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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

Home visits

38 replies

drcrab · 14/05/2012 18:28

Hi there
My DS starts reception in September 2012. We've just received a letter saying they'll be doing a home visit in July.

What goes on during these visits? Who turns up? My son should be present then? Do I need to serve home made cake and tea in best china?

Big spring clean on I reckon?

Any advice please? Thanks!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

AngelEyes46 · 14/05/2012 18:35

Dr - don't worry. The teacher and TA came for my DCs. Stayed for about half an hour and introduced themselves to DC and me. Asked if I wanted to talk about any worries - only thing I could think of was that my dd is left handed. They took a photo for the school peg and that was about it. I asked them if they wanted a cuppa to which they declined and that was about it. Our home visits were in the September though, as they didn't start until 2 weeks into the term.

bigjoeent · 14/05/2012 21:15

We had a similar experience, they just wanted to see DS in a familiar setting and get to know him a bit. It makes it a bit easier for everyone if they know eachother before they start. It was the Teacher and Nursery Nurse who came to see us and they just had a chat with him, they didn't have a specific agenda, they let DS show them what he wanted, it varies with each child.

Don't worry about it, it shows that they care about introducing the children to school well.

lardylump · 14/05/2012 21:22

i didnt like the idea of the home visit at all becuase i feel that there is nothing that they accomplish in a home vistit that cant be conducted at school appart from the obvious judgement that happens.

Whatever else happens they will be judging you and your home and this will affect your child at school.

they will lokk to see if you are clean, wether the child has access to books and age appropraiate toys etc. they will look for eveidence that you smoke etc. this is under the guise that they are 'helping' becuase if they understand a childs background then they can help them intergrate better.

i would have refused them to come to the house, but them they would have been thinking, what are they hiding?

smile, and get on with it, its one of those things you just have to put up with when you have kids that go to school

Original poster

drcrab · 14/05/2012 22:59

Thanks for your comments! Yes I'll try and take it in my stride. Am looking forward to the school bit but wow it's a whole change in routine!!

OP posts:

Original poster

drcrab · 14/05/2012 23:01

Oh they apparently pay a visit to nursery too. So I guess they'll see all the kids that'll be attending that school during that session (or as much as)... And they'll have a chat with his key worker too.

OP posts:

anthonytrollopesrevenge · 14/05/2012 23:18

Just to add my DD, who was scared of the thought of going to school, was very reassured by our home visit and much happier about starting as a result. The TA did aquadraw with DD on the floor and the teacher talked to me for 20 minutes or so, and both paid lots of attention to DD. I wasn't looking forward to it but afterwards was really pleased it had happened.

Rubirosa · 14/05/2012 23:25

lardylump - I do home visits in my job and we're not judging to see if you have books or smoke The purpose is to meet the child on their turf, have an opportunity to get to know the parents/family, explain a bit about the setting and answer any questions, and take photos for pegs. I definitely have a better feel for the children/parents I met on home visits than the ones I didn't.

lardylump · 15/05/2012 12:18

rubirosa for I definitely have a better feel for the children/parents I met on home visits than the ones I didn't.

I read... I have seen what your family are like and i have measured to see how your child fits into our setting... how is that different, we have judged you to see how what your child is coming from.

You could do the school meeting at school. I dont see the benfit of having a home visit. 30 kids per class, 1/2 hour visit, 10 mins travelling time + prep time = A WHOLE WEEK of two peoples time.

If its not to judge then you are wasting precious time. Of course it is to judge. And I suppose i would make your PFB and PITA lists before my kid ever set foot in your school.

pudding25 · 15/05/2012 12:24

Wow lardylump, you obviously have a huge chip on your shoulder for some reason. I am a teacher and I agree with the poster above who does the school visits. They are done solely for the purpose of making transitions easier for children and parents, not to judge you or your children.
What problems have you experienced? Teachers don't have 'lists' of PFB or PITA children as you put it. If there are tricky children to deal with, decent teachers and schools go out of their way to help those children integrate.

missnevermind · 15/05/2012 12:33

DS2 is a very anxious child. The home visit was great as he met his teacher on his 'home turf' and was able to speak to her while being relaxed.
Also they bought crayons and paper so his artwork was on the wall ont the first day.

FridayOLeary · 15/05/2012 12:40

We had our home visit after a school meeting. The teachers stated they would not have a drink or snack (because they'd be overflowing) but that they might need the loo, they could not go to the children's rooms (because the kids usually wanted to show them their stuff), that it was not complusory. The teacher went through a few procedures for dropping off, labelling clothes, part time arrangements while the TA dealt with the children. I've had two visits - the DC loved them and referred to them. I think it helped with the first few days. They also dropped off a workbook and asked the kids to decorate it and bring it on their first day.

A friend of mine is a reception teacher and has done these visits - she said if she went into a house with no books, few toys and an uninterested parent who kept the telly on while she attempted to talk to them, then it brought up a few flags.

Rubirosa · 16/05/2012 19:24

I only ever see people's living room or kitchen and can't say I've ever noticed if they have loads of books - I don't have any books in my living room or kitchen either. Toys - I've definitely sat in living rooms with few/no toys and also haven't thought anything of it - toys are often kept in bedrooms/playrooms or tidied away when visitors are expected. Also, TVs have been left on, so long as they don't drown out conversation then no problem.

Uninterested parent might be something I would make a mental note of, but then I might wonder if they are shy. I don't think I've ever come across a truly uninterested parent though as if they have agreed to the home visit then generally they want to talk about their child/ask questions. Some parents have issues such as shyness, poor English or learning difficulties/disabilities that might make the visit difficult for them though.

lardylump - get a better feel for the child as in, if a child is really shy and quiet at school, but when you met them at home they were lively and chatty you might realise they are struggling with the transition. However if they were similar at home, and parents report that they are generally a quiet child who likes to watch rather than join in straight away, you might have a better understanding of their personality.

GobHoblin · 16/05/2012 22:28

Ours wanted to know what dd liked to do so they could make sure it was available on her first day. They answered any questions and chatted in a relaxed way without distraction. It was not judging and was for the good of everyone. Bout 30 minute visit.

Meglet · 16/05/2012 22:32

I liked our home visit, my house had never been tidier .

Beforehand they said to not worry about making tea or getting biscuits ready as they do so many visits they couldn't possibly have a cup of tea in every house.

It also meant the teacher and TA could watch DS squabbling with his little sister and get real glimpse of our home life.

StarlightMcKenzie · 16/05/2012 22:36

I have a friend who is a nursery teacher and hates home visits. She thinks the parents are judging HER.

StarlightMcKenzie · 16/05/2012 22:38

But personally, I don't like them at all.

Education and teaching is one of the least partnership with client/parent arrangement going. Why pretend it is anything else?

You Hand your child over to the 'professional' and you have no say from that moment on.

RiversideMum · 17/05/2012 06:25

We do home visits. It's nice to meet the children in an environment they are familiar with and see how they are in the home - most are very keen to show their favourite toys and are quite confident and relaxed. It gives us proper 1:1 time to chat with the parents - probably the longest time we are likely to get with a parent in the child's whole school life ...

sparkle12mar08 · 17/05/2012 07:43

Lardylump where were you when I got slaughtered on these threads this time last year?! I could have done with some support then! I've always loathed the idea of home visits for all the reasons you mention (and would refuse them point blank if ever offered), but everyone seems to think I'm the only one.

Original poster

drcrab · 17/05/2012 07:53

Well the school teacher turned up at ds's nursery yesterday... And we weren't told about it! According to DS she spoke to one of the kids but not him. And it was meant to observe them in their so called setting. I'm not sure how I feel about it. On one hand I'm pleased they're making the effort. On the other hand it's may! There's still 4 months for them to develop. What if he wasn't there to be observed? And he wasn't prepared to meet a stranger!! So of course he'd clam up.

OP posts:

Hodel · 17/05/2012 09:22

I'm not sure if this is true, but I was told that the main reason for home visits was to make sure you actually live where you say you do.... but this was regarding a school that has a lot of problems with admissions fraud.

DisBoCo · 17/05/2012 09:23

On one of these threads last year somebody wrote that Home Visits were about assessing the size of your TV. The larger the screen, the lower the reading ability.
Tee hee.

Original poster

drcrab · 17/05/2012 10:54

In which case I should sign him up onto the G and T list now!!!

OP posts:

lardylump · 17/05/2012 12:36

all of the supposed benefits that you have all stated as reasons, could be done at school, a book that they have decorated is lovely, a picture that they have done on the wall makes them feel settled straight away... but both of them can be done at a meeting at school.

Meglet - watching the kids and getting a real look at homelife -why? why do they need to know your kids sqaubble to be able to teach them correctly ( all kids squabble this isnt a dig at your kids honest )

Fridayolearly -A friend of mine is a reception teacher and has done these visits - she said if she went into a house with no books, few toys and an uninterested parent who kept the telly on while she attempted to talk to them, then it brought up a few flags Kinda proves my point.

Riversidemum It's nice to meet the children in an environment they are familiar with and see how they are in the home. I'm sure it is nice, but is it necessary?

I have no problem with welcoming people into my home, but I want to have some say in who comes in. I wouldnt invite my boss, my work colleauges or my clients to my home. Why would I? What happened to private lives?

lisad123 · 17/05/2012 12:42

Done many of these. Tbh, it helps children settle better, because they met the teacher in their home, so where they feel safe. It's hard enough to be in a new place, but worst if you know no one.
It's nice to get an idea of families and what sort of home they children live in. Mainly because you then might have a clue of what happens.
Some parents are school phobic and the idea of coming into a school building is hard for them, some hate crowds and some don't want to discuss private stuff where someone can hear.
Tbh by the time the kids arrive in sept I can't remember who lived in which house unless it's very bad

miaowmix · 17/05/2012 12:44

I found our home visit a really lovely way of getting to know DD's teacher and TA before starting school - there seems to be no hidden agenda, just a nice and informal meeting pre reception, which is obviously quite a big deal for the children.
Couldn't think of a single question either but it was really just a meeting to say hi, and yes house was exceptionally clean and tidy plus we offered tea and cake. It will be fine. I have no idea if they were actually 'checking out' our home life, but I couldn't care less if they were as nothing to hide (class As all tucked away in drawers . Joke.)

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