Primary school taster day/ induction evening. Is it best to go?

[AvocadoAndFitch]

Our DD got our first choice school. This is something we never though would happen so didn't look past results day.

We booked a monday to friday holiday that I've now realised falls on the induction evening and taster day at the primary.

Induction evening falls on the Tuesday - Is it important we go? Its at 6pm, children don't normally go to these do they? Is it just the parents? Could I send my DM to it to note take for me?

Taster day falls on the Friday morning - Is it important she goes? She viewed the school with us and a few of her nursery friends are going. Also the teacher is coming to see her at home.

The school intake is 15 so there wont be any more days for us to go to. I've rung the school but they are very vague about what will happen on these two days.

At the moment I'm thinking of missing the induction and bringing her back early from her holiday to make the taster day. This will mean I lost day of the holiday and about £100 cost [eek]. or would you just forget about the taster day as well?

From my experience, the induction evening will consist of you being given lots of info about what to expect in reception. It may also include details of registering for hot dinners and wrap around clubs. When dd started in 2010, i went to the induction evening and all the info was provided in a brochure too to take away. It was a very useful meeting as we also found out what class etc they are in. However, had we not gone, the same info was provided in the brochure and several families were missing so you wont be the only one.

In fact DD2 is having her induction evening later this month for the same school and we are also on holiday. I am disappointed not to be going to the meeting (just 'cause i want to know who her teacher is!) but i booked the holiday 7 months ago!

I wouldn't worry about missing the meeting, yes it would be useful but i'm sure you will get the important info anyway - can you ask others who are going if there's anything you need to do? Don't forget, the actual list may change come sept so others will miss who join or leave the list.

The taster session is usually more useful - I would try make this if you think dd needs it- but again, the tasters are done so early compared to september I do wander if they are that useful!

I think it depends on the character of your child. I knew that dd2 would find settling in very tricky, so for her the taster day was invaluable. If you have a child who takes everything in their stride and won't be phased by starting school then I'd be tempted to skip it!

I don't think it matters that much: there will always be a few who cannot attend one/both events, and there is probably a well established alternative for the important bits.

I suggest you contact the school with your regrets, and find out if they can send you any hand outs with important joining information that parents would get at the information evening and/or an appointment with an appropriate member of staff to run through the same and any concerns you have.

Your DD will miss out in discovering what her classroom looks like and where the loos are, etc. But although desirable, it's not critical to know this before she starts. Missing one session several months before the start won't make any difference to friendships, unless you also miss an opportunity to swap contact details so she can meet classmates over the summer. Bu if you know other families going there, you can do this yourself without the school's input.

I must admit I found both extremely valuable and wouldn't have missed it at all.

As DH and I are not from this country there were obvious a lot of issues we hadn't thought about ourselves and getting the information afterward would have been challenging as we had no idea that certain things exist/will be done.

The taster session: we had three and DD attended 2. As we only moved into the area 9 month before and she went to a day nursery at a different part of town it was very important for her to meet some children, see faces and meet the teacher and TA. She was a very shy child and would have found it overwhelming if she had to go into unknown territory on her first day at school. Our sessions were end of June, so not that early.

If DD would have known other children due to nursery/playgroup/classes I wouldn't have had an issue.

Miss the parents thing, it isn't a problem, asking someone to go for you, could be useful. Loads of parents didn't go to ours, although they may have had siblings at the school.

As for the day, we missed one of our half days (they had two) and to be honest, it wasn't a big deal. I am not sure they really take much in when there is such a huge gap between seeing and then starting.

Yes it is nice for them to see the classroom and meet their teacher, but yours is coming to home anyway. All they do is play, very similar to nursery. Not even sure if dd realised the lady there was her teacher! (she didn't visit us at home). If your child is confident and knows the school, then I wouldn't worry, if not and she doesn't settle easily, then going would definately be a good idea, only you know your child.

I had taken my dd up to the school a number of times before starting for various events that were on and engineered to be walking past at home time on a few ocassions, so she could see what it was all about, can you find out if they have any sports days, or fetes going on that you could go along to, which may help?

We also missed the parents' evening and taster day due to a pre-arranged holiday. I asked to go in and see the headteacher and for DS to see round the school on a different day. The school was happy to accommodate us.

Thanks everyone, its typical I always book the wrong week.

DD is the type to love things for the first few goes and then start the shyness. She is also very black and white about friends etc so I think we'll need to ease her into it gently.

I'll try to re arrange the end of our holiday so she can do the taster day.

My mum was useless at all the school things, she forgot to take me for the first week. So I'm just panicking that something important will happen/be told on these two days that I will be clueless about.

She is also very black and white about friends etc so I think we'll need to ease her into it gently. Not sure that came out right. She either absolutely is besotted with them or she couldn't care less. So maybe a day now might help friendship making be a little more relaxed.

We always offer the children an alternative date. They won't be with their cohort, but they do have a chance to explore the setting and get to know the adults. I'm sure the school would accommodate you if you ask them.

We were on holiday during DD's taster session so we arranged to go in independently and DD had fun running around with the current Reception children. She was at a daycare nursery so we weren't expecting her to know anyone at school anyway but it turned out that one of her nursery cohorts ended up joining her in Reception. She soon made friends with the other children though.