Looking at schools

[Doeadee]

We will shortly be looking round schools to start reception next year, does anyone have any advice about specific things to look for/ask about?

If the children are selected to show you around, look to see how comfortable they are doing it. We had a brilliant tour at a school with 2 children happy to do so. Another school had clearly no idea about it's children as we had one poor girl who clearly hated being asked to do this, she was so uncomfortable. That to me spoke volumes about not knowing their children properly. She shouldn't have been asked, I felt so sorry for her. (it was absolutely not her fault)

See how parents are treated as they arrive as well.
The same school as above with the poor choice of tour guide, the receptionist snapped at us arriving at 10.50 for an 11.00 tour, told us to sit in porch (I was obviously pregnant) and then others where arriving too, and they left them out in the rain!! They wouldn't let us just wait in the hall.
Needless to say this supposedly good school dropped off our list before we even ended the tour.

And see what they speak passionately about regarding extra-curricular things, is it sports? Music? Choir? Does the schools passions align with things your child or you are interested in/hope for. It's not everything obviously, but it might be important.

Cliched, but you will just know which is the right school. It will just click and feel right.

We asked things about behavioural policies, enrichment and extra curricular opportunities. YOu can tell a lot from walking around. See if work is celebrated, how happy and engaged children look in their learning.

Good luck.

See also this thread www.mumsnet.com/talk/education/4662973-school-open-day-what-should-i-ask

Assuming you mean state school, I would make sure that you are looking at ones you stand a good chance of getting a place at - there is no point falling in love with a school the other side of town if there is no chance of getting in. Your local authority website should have admissions criteria, as well as the distances allocated in previous years, so you should be able to get some idea of likelihood. Many people live in areas where realistically they have little actual choice.

If you need breakfast club and after school care, find out about that. How over subscribed it is, how far in advance you need to book, whether it’s run by school staff or external providers.
Who teaches music/ PE? How often do those happen?

Work out beforehand what your realistic chance of getting any schools you are interested in is.
If it's only one school, you are looking for "do I hate this school so much that I am prepared to move house immediately/go private/sell a kidney".

If you actually have a genuine choice, you need to think about what's important to you - is it outside space, or pastoral care, or homework ...
Also bear in mind that your child will not be 4 for ever - you are looking for a school that will support them until they are 7/9/11. Small and cosy might be great at 4 and claustrophobic by 9.

Thank you so much, some great suggestions to think about! We do have a genuine choice between two schools so good to have things to ask about

Definitely wraparound care and if it is over subscribed. Also things which will preoccupy you when they are in reception (!) such as how often do they read to an adult in school, how many books are sent home, library acesss, how easy is it to speak with reception teachers. But ultimately you will get a gut feeling. I ruled out one school because it made me feel inexplicably sad.

I ruled out one school as it was just too religious and too formal

i've heard that generally schools rated good are better than those rated outstanding. better pastoral care and individual attention.