Reception teacher home visit

[PragmaticWench]

At our parents' meeting prior to DD starting reception in September, the school stated that over the course of the first two weeks of term they would be doing home visits to each new pupil.

I'm baffled as to what the point of this would be after they have started the term and already met the teacher, does anyone know? Also, can we politely decline the visit?

I think it's great that they do this. My daughter will have already met her teacher and TA before the home visit, but I still think it'll be beneficial.

Hugely for the teachers as it must be very helpful for them to see what home life is like for each student.

And I know it'll help my daughter and make her feel more attached to the staff.

I once worked in a nursery that did home visits for new children. I thought it was horrific, kept my eyes on the child, did not dare to look around the room for books, Labradors or flat screen TVs and got out as soon as I could. Really could not see the point of it and found it very embarrassing. Years later when I did admissions visits and initial interviews for a primary school there was never any problem about privacy. I always asked parents if they were happy to be interviewed in the reception area or if they wanted a more private area. It was not an issue. some did, some didn't.

My son loved his...I thought even for 20 mins it was a nice thing. I could ask questions in an environment which was private. They came with a few set questions to as ds like favourite book etc.

Also if it saves one child suffering neglect then I am all for it.

I always find it weird when people are anti things that might be good for dd. Even if dc has just started this is a chance for rare 1 on 1 with teacher. After starting might have been better as teacher could have asked ds what he liked or didn't.

I'm due one of these in September too.

To be honest I just assumed it's so that they can see what your home environment is like for safeguarding purposes. Probably like midwives visiting and HV etc.

A home environment can say a lot about how a child is living. I home visit people for my job and am more than aware of how my own 'normal' standards (not a tip but not a show home) are actually not as 'normal' as I previously thought and that a lot of families live in conditions that I don't even want to sit down in and ones I don't even want to go in the door,

E.g. People who live with animal faeces everywhere or severe hoarders.

It's obviously the choice of those people how they live, but when there are children in the home the implications are far more serious and putting a school visit in place can flag this up.

This is what I thought the visit was for anyway! I'm not worried about it as I know there are no safeguarding concerns here.

Also if it saves one child suffering neglect then I am all for it.

That isn't really the purpose of the visits. I wouldn't want to worry people and give the impression they were some sort of safeguarding/checking up type visit.

It's more about getting to know your child, and any needs, and preparing them for school. It can help them to settle in and answer any questions/concerns the parent might have. Very brief usually too.

I'm getting that now but was saying that's what I assumed it was as well as the getting to know you bit.

Did you all take a day off to have them swing by for 10 minutes though? If I was a SAHM I'd probably been fine with it. Some schools are so unaccepting of mothers having careers I honestly wonder why they bother teaching the girls anything.