What to look for at school Open days

[ReadyToRoll321]

I will soon be starting to view open days for Reception next year. But what do I look for? Is it just a ‘feeling’ if whether it will be right for DC? Will the first school I visit suffer because I m clueless and have nothing to compare to?

What other must ask questions are there?
*How many kids/classes in each year
*Bullying procedures
*Teach/Parent feedback. How and how often

I’m sure this has been asked before (probably every September) but thanks in advance!

The feeling. There aren’t really any questions you must ask unless you have a specific need eg how do you cope with children allergic to nuts?
Just relax and enjoy looking round and see what they tell you. See what the older classes are like. Are they sat in silence or is there some discussing going on; is there disturbed shouting.
If there is a SEN need or a shy child then bigger schools are generally better.

I’m worried I won’t know what ‘the feeling’ is! I’m sure some will tell me differently but I feel like where I choose could majorly affect their future. Its making a choice that will be for the next 7 years and then everything after

Honestly as much as a feeling is nice I will be focusing on primarily practical things such as before and after school care provision when I go to look around.

How is the school day structured? Do the DC have access to outside space during the day?

Early years DC (so, nursery & reception) should be spending a lot of time learning through play, and best practice is that they have access to the outside throughout the day, not just at set break times. Not all schools manage this though.

The atmosphere. Do the staff seem relaxed when people (you) come into the room.

Is there one year group per class?

I think what the outdoor space is like is important.

I just wanted to add onto this and say please check if reception pupils are allowed to attend from the start. Some schools are very oversubscribed for their wrap around care, and might give preference to older students and one local to me doesn't allow reception children to attend until after the October half term.

Also it's worth checking local holiday clubs as well, as many won't take children until they're 5.

Is the art work up on the walls new?
Is there a purposeful buzz? Too quiet is as bad as too loud.
Is there a clearly defined outside space specifically for Reception and is there enough space to play for children who don't like football?
How are the children interacting with each other?
When we were being shown round by the Head, he excused himself to talk to a child who was jumping up and down with excitement wanting to show him something. We liked that.
Do they do field trips?
Do they do school productions?
Is everything reasonably clean and tidy?

Definitely the feeling, sorry it's unhelpful but hopefully when you know you know.
I found myself watching for how the staff interacted with the children & each other.
Also for me wraparound care was critical so I focused on that but mostly if it seemed like a happy place where children were important.
Also consider journey & parking.
In my case I missed a lot of the open days coz dd2 was born in Oct so how accommodating they were to me visiting was also quite telling.
Finally talk to randoms in the park, nursery staff about where previous kids have gone & feedback etc- gives you a different pic from your friends.

Some schools have more focus on academics and others more on emotional regulation/nurturing etc. Most children will probably be fine in either but some kids who are maybe a bit immature, or struggle with behaviour or friendships would do better in a school with the emphasis on emotional well being.

I do think it's mainly about the feeling. It's like house hunting!

Its not exactly a question you ask... but how likely you are to get a place. Theres no point falling in love with a school 5 miles away that has never admitted pupils more than half a mile away for example. Make sure you understand the admissions criteria for your area, including sibling rules if you gave more than one child.

I agree it's important to be realistic.

Also please don't just put one school down because you only want that school. You need to use the spaces on your list, even if you think you're guaranteed to get in. There are so many disappointed parents on offers day because they didn't use all their "choices".

Green space- places where the kids will explore and interact with.

If possible, get a sense if the Head knows the kids. Some bigger schools can be like factories, I place importance on the senior staff knowing the children.

Even in the younger years, fun clubs on offer?

The topics they do- are they interesting and imaginative take on things?

What’s their approach to getting kids to mix and develop friendships?

Also maybe important depending on your commitments to ask what expectations they have for parents to come in for productions- are there monthly assemblies you will be invited to? Evening parent interviews with teachers or is it during the day? Some parents can feel bad if they can’t make shows when others can and their son/ daughter is looking for them.

I agree.

You'll have a list of what you want from a school with regards to what it offers but you will also get that indefinable gut feeling that it's right.

I remember looking at schools for DS1 (he's 24 now! 😂). The local schools were all "outstanding" and similar but first one just felt chaotic and the next closest felt exactly like somewhere we could leave our precious firstborn child. We didn't look at the third.

@ReadyToRoll321 Is the art work up on the walls new?
Is there a purposeful buzz? Too quiet is as bad as too loud.
Is there a clearly defined outside space specifically for Reception and is there enough space to play for children who don't like football?
How are the children interacting with each other?
When we were being shown round by the Head, he excused himself to talk to a child who was jumping up and down with excitement wanting to show him something. We liked that.
Do they do field trips?
Do they do school productions?
Is everything reasonably clean and tidy?

I asked which secondary school (s) it fed into.

Found out about after school club provision

Reception settling in process (not 3 weeks of half days or something stupid like that, although not a reason to decline the school)

Talk to the head to get a feel for how they seem. Approachable, sensible etc

Number of classes and split class arrangements

Agree the feel is important

I second PP who have said it's important not to get too attached to a certain school. We spent a lot of time going to open days and researching all aspects of our local schools, trying to assess academics vs pastoral care etc. Decided on our top three after much consideration, but filled in all six options just in case. We were offered our fourth choice. Not the plan at all! Your local area may differ.

That soft start may feel really critical now, but ultimately it would not be a great idea to determine a child's 7 year schooling based on the first few weeks of Reception.

The feeling does matter, it's not all woo but your instincts. After and before school care provision , extracurriculars etc all good, though you can generally get this info outside of the tour. Look at the older kids, and imagine having them around to your house, having your kid become a lot like them. Peer groups matter, especially as they get to the later years.

I guess for me I mentally knew what I was looking for (before and after school good provisions due to work, assistance and guidance for a child less physically able) and then there is generally if you feel your child would be happy and settled there.

You may want small class sizes if your child settles better with less children, you may factor in children your child already knows, you may have a child who is very into swimming/performance and provisions in the future for lessons or after school activities in those areas may be something you look for.

I'd say it's a feeling but it's based on what you already know about your child. One person might write a list of everything they would love and tick off what has the most, another may not do that but as the school explains what they have they would feel positive if they fulfilled what they want for their child. I'm more pragmatic than a 'feeling' so I'm more the list type, but there's no right or wrong in approach really, just see a few and if there are some close contenders then go for what's nearest, near always helps!

That soft start may feel really critical now, but ultimately it would not be a great idea to determine a child's 7 year schooling based on the first few weeks of Reception.

I agree, but it's an important consideration when choosing a school. Just because they offer wrap around care doesn't mean your child will get a place, or they will be allowed to attend from the start. It's a good idea to ask when you're on the open days so you can be prepared and sort out other arrangements.

If it's possible to go on a tour while the school is having its normal working day, I'd do this. You get a better feel for the atmosphere than an open day when the school is on a massive PR drive.

Bullying policy should be on the school's website.

If books get marked. Is children's work displayed on the wall. Do children have a drawer to put their things. Is there somewhere to hang sports bag. That sort of thing to look out for. I'd also ask teacher about literacy policy. Do reading/pre reading books come home. How often do these books get changed? Spellings home?

How do they teach reading (expect to hear phonics, hope not to hear phonics but also we encourage <random other methods> and numbers passing the y1 screening test (definitely hope not to hear oh our better readers sometimes fail as they have gone beyond phonics).

Also - do the older children act the way you would want your child to act when they are 9,10,11. Do they appear to be polite, engaged, learning.

Please Remember that your nearest school (especially for primary) is NOT always your catchment school. The catchment primary school for my house is the third nearest (fourth if you included a private prep) Please take that into consideration.