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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Purpose of Reception home visits

59 replies

TheMitfordsMaid · 21/08/2011 15:18

My DS is starting school in September and we've been told that his reception teacher and TA will visit us at home during the first week of term. He'll actually start school the following week, once the teacher and TA have completed the home visits. I have no problem with this, but wondered what the purpose of it is?

We've already completed a zillion forms, so can't imagine there'll be any of those. Are they coming to talk to me or DS?

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spanieleyes · 21/08/2011 15:24

Both! They want to find out about friendships, favourite toys and stories, likes and dislikes and see how your DS behaves in familiar surroundings. It is definitely NOT to check up on you or your house! ( Although last year our Reception teacher did comment when she went to one house and the child was stood on top of a glass coffee table with a "fag" in it's mouth whilst MUm watched TV the whole time!)

Original poster

TheMitfordsMaid · 21/08/2011 15:27

So, no need to be baking bread and have improving activities casually laid out, but better to get my usually naked son dressed?

OP posts:

spanieleyes · 21/08/2011 15:43

Possibly, although naked children running around wouldn't be a first ( or the worse thing) Reception teachers will see!

mrz · 21/08/2011 16:33

It's to give you a chance to ask any questions and to tell them anything you think is important in your home where you should feel more comfortable and without anyone interrupting and gives your son a chance to meet his teachers in place where he feels secure.

VeraCanSignChocolateAndWine · 21/08/2011 16:48

Dds school did that last year. They said it was so that the DCs could meet the teacher (8 weeks is a long time to a 4 year old, and they can forget faces/names etc) prior to starting school.

exoticfruits · 21/08/2011 16:55

School is a partnership with parents. It gives you the chance to ask questions without having to ask them in front of others and it gives the teacher a chance to see the DC at home-which is often very different from the DC at school. Anything like that is a good thing, much better than the old days where parents were kept at a distance. Transfer to secondary school is also handled well (on the whole).

twentypoundsover · 21/08/2011 17:08

It's so they can count the number of books in the house, and divide that number by the size (in mm) of your flatscreen TV and use it to predict your child's IQ. This will be used for the purpose of pigeonholing your child into an academic stream until the end of Y13, at which point A level results take over for the purpose of university admission.

anthonytrollopesrevenge · 21/08/2011 17:10

My DD enjoyed the visit and after it she was keen to start school, before the visit she was quite worried about starting. At the visit she was able to meet the teacher and she played aquadraw with the TA while the teacher asked me about her and what she enjoys doing. I thought it was extremely helpful for DD.

AdelaofBlois · 21/08/2011 17:18

I would love one to discuss DS' IEP and needs, and I've even cleaned the house because my sister's coming. But don't think I'm getting one.

exoticfruits · 21/08/2011 17:40

Take no notice of twentypoundsover-it is in the interests of the parent and DC-I wish that they had done it when mine were 4yrs.

whenIgetto3 · 21/08/2011 19:41

well when my eldest DD started school they did them, but as there were 4 girls with the same name in her class the teacher went to the wrong house when it was our visit and we phoned to ask where he was to get "oh he got the wrong X again did he? well your DD can start tomorrow anyway, she hasn't got any issues has she"

The other 3 haven't had visits but then one was an intake of 6, one was in the US and the latest one they decided not to do her as she was in school every day with older brother and treats it like home anyhow

IndigoBell · 22/08/2011 09:30

It'll probably be the longest chat you ever have with a teacher about your DC - so make the most of it......

exoticfruits · 22/08/2011 10:06

You are all very cynical which is sad. You can have lots of chats with a teacher about your DC.

whenIgetto3 · 22/08/2011 11:29

exotic - I am not cynical I have plenty of lovely chats with my DCs teachers, I am even still in contact with the ones in the US that we left behind. I think maybe the reception visits to home are designed for those who are less confident about talking to teachers, also schools that organise them are more likely in my experience to be ones that have good home school communication
OP I would take it as a sign you have picked a good school

exoticfruits · 22/08/2011 11:51

I think it is a sign of a good school. Apologies Indigo-it came after twentypoundsover's comment. I can't think why anyone wouldn't jump at the opportunity to meet the teacher and TA in advance.

spiderpig8 · 23/08/2011 17:45

..to price up your house and hence figure out whether to suck up to, or look down on you

magdalene · 24/08/2011 20:13

As the previous people have mentioned, it's an opportunity for the teacher and TA to get to know your child and answer any questions you may have. As Indigobell rightly says, it may be the longest chat you have to talk about your child!! I didn't get a home visit for reception and had lots of questions which had to be answered in a hurry at the end of the day or at the beginning of the day when term started. The teachers were so busy so it wasn't ideal at all. When I suggested to other parents that there should be a home visit for reception, they said 'why? We got one for nursery!' The point is the teachers are different, the day is longer, different expectations etc etc. It's a positive thing.

jeee · 24/08/2011 20:24

Do you remember the mumsnetter with the pole-dancing... er, pole in her front room? That'll be a memorable home visit for the teacher.

We are planning to leave the Financial Times and the Daily Sport out.... just so that the teacher is kept guessing.

And ROFL at twentypoundsover.

mrz · 24/08/2011 20:28

We once had a reception child who got her own pole for Christmas

Teachermumof3 · 24/08/2011 20:32

Fantastic-that made me laugh!!

Original poster

TheMitfordsMaid · 24/08/2011 21:10

Thanks for all your comments. I will report back in early September, and let you know if I feel judged or not. Will insist that DS is clothed.

OP posts:

spiderpig8 · 24/08/2011 23:03

Didn't the Pole mind?

cat64 · 24/08/2011 23:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Sidge · 24/08/2011 23:22

They will want you to have categorised your bookshelves so they can assess the likelihood of your child coping with the Oxford Reading Tree scheme.

They will see if you offer lovely home baked cakes, then they can pressgang you into the PTA.

Nah, not really. They just come and have a cuppa, say hi to and play with your child and chat about what to expect and what likes, dislikes and needs your child may have.

Original poster

TheMitfordsMaid · 24/08/2011 23:26

I do work cat64. Luckily, we've been given 3 months notice of the time and date so plenty of time to juggle things to be at home for it.

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