school home visit - what to expect?

[shelley72]

DS starts school later this week and we have a home visit from his teacher / TA tomorrow. What should we expect? What are these visits for exactly apart from to have a good old nose about? Is there anything we need to have ready for them? I have a list of questions/concerns that I would like to raise - she's going to love me . Do I need to get out the best china, make cakes etc?!

It's just so your ds can meet his teacher in a relaxed environment on HIS own turf.

If you have any concerns or questions you can ask them.

When they came for my dds they bought a jigsaw. TA sat doing that with dd. Got her (informally) to count the fish on the jigsaw so there was a small amount of v v discreet assessment going on (much easier 1 to 1 before they get into the classroom).

I think they also asked if they could dress themselves/toilet etc.

and so the teachers can have a good gossip in the staffroom about the children homes. Iff you want brownie points turn the tv off before they enter the house and have a craft activity out half done!

and yes i am a teacher

We've got one later this week. We were told it is to get a better understanding of each child, so for example if your DS talks about 'Timmy the Rabbit' or his collection of spider plants at 'Show and Tell' or whatever they have these days, the teacher will know what they are talking about. Also it provides a one-to-one introduction to the teacher so their first day will be a bit less intimidating, and allows you an opportunity to ask questions.

I guess a secondary reason would be to identify any potential problems, so if there's a comatose man sat in the living room surrounded by empty Special Brew cans, or the child's bed is under the stairs, Harry Potter style, or there are 25 people living in a 2 bed terrace, the teacher will know to keep an extra eye on the child's welfare.

Ha yes, have cakes in the oven too. And a broadsheet on the coffee table.

Ours is this week too (first time it happened - my older two had visits at nursery) and my house is currently a complete building site - my fridge is in my sitting room along with most of the contents of my kitchen - so it's going to be an interesting visit! I just hope that the 'we're doing this to meet your child, not to nose around your house' is true.....!

my stomach is churning at the thought of letting go of my baby this week . and thats before i even think about all the assessing, measuring, competitiveness etc that goes on.
so will have a really good tidy up later (like its going to stay that way with small people in the house) and make sure i have something educational out.
we only have a 20min slot so im not sure there will be enough time for her to answer all my questions!

I'm doing home visits for the first time this year, and tbh, I hadn't particularly thought of snooping. I'm going to see the child, not the home.
Lets face it, we all can come up short sometimes on the parenting malarkey, and a tidy home smelling of fresh baking does not always equate to a happy learning environment, neither does a mess mean that the child isn't happy and well cared for. she says rushing to tidy up, put the hoover round and the bin out before a visitor this afternoon

Our reception teacher said the home visits help the children connect the two places and meeting the teacher at home means they settle better at school. It's a chance to raise any concerns or let the teacher know of anything that could affect them at school. I would offer tea but as they are visiting a family around every 20-30 minutes all afternoon they may not want it :D