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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Teacher home visit prior to Reception year start

29 replies

Jellycattoys · 07/07/2023 11:41

Dd is starting reception in September and the teacher will do a home visit a few days prior to start date.

For parents who went through the visit, what was it like, anything we need to be aware of or prep for?

Also I’m just wondering what the purpose of the visit is? Obviously we don’t mind and we think it’s brilliant that the teacher is making the effort to visit everyone. Just curious really.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

shivbo2014 · 07/07/2023 11:44

We had one when starying nursery. I think it's just so the child meets the teacher in a familiar place. They will just have a little play with them and maybe ask a few questions about their likes and dislikes what they're looking forward to about starting school. It's about 20 minutes.

tryingsomethingnew · 07/07/2023 11:44

Purpose is so that the little one meets the teachers prior to joining school. Familiarisation. For you to ask any questions, tell them any information in person like eating habits, intolerances, it's really just a little visit to say hi. Maybe get a toy out that your little one would like to show them and talk about. Don't put any pressure on yourself they're not there to look at the house and judge you. But offer a little biscuit and tea.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 07/07/2023 11:44

Standard in a lot of schools. They want to meet your child in a familier setting to them that's all. They will chat to you all, ask your child some questions on likes and dislikes and what they like playing with etc....... its nothing scary at all.

I'm sure all parents spring clean the house for them coming as well.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 07/07/2023 11:46

Years since my dc were small, but it was sold as the teacher meeting the child in their own environment, to put the child at ease.

in reality, I got the impression that the teacher was checking out what the home environment was like - were there nooks and toys, is it calm or chaotic. I don't have a problem.with that.

SBAM · 07/07/2023 11:47

DDs school do this.

It was so she could meet the teacher and the TA one on one (they’d already done a stay and play at school for an hour in the July). They showed her pictures of the classroom, the toilets, the playground and the picture label that would be on her peg and drawer.
It meant we had some time to discuss anything we may not have wanted to talk about at the meetings in front of other parents like health conditions. They could understand a bit about family set up (eg DD has a classmate who’s parent passed away, so on Mothers/Father’s Day they know to offer alternative arrangements), and also languages spoken at home and whether the children will have someone at home who can confidently assist with homework and reading. They also checked with me DDs ability in terms of toileting, feeding, getting dressed etc.

No prep needed, and they aren’t there to check your dusting!

Original poster

Jellycattoys · 07/07/2023 12:28

Thank you for the replies so far! Definitely makes me less nervous now and have more clarify on what to expect.

OP posts:

24Dogcuddler · 07/07/2023 23:01

Really nothing to worry about. I’ve done loads of home visits. Absolutely not there to nosy at your house or anything.
Just meant to be yours and your child’s chance to meet someone who is about to become very important in your lives on familiar territory.
Remember there are no “daft” questions ask anything. You get the chance to tell the teacher anything you need them to know away from other parents.

florenceandthemutt · 08/07/2023 08:39

We had this last year. They are really coming to see your child in their own environment and to meet them on a 1:1 basis. They will ask a few questions, observe your child playing and then that is it really.

Toddler101 · 08/07/2023 12:03

It also gives us a bit of insight into each child's likes and dislikes too that can be incorporated into planning for classroom provision, if a child likes dinosaurs for example then the teacher will stick a box of dinosaurs out to play in September, e.g.

Last year I took peg labels and pens/pencils for the children to draw/colour during the home visits then I put them all up ready for the children to hang their coats in September.

You don't need to prepare for it!

mynameiscalypso · 08/07/2023 12:13

We had DS teacher and the TA over last week for a home visit. He showed them some of his toys and they asked questions about things he liked/disliked. It was also an opportunity for us to ask questions too - I had a few about the settling in process.

Loz2323 · 08/07/2023 20:24

We had a home visit many moons ago before my kids started school, hated it and found it annoying and pointless. All my son did was sit on the sofa beside me and barely talked when spoken to. They had no sense of what he was really like from that visit

MamaBear4ever · 08/07/2023 20:26

Mine was fun, DS decided to become suddenly feral bouncing off the walls foe no apparent reason. Think he got over excited 😂 Goodness knows what the teacher thought she was getting

whatthejuice · 08/07/2023 20:27

Ours was last year. Pretty brief and informal. Got the impression it was to get a handle on the situation at home so they can better support some kids.

NewNovember · 08/07/2023 20:27

They are optional and intrusive you do not need to have one.

justasmalltownmum · 08/07/2023 20:28

She just asked likes, dislikes, any favourite foods, comfort toys. Over in less than 20 mins.

LessonLearnedOrLearnt · 08/07/2023 20:30

we think it’s brilliant that the teacher is making the effort to visit everyone

Why do you think it's brilliant?

I didn't find it a good use of the teacher's time , or mine.

LittleBrownJug · 08/07/2023 20:34

I agree with posters saying it’s also for the school to also get an insight into a child’s home life so they can support them better as well as them seeing child — we had one, it was really informal and useful. I don’t have an issue with them, it’s a good idea & ultimately benefits the child. I’ve got really serious ill health so it was good to be able to talk about that without any other parents around. School is very supportive and caring in general, so this felt like a natural extension of that. Didn’t tidy up especially!

Notpaidenough1234 · 08/07/2023 20:38

I have twins (9 now). At our home visit, my son twatted the educational welfare officer (who accompanied the reception teacher on all the visits) over the head with an empty bottle. It. Was. Mortifying. She has been nothing but kind and understanding towards me ever since and I love her!!

mumofboys8787 · 08/07/2023 20:51

I think it's naive to assume they won't be observing your home life. There's a reason they come to your home, it's surely pretty important that they are aware if there are any majorly obvious issues at home, if there's a child living in extreme poverty etc. So yes, it's to meet the child in a familiar environment but it's also to ensure they are aware of any issues.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 08/07/2023 20:57

Teacher and TA came round as a pair, sat in the living room didn't ask for a tour or anything. They went through a little booklet they'd put together showing DD what the classroom looked like, the pegs, toilets, playground etc. asked a few questions about her favourite things and then off they went. Were probably in the house about 15 minutes total.

Talkingfrog · 08/07/2023 21:00

We had a home visit from nursery not school. It was two members of staff and they spoke to both me and my daughter. They asked background info such as whether there were siblings, what they had experienced before eg playgroup, toddler group etc, if there were any medical conditions, likes/dislikes etc. Whilst one was talking to me the other got some things out to play with my daughter - paper and crayons etc As well as interacting with my daughter and asking could she draw x or y, I assume they could judge from that how she interacted with an adult, motor skills etc. They then explained to both of us what would happen when she went on the first day etc, It sounds a lot but was about 20-30 minutes. My daughter enjoyed it and i felt happy that my she had met them and they knew a bit more about her.

Latenightreader · 08/07/2023 21:22

We have one the first week in September and I’ve been feeling a bit invaded at the idea. This is especially true as DD (and 20+ of her classmates) are moving up from the school nursery and are spending lots of time with the reception teacher this half term. She did say that it was a good time for us to tell us anything personal we didn’t want to discuss in the playground and there is something I need to let them know, so I now feel a bit more resigned to it!

Hollyppp · 09/07/2023 07:12

My friend is a teacher and said in her area it was mainly a safeguarding thing. One or two of the children in her class - when she went to visit there was no furniture, no working toilet, nappies everywhere, no beds just blankets on the floor. So they needed to get the family some social services support and funds for new furniture and they donated bedding etc to the kids. Kids didn’t get taken away but she said it was a safeguarding touchpoint For the other kids in the class it was a
nice chance to meet them in a less stressful environment

LizzieBet14 · 09/07/2023 07:26

LessonLearnedOrLearnt · 08/07/2023 20:30

we think it’s brilliant that the teacher is making the effort to visit everyone

Why do you think it's brilliant?

I didn't find it a good use of the teacher's time , or mine.

It's not for you - it's for your child.

CaptainMyCaptain · 09/07/2023 07:27

LessonLearnedOrLearnt · 08/07/2023 20:30

we think it’s brilliant that the teacher is making the effort to visit everyone

Why do you think it's brilliant?

I didn't find it a good use of the teacher's time , or mine.

I was an Early Years teacher and agree with you. In over 30 years I never did one as I wasn't allowed school time to do it and wasn't going to do visits unpaid in my own time. I got to know the children quickly enough any way. It didn't particularly matter what they were like in their own homes, it mattered more what they were like in school.

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