What to look for? Help!

[fempsych]

We are moving areas and DD is about to go into reception so...all local Outstanding schools are full and we will go onto waiting list. So schools slightly further away and all
Generally good ofsted have spaces...

Any idea what to look for when we go look around/read ofsted/look online to chose? DD is fairly placid and no SEN, she's fairly timid but manages this ok. Very well behaved as hates being told off - so can get herself all wound up if anybody gets told off. Not sure if that Is relevant?

Any help much appreciated!

First of all work out the practicalities- what is slightly further away? What will that mean at rush hour? If there was a phone call home because she was sick, could you feasibly go to collect her?

Look for a good, caring atmosphere. Reception should be active and busy. It shouldn't be silent but there's a difference between working noise and going-mad noise. Do they have all sorts of work up on the walls or just the best?

Love the tip about the work on the walls and the noise etc.

We can get to all the schools really - so practicalities in that way isn't a huge issue.

Go to the school and just see what gut reaction do you get from walking around the schools. That will also for sure reduce the schools you are comfortable with.
I would also be very keen to see who it is that shows you round. If it is other pupils along with a talk with the head teacher, that would say to me this is a school that treats their pupils with respect and trusts them to do a good job but that the head teacher is still wanting to talk to you. If it is just the headteacher no problem with that . If it is the office person, then I would be questioning how much involved the head teacher is and whether this is the school for my kid.