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Parenting

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Original poster

School home visits?

54 replies

Happycat1212 · 17/05/2021 14:04

Is this a thing? My mum asked if I had the home visit yet from dds school (she’s starting in sept) I said no, she was adamant it’s a thing and that sil has already had hers because they “want to see what kind of background the child comes from” 🤔 has anyone else had one?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

blushroom · 17/05/2021 14:05

Pretty standard now, they didn't do them at my dd's school last year for obvious reasons.

BlackberrySky · 17/05/2021 14:06

Yes, this is offered to all new children starting in reception in our school
It's not to see what background they are from though () it's to help the child settle in by having already met their teacher.

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 17/05/2021 14:06

We're apparently getting one this year in July.

I think it helps the teachers to understand more about the children.

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paralysedbyinertia · 17/05/2021 14:06

I've heard of some schools doing this, but we never had one. It certainly isn't a universal thing, and to be honest, I'd be really surprised if many schools were doing that this year given the added complications of covid.

TeeBee · 17/05/2021 14:07

Yeah it's normal these days. I think it's a good idea. The teacher can find out what environment the child lives in and support accordingly and the child becomes comfortable with the teacher. Mine enjoyed showing her his things and his bedroom.

Original poster

Happycat1212 · 17/05/2021 14:10

Yes I did ask about Covid but my mum still said they were going ahead. The background comment seemed a bit judgey as she said it after complaining that my house was messy (4 kids, toys everywhere!) so it was a kind of “better make sure it’s tidy for the home visit” “the school like to know what back ground the children come from” and apparently they look around in bedrooms etc 🤔

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Original poster

Happycat1212 · 17/05/2021 14:10

Which dd doesn’t have as she’s still in mine so I’m sure that will go down well 😑

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megletthesecond · 17/05/2021 14:13

They've been doing them for at least 10 years.
It was just a chat in the living room. They asked my dc's about toys, it was very much child led and they didn't go in any other rooms.

Original poster

Happycat1212 · 17/05/2021 14:14

I assumed it was a recent thing as I have 3 older ones in school and never had it

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Mummytemping · 17/05/2021 14:14

In a normal year, yes but very possible they won’t this year. They aren’t to check on the parents (bar very extreme safeguarding issues!) they are really to get to know the child so they have a happy start to school.

BuffaloHigh · 17/05/2021 14:16

It’s usually a thing but our school didn’t do them last year obviously and have said they aren’t going to do them in the future. It worked better having the children each having a slot to come into school to see the classroom and the teachers and was much less time consuming for them.

Mummytemping · 17/05/2021 14:16

I should add I have done hundreds of home visits over the years and never gone upstairs/into children’s bedrooms. That would be really inappropriate. If a child wants to show me a toy, I’d suggest they bring it down to the living room to show me.

Comefromaway · 17/05/2021 14:21

It was starting to become a thing even when my two were little. It would not have been possible for us due to the fact that at the time dh worked from home teaching in the evenings and weekends so visitors was difficult and we were both out at work in the day.

Lullabymummy17 · 17/05/2021 14:25

Our school do them and last year when my DD started school her teachers did a doorstep visit. Its just so the teachers can see the children in their own environment, find out likes and dislikes and for the children to get to know them. It is NOT about how clean and tidy your house is, I'd be more concerned, well not concerned but perplexed, if you had 4 kids and no toys out!

HunkyPunk · 17/05/2021 14:34

If the visits happen, they're not to see what background your child comes from, rather to get some background info - getting to know your child a bit to help with settling in at school. Things like what they enjoy doing, whether they're confident or shy in group settings, or with other adults, if they have any difficulties managing independently etc. And as a pp said, it means that the child has been able to meet their teacher, who will say lots of encouraging things about starting school!

They won't demand to look around the house. That would be hugely inappropriate! On the odd occasion where a child has proudly wanted to show the teacher their room, I guess this might have happened. They're not an inspection. It's purely to facilitate a smooth transition to school for your child. And no, I didn't experience home visits either and my youngest is 16, but I have a friend who is a primary teacher, and I know her school does them.

unicornsunshine · 17/05/2021 14:37

I think it depends on where you live. My 3rd child is about to start school nursery. Never had a visit for my other 2 children.

BikeRunSki · 17/05/2021 14:41

@BlackberrySky

Yes, this is offered to all new children starting in reception in our school It's not to see what background they are from though (

) it's to help the child settle in by having already met their teacher.

This

DD’s school usually do them the last week of the summer term when the top year (in this case Y5) go to their next school for a week (in this case middle school) and the Y5 teacher goes to work in Reception!

RightOnTheEdge · 17/05/2021 14:41

When my dc started at the school nursery two teachers came round for a visit.
They definitely didn't look in bedrooms or anything! It wasn't a home inspection just a quick chat in the living room and meet the kids.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 17/05/2021 14:42

One school did, one didn't.
The one that did came and sat in our living room for 15 minutes, had a chat with ds, looked at things he wanted to show them etc. I magine a clean, comfy house with toys and books and a happy child is ideal.

ChessieFL · 17/05/2021 14:44

DD’s school doesn’t do this, so it’s not universal.

DistrictCommissioner · 17/05/2021 14:46

My kids have been at 3 schools, only one of which did this (but it didn’t happen because of Covid).

FlorenceWintle · 17/05/2021 14:57

Never had one and don’t know anyone who has.

otterinthestream · 17/05/2021 15:57

I think don’t be afraid to ask for support if you need it.

Peachesarepeach · 17/05/2021 16:03

Ours happened at nursery so I think it's just for the teacher to understand the kids better and where they're at.

YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 17/05/2021 16:03

My dcs school doesn't do them, they organise a meeting in school for the parent and child. They will only do a home visit of the parent can't come in for some reason

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