I have copied and pasted this from a website I found:-
For parents with no prior link to the school, entering school premises and meeting teachers can be a daunting prospect, particularly if their own experiences of education were less than positive. Parents may feel more secure and in control in their own homes, and therefore able to talk more freely. In familiar surroundings, they may also find it easier to remember important facts about their children?s medical history, their likes and dislikes and their routines.
Children can find a new school frightening. A home visit enables a first meeting between child and teacher in an environment that is safe, and where the child feels in control. Once the child has started school, teachers or nursery nurses can mention a particular aspect of the visit as a starting point for conversation. This may help children feel that adults know a little about them. Recognising a friendly adult face as soon as they enter the classroom can also help children to settle more quickly.
Home visits provide an opportunity for one-to-one interaction with the family, at a time that suits that family. They should enable an exchange of information between parents, school staff and children, and may also provide a starting point for practitioners to understand family background, including the cultural background.
For children, a visit carried out by ?their? teacher shows that they are important, and means that some faces will be familiar when they start school. For parents, a home visit provides an opportunity to talk about their child and the school, to voice concerns, to clear up misunderstandings, and to lessen worries and fears.
For parents and children, a visit gives them the opportunity to meet the teacher/s in a safe environment, where they feel confident and at ease.
For teachers and support staff, a visit provides the opportunity to:
establish early, positive contact
see children in their own familiar settings
meet other family members, people and pets who are important to the children
understand the problems that children might encounter at school, and also to appreciate the wealth of learning that goes on in the home.
This all helps to get a fuller picture of the children. Professionals can gain much from observing a child where he or she feels settled and in control.