Choosing a school

[lancslass17]

So applications are open, I've made an appointment for the few in our area. What am I looking for or asking when I go or is it a gut feeling? Thanks

Depends what you need.

Wrap around care provision is a big one for working parents
Some are concerned to know if children are always taught by qualified teachers (except in emergency) or if the school uses TAs for timetabled sessions
Some are interested (more so if it is a through Primary rather than separate Infants) about what extra curricular opportunities might be available (sports, music, interest clubs etc)
Some folk like, other get upset by classes being mixed up as they move to different year groups.
Some schools 'set' for some subjects and others don't

A useful thing to know is the likelihood of getting in - the criteria should be on the website I'd have thought, but if distance comes into it, finding the furthest distance in the last 3 years or so gives you an idea, and, if it is tight, knowing if it is "as the crow flies" or "reasonable walking route". In some areas it comes down to which door to the school they measure to.

Are dinners cooked on the premises ?
What happens when they start in Reception (some schools draw this out more than others)
You might want to know about SEND provision, or provision for EAL, or G&T.
They might do forest school or have a school garden or a school therapy dog or one school by me has a collection of animals.
Some folk worry about religious content.