Reception teachers' home visit tomorrow: what to expect?

[EmmalinaC]

DD1 starts school in a couple of weeks. Tomorrow morning we have two classroom teachers (job-share) and the TA coming to visit DD at home.

Whilst I think it's fab that they're coming en masse, and DD is hopelessly over-excited (she is planning to wear her uniform), I can't help feeling slightly intimidated!

Just wondered what to expect? What are they hoping to find out? And what should I be asking of them?

Never heard of this before. Where do you live? Is it the norm round there? Bloody hell, they would withdraw the place if they saw my post-holiday pigsty!

It's just a chance for your DD to get to know them as familiar faces before actually starting school.
They might ask DD to draw them a picture or similar - and talk to her about familiar things like what sort of lunch she is going to have, tell her about her peg, maybe take a photo of her (our school did this so there were big pictures of all the children up in the classroom on their first day).

If you have any specific questions or concerns it's a really good chance to get the teacher's full attention (drop-off/pick-up time can be a bit of a scramble to have a word).

They might ask you about your DD's pre-school experience, if she has any special friends, how she get's on with things like coat fastening etc.

I know some people don't like the idea - but I found it very useful, and reassuring for both DD and me.

Lucky you! We didn't get this for reception and it would have been really useful. Don't feel intimidated; it's not an opportunity for teachers to assess your decor or house (that's what your neighbours are for!). It is an opportunity for the teachers to meet your child before she starts and answer any questions you may have as well as filling you in on the settling in process etc etc. they can see what your daughter likes and perhaps have these activities ready for her on her first day. It is a really good thing to do and ALL schools should have home visits in reception.

We didn't have this, the class teacher went and spent a morning with them all at pre-school (all but 4 of the class went to the village pre-school) so got to see them in an environment they where used to and relaxed in, they had two mornings in school in the summer term before they started, as a parent without the children with me I had a meeting with her class teacher at the school to talk about who dd was and what she liked/disliked etc also a chance to ask any questions and there was also a new parents night (again in the summer term before) that all the new reception children's parents went to to hear about how the school day ran, what was expected, all the little bits of information you need, was also a chance to meet and get to know a little the parents of the children that hadn't gone to the village pre-school.
I felt the induction process was very well done, home visits are a good idea, especially for schools that draw on more then one pre-school, in villages like ours we already knew almost everyone and the teachers and TA's, if I had the full staff of dd's reception class arrive on my doorstep (teacher, nursery nurse and 2 TA's) I don't think I would have fitted them into my tiny house!!!
Good luck though, it will be fine, they are not there to judge, just to get to know you and your dd. How come your school goes back so late? We are back tomorrow.

My ds doesn't start for two weeks either - that's because the Reception teachers are busy doing home visits until Monday 20th!

I realise this is recognised as good practice for transition, but I can't help thinking it's no transition for my ds - he will be stuck at the childminder's for full days, with no nursery, for two and a half weeks while Mummy and Daddy and all the other children at the cm's go back to school. He is desperate to go, and can't understand why he has to wait. It's going to be a loooooong two and a half weeks for him!

Meanwhile, I have to take an afternoon out of my teaching to prepare for this home visit.

We have 5 children a day in full time at my school, starting with the youngest, until after 6 days the whole class is in. No fuss, no mither. Seing it from the other side for the first time, I can't help feeling that it's better, I'm afraid.

We're in London Borough of Sutton and I think all the local schools do this. They do go back tomorrow but reception don't start until later and then they start in groups by age. As DD is a summer birthday she doesn't start until the end of September.

Thanks everyone. I will have a think tonight about what I want to ask them. DD is super-confident... I'm sure she'll be fine!

Seeing

Yes - we don't have any problems with any traumatised children because of our approach! I totally understand the rationale behind it but as you say, all these children have been to nursery - I can't help thinking that things like home visits and staggered starts build starting school up into something more overwhelming than it should be.

All our reception children start full time on the first day visits were done in July

Emmalina - they do htis in Richmond too - they told me the visit would only be 20 minutes so best to prepare your DD that it will be a short visit. We are then going to a play date at the school next week then DS starts the week after...

in london southwark, they do house visits if your child is not in nursery, ace was meant to have a visit from a teacher in his nursery, but he was still recovering from chickenpox at that time 19th july... but when he went for inductions to the school he was fine and teachers knew him straight away... What i was told by his keyworker in his nursery is that she had a booklet to fill in.. about ace.. likes dislikes what he can do etc..

Our start in full time all from day one, no problems at all last year with dd's class, even the ones who had a hard time at pre-school all the way through their time there. I would have hated a staggered start like that, dd is May born and I would have had a horrid time trying to explain to her why her friends could be at and stay at school all day and she couldn't! I can't help but think that the staggered start and part time for a half term or so thing is more to ease the nervous parents in then for the benefit of the children...

I'm happy with the staggered starts - they're only staggered over 9 days. There is no nursery, so they don't already know each other, the children don't visit school in the summer term and it's big - 90 children starting in 3 forms. Surely day one would be a nightmare if they all started together?! For the staff, if not the children!

didn't your child go to a nursery? not just attached to the school but another nursery, my ace is in a nursery that has nothing to do with the school... when will your dd start school, im sure your daughter will be fine... they are just coming to check her abilities..speech..how she interacts..what she likes doing etc.. reception is all play based learing.. they follow the eyfs from nursery... so if a child never went to a nursery.. then the teacher will visit your home instead, but this was done during the last 2 weeks of term in july. good luck for tommorow.

Pinayangel0912, sorry for being nosey, but why do you call your dc your 'ace'?

my dd had her pre visit today.
the teacher and the TA turned up at 9am and whilst the TA played with a few toys with DD that she bought with her the teacher ran through start times, collection and drop off points, what name dd wants to be called, siblings, if she could swim and dress herself etc.
All very relaxed and they left dd with some homework to do, just a booklet to draw some pics about her fave things.
they were here about 20 minutes in total!

Thanks everyone. 'Twas exactly as Bonkerz described - short and sweet and not at all stressful!