DD starting school in September - do schools generally still do home visits before children start or is that a thing of the past?

[Katnisscupcake]

Hi,

As the title suggests, I'm just wondering whether teachers still do a home-visit before your DC starts school or is this now a thing of the past?

I am very keen to have a chat with them before she starts and not sure whether to arrange to go in and see them (already looked around the schools so now waiting to find out where she's going...) or whether they will come and see us.

TIA

We got a home visit, I think they were offered to all kids who weren't attending the school nursery.

No idea if that's common though.

Our school did - I think it's pretty general practice.

Once places are allocated, the school will hold meetings and provide information to new parents and you'll be able to find out/sort something out then.

Depends on the school and the area! They've never done them here.

Our school doesn't have home visits. Instead they have several visit school days this June/ July for the new Class R class and then in September they start in small numbers (3 groups of 10) for two days each group (usually groups include pupils already together at local nurseries). After about 2 weeks of these small numbers days, they then all come together (all 30) for full days.

I think on one of the visit days we parents came in to answer a few general questions about our children. One of the things they didn't ask was handedness - so if you have a leftie - make sure you mention that.

Be forewarned - look into how your primary school will start class R - some go for an entire term before taking your DC full-time - so you may need to consider child care issues/ or scheduling work days (if part-time) to accommodate this new wrinkle in your DC's schedule.

HTH

Not our Infant school and none of the schools DD's friends joined did a home visit.

We had 3 "get to know your school/teacher" day plus a parent evening to get general information, see the classroom and meet a couple of other parents. We also gave permission that the school could approach DD's nursery (they never did).

At these visits you didn't meet the teacher as the teacher met the children in the classroom, the parents were in the hall with the head, deputy head and the admin head. But the head/deputy head was available for general questions and reassurance. We also could see the outside playground of the reception class and were able to watch the DCs undetected.

The visits actually came as an invitation to our DD, who was extremely proud of "her" letter and the parents got a separate letter for the parent evening. When you have your acceptance letter you could phone/email the school and just ask how they proceed. I am sure they are more than happy to help first-time parents.

Depends on the school. Ours went to my DD's pre-school setting for a mornings visit to talk to the children (there were 6 going to the same school) and meet the pre school staff.

But I also know of some that had a visit - it might have been for younger ones or for ones that didn't know anyone else going (the 2 I know of are both late Summer babies and knew one one else going).

The schools will organise some kid of meet the teacher thing in the Summer term. We also had a general new YR parents meeting in the Summer.

All schools in my area do - may be a borough thing? Having been on both ends (so to speak), I would say they are a good thing, especially for the quieter/nervous children. We do ours in the week preceding the start of the autumn term. We used to visit preschools in the summer term but that seems to have fallen by the wayside as it involved getting cover while we were off visiting. Even if you don't get home visits though, there should still be opportunities for your child to go and spend some time in the new class and for you and them to get to know the staff.

Ours didn't.

Posted too early.

Ours didn't.

However, by the time he started in Reception in September he had spent around 30 hours in the classroom with the Reception team, on a "stepping stones" programme with the on-site but independent pre-school.

Our school does.

It is a good way of getting some 1-1 time with the staff that will be looking after your DCs.
You get to make an opinion of them too
For some of the children that are nervous of new situations, it is good to meet them in an environment where they are comfortable. That way we get to see your DCs as they are.

Our school didn't although DS went for a couple of 'settling in' sessions in June/July. DS's teacher did visit him at nursery though which was good for her to see him in a familiar environment.

Some friends had a home visit in July, other friends had a home visit during the last week of the Summer holidays. Others had a home visit during the first week of term and therefore didn't actually go to school until week 2!

Speak to the school when you get your offer/acceptance - my experience is that they are all different, even within the same LA.

Our primary does - I remember because I was very guilt-stricken I could not be there with DD1 because of work. Having said that, I could be there for DD2 (was temporarily redundant) and though pleasant, there really wasn't a lot to say as DD2 was so ready for school that none of us had any concerns.

They also did a drop-in session, which DD really enjoyed. DD1 missed out on all that, started a term late (again, because of work - school would only take them for half days until the term they turned 5, and no childcare provider wanting to do a midday pickup in my area...)

However, they both turned out fine, love school, so my conclusion is there isn't a right or a wrong way to do the introduction to school, just what works for the individual child.

Ours did. It was quite useful to ask questions, and talk to them about DD and any particular concerns we had.

A friend in another local school didn't have a home visit, but did have an individual meeting in the classroom. It was essentially the same thing but gave the child an opportunity to look around the classroom as well.

I'm sure that if the school you are allocated doesn't do home visits, they willbe happy to meet with you. After you get your school allocation, they will contact you with all the details about starting school.

Whatever school your DD is allocated to will have some kind of way for the children to get to know the school and for parents to let any information be known. Most will have some sessions where children can spend some time in the class, there will be a parents session and there may be a home visit. DD had about 4 afternoons at school I think and there was a parents evening one night where we were told about things they would learn and could ask questions.

From what I remember, home visits are often planned to a tight schedule with only 10 - 20 mins per visit.

If you have particular concerns it may be better to arrange a specific appointment (either at home or at the school) outside of the home visit timetable.