Looking around primary schools

[blacktreaclecat]

Questions to ask?
My main concern is that DS be happy, not under too much pressure and receive lots of support as a summer born boy. He's normally bright if you know what I mean, he knows his colours, numbers, starting to recognise letters. He loves being read to and has a very good memory. He struggles with craft and doesn't't really enjoy mark making so I think writing will be a struggle so want somewhere that will give him lots of help and encouragement but don't want him pressured or made to feel anxious about it.
We are looking round our local state primary (ofsted -good) and a non selective private school 4-11, ofsted outstanding but only ks1 was inspected.
How do you choose?

I had a list of stuff, building (classrooms, how is the way to the loo, where is lunch eaten and who with, playground), people (do the dinner lady and head know the kids? good ones often know all 400 of them, how do they interact, are the teachers enthusiastic and caring), extracurricular (music and sports were important to us), after school club.

Having done that, specifics:

How do you deal with summer borns?
Strict reading scheme or just phonics and fun books?
How do you enforce discipline?
What is the first term like, full day/ slow settling? etc

I actually took a long list, you will see several schools and it can be hard to remember which one had the tiny playground and which appeared too military.

Look at the classrooms, is work displayed and does it seem only the best or every child's work? Look at the KS2 classrooms too, almost all reception ones look lovely, you want him to love it still come Year 3. Ask about homework.

Get a feel for the school.

If they talk a lot about attainment then it probably isn't the school for you based on what you've said. If they talk a lot about inclusion, enjoyment, safety, fun, then that's a good start.

Ask about how they approach SEN and what they do about bullying. Those tend to be quite revealing!

Lots of good suggestions.

I would also ask how they teach reading (what phonics programme), and how they differentiate for different abilities.

What are the arrangements at lunch time? How much time do they spend outdoors?