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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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LittlePushka · 24/08/2011 23:34

I think it's madness frankly... had this been suggested for my DS I would have said no, but suggested a one to one in the classroom after teaching. What on earth has a viewing of the homesetting got to do with teaching the child?

DeathOrCake · 24/08/2011 23:37

It is also to check that you actually live at the address you put on the forms.
And to see the child in a situation in which he/she is relaxed.

Sidge · 24/08/2011 23:39

Why is it madness LittlePushka? Starting school can be a nervewracking event for some children so to meet their teacher on home turf in a familiar comfortable environment can surely only be beneficial?

The school my DD2 goes to, which DD3 starts at in a few weeks, visits us at home the week before Reception children start. Surely a better use of time than trying to meet all parents after school once they've already started?

Plonker · 24/08/2011 23:51

twentypounds

My dd's school don't do it, and I have to admit that I'm glad.

I always feel a little uncomfortable when HV's etc have come to the house. I'm really not sure why

There's nothing 'wrong' with my house, or the way we live (no pole either unfortuntely) but it always makes me a little uneasy ...

Good luck OP, I'm sure all will go well.

LittlePushka · 25/08/2011 00:26

Sidge ,..Why would meeting the child in school after 3.15pm (or whenever) not be a relaxing and comfortable environment???? Surely the child would be better meeting this "stranger" in context rather than at home - which rather assumes that the teacher is not able to suss the child out and develop a relationship. And also, at home is child to sit on sofa and engage in some directed conversation with this stranger for half an hour? No pressure there then eh ?

How does a 4yo know what a teacher is and does unless child sees her in context? An introduction at home is wholly pointless - that teacher will never come back to build on the relationship in that place.

It is the same as saying before child goes to dentist perhaps dentist could pop in for a chat before the appointment next week. THat would be madness too:- it would not allay childs anxiety or concerns about a dental visit in the slightest - but a visit to surgery and a play in the chair and a look at the x rays and a ferret about in the sticker basket would make the actual appointment much less daunting.

And I also think that primary school teachers have got a huge amount of experience in dealing with anxious children, dont you think that they have an armoury of methods to get to know shy or reticent children??

Himalaya · 25/08/2011 00:53

I think it is mainly about starting a relationship with the parents. Teachers will have plenty of time to get to know the kids, but some parents won't cone into school or push themselves forwards to have conversations with the teachers.

I definately think there is an element of 'checking you out', as with the HV - looking for kids at risk, parents not coping etc..

TheSecondComing · 25/08/2011 00:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

exoticfruits · 25/08/2011 07:12

If you were a teacher you would know that meeting the DC at home isn't utterly pointless.
The dentist coming to the home before a visit would have been brilliant in our case where DS wouldn't even sit in the chair. Great idea.

The teacher visiting would have helped nervous DS2.

People are really strange! They don't remember the days where the DC was just handed over and the parent didn't even set foot in the classroom. Parents fought to have more liaison, when they have got it and schools really make an effort, they turn round and say they don't want it! Peculiar.

mrz · 25/08/2011 07:30

LittlePushka it has nothing at all to do with viewing your home. The idea is that most people are more comfortable in their own home than in a classroom and some people are actually anxious/frightened when it comes to being invited into school for a chat so the teacher comes to you as a service.

carpetlover · 25/08/2011 08:56

I declined it because I was working. There was no problem but then my Oct born DS was very ready for school. I was teaching at that time so couldn't just book annual leave.

And yes, whilst the purpose is to see your child in the comfortable setting of their own home, teachers do come back to the staffroom and chat about what various houses were like.

mrz · 25/08/2011 08:59

Only if your telly is bigger than the house

MrsRobertDuvall · 25/08/2011 09:12

When did all this start? We didn't have it when dd was 5 back in 2001.
Sounds great.

carpetlover · 25/08/2011 09:14

Yes, definitely television size had a frequent mention! In all honesty, there wasn't much comparing going on but houses which were particularly stunning or particularly grotty were discussed. By grotty I don't mean small or less expensive, I mean properly smelly or dangerous.

Mostly, what was discussed was how relaxed and well behaved a child was or not. Whether they looked like they could amuse themselves. Whether there appeared to be books in the house. Oh and how nice the tea and biccies were!

Original poster

TheMitfordsMaid · 25/08/2011 09:15

In that case, I might do a bit of baking and throw a blanket over the telly.

OP posts:

mrz · 25/08/2011 09:24

We don't do home visits in reception just in nursery and to be honest there is very little discussion about the houses unless they are seriously in need of Kim & Aggie and yes a full cream tea is often mentioned!

youngwomanwholivesinashoe · 25/08/2011 09:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sidge · 25/08/2011 10:21

None of mine have had to sit on the sofa and talk to the teacher for half an hour Pushka! They have played with the TA whilst I walked to the teacher.

They all visited school at the end of the summer term 4 times for their settling in sessions, then had a home visit in early September before starting. So the teacher wasn't completely unfamiliar.

I imagine it's also for the teacher's benefit as well as the child and parents.

Anyway it's not compulsory so if you don't want them visiting you just decline. No big deal.

Sidge · 25/08/2011 10:22

Oops typo meant talked not walked. That would be weird.

cat64 · 25/08/2011 13:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

exoticfruits · 25/08/2011 13:48

I was a teacher. I never had a reception class, but I would have welcomed it. Obviously you can cope without, we always did-in the same way that we coped without visits to secondary schools etc to aid the transition.
When I started school I was taken on the morning and left at the door. It is nice to know that things have moved on.
However I expect that the money could be better used elsewhere.

mrz · 25/08/2011 14:57

Our nursery staff do home visits after school so there is no cost involved and no teaching time lost.

sparkle12mar08 · 25/08/2011 15:17

I've posted my feelings on home visits before, but suffice to say I'd have declined

LittlePushka · 25/08/2011 22:42

Exotic fruits - you assume that I am not nor ever have been a teacher.... Still maintain it is a monumental waste of teacherand TA time which are precious enough commodities for no tangible gain - children who are cause for serious concern whether emotionally, socially or educationally with become self evident to any teacher/TA with their buttons on. Does not take a home visit to work it out.

And the dentist thing - get real....

exoticfruits · 25/08/2011 22:45

Of course the dentist wouldn't-but it would have been wonderful if they did! I don't remember assuming anything-I have no idea of people's jobs or experience.

LittlePushka · 25/08/2011 22:56

If you were a teacher you would know that meeting the DC at home isn't utterly pointless

Assumption on two levels! One that I am not or have never been a teacher and second that all teachers think home visits are a fab idea.

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