are :-
A calm but buzzy atmosphere - children working happily together and actively learning, teachers with enthusiasm for what they are doing and the children as individuals.
Facilities which are clean and in good order, opportunities for the children to run off energy at break time, inside and out, and a timetable balanced between formal lessosn, learning through play and practical activities.
Children and staff with a sense of pride, well presented, standards of uniform/dress and manners expected , and their work displayed in a coherent fashion.
Communication with parents and opportunities for parental involvement in school life.
The Head and his team - consistency of standards of teaching.