What to look for in a school

[TakeMeToYourLiar]

Considering moving DS school.

He's 5 and in reception

Visiting an option next week. What do I look for to know if it's the right setting for him

What is it you value in education?

Well, I would imagine a lot will be driven by why you are unhappy in the current school, and whether a new school will be better in those areas specifically?

I think it's very personal. What you may value others may not. For example I don't like small schools. But other people live them.

I think proximity to where you live is always important no matter what.

Well presumably you are quite clear about what you don't like (which is why you are moving him). So look to see it doesn't have those things.

I suppose the trouble is I'm not sure if where we are right now is just "how it is"

What I want to know about is stretching able kids without hot housing. How do I talk about that

Ask if they differentiate? Look for lots of books.

You ask "what do you do to stretch the more able children?" and wait for the answer. Which I hope is a question you have already asked your current school. I wouldn't necessarily expect a Reception age child, starting school after the reduced socialisation enforced by the pandemic, to be being massively stretched at this point.

@RedskyThisNight

You ask "what do you do to stretch the more able children?" and wait for the answer. Which I hope is a question you have already asked your current school. I wouldn't necessarily expect a Reception age child, starting school after the reduced socialisation enforced by the pandemic, to be being massively stretched at this point.

Of course I've asked. They haven't been able to do anything, and she's bored

Reception is about play, learning to be part of a group. It isn't really about stretching kids. You won't find many schools which prioritise stretching the more 'able' at primary. You can be doing lots of reading and counting at home.

Is she really bored? Do you just know this from what she's said?
We have a real focus on stretching the more able in ks2 but certainly not in the early years.
I've seen children say they're bored when what they mean is, 'I'm bored of waiting for my turn', 'This book is too hard for me' or 'I'm tired'.
True boredom in a reception class would be pretty hard with all the play and stimulus that is required at that age.
What did the school say when you spoke to them?

A lot of it is down to individual teachers.

You could find another school where you're inspired by the reception teacher, but that school might be less good later on.

We were lucky with DD's reception teacher, who was experienced and flexible, stretching DD without apparent difficulty, but Y1 and Y3 were weak. DD is now in Y6 and, overall, the school has not really stretched the bright ones as much as we'd hoped, but it doesn't really matter: she's had a lovely time in primary school, and is off to grammar where she'll be pushed at a time when it matters more.

I wouldn't rush to move your DD unless you are convinced that the current school is not going to meet her needs, and you are equally convinced that another school will. Bear in mind that it's quite easy for one person to show you around a school and say all the things you want to hear, but quite another thing for the whole school to deliver on those promises for seven years.

Sorry - I mentioned your DD in response to your latest post, but there are references to both he and she in your posts, so I'm not sure whether you have a boy or a girl.

Ways in order to stretch more able kids. Teaching methods used in the lessons. Level of homework given each week. Quality of teaching. Extra curricular trips and activities etc. Look beyond the exam results and dig deep to uncover the information that matters. Read past the numbers in other words in order to find out more about that specific school in question.

A school which will genuinely want to grow their confidence.

Are the children happy? What are your first impressions of the teachers?
I think it's a bit like buying a house - when you know, you know!