Tell me about DC's school...?

[Beansandneedles]

I'm just intrigued to know how 'normal' our school is. DC is only in reception so knowledge is currently limited. I think it's a lovely school, but haven't anything to compare it to. We're about 10 minutes from a city centre, but have lots of green space around.

• we see the head out and about every day, usually in high Vis, sometimes being the lollipop holder!
• loads of outdoor space and play equipment, sectioned for reception, year 1 and then the lower schools and upper schools separate
• pe once a week, forest school in the grounds once a week
• class sizes of about 28
• encouraged to read every day, need to write it in a book which goes with them to school
• themed days like 'ride to school' days etc
• one term of swimming lessons once they hit year 4
• teacher and an assistant per class, sometimes two depending on the day
• 'mystery reader' once a week where a parent comes in to read
• class trips once in a while once they hit year 1
• non uniform days about 17bn times per term (okay maybe like 5) for the usual suspects like world book day etc but also just 'wear a jazzy colour just because it's fun' day.
• open mornings once a term. Parents encouraged to be in the classroom for the first half an hour of the day
• most communication done via an app, but just text, we don't get photos of what they're up to or anything like that
• someone selected to be 'star of the day' where they can bring in a book or toy for show and tell
• each term has a theme for what they're learning
• no graduation ceremony
• one class assembly a year where parents can come to watch

Trying to think of what else... Honestly feel like we're invited into school every other week ATM, and if we're not in school then there's a non uniform day or something like that going on.its a lot, but it's really making it feel like a community which is not a bad thing.

Is this all sounding pretty standard? No real reason for the question, just being nosey!

That sounds lovely TBH

Mine is in Year 2 - we get one school trip a term, class size is about the same, too many mufti days but it is probably 5 a year. There is one class assembly in Spring and Summer terms where parents can come, but these can be a year assembly rather than individual classes. We do not have graduation ceremonies but do have an end of school assembly.

No open mornings. There is an Easter assembly and a Christmas assembly. Teacher and assisstant in each class. Communication is either app or email. Reading every day (with reading diary), 15mins maths and spellings per week.

We do not see the head mistress unless it is a "public" occassion - the other staff are very lovely though.

This is exactly like my school!!!

I'm lucky I WFH, so can arrange an hour off work and attend all these constant events, but it means I have to make up the time in the evening, my partner works in office, central London, 5 days a week, so never goes to any of these constant events. Its too much in my opinion.

DC in reception, a London primary with I suppose fairly middle classed intake, so very active PTA always hosting loads of events and fundraisers, which makes it much much more diary heavy.

The school will have dress down and parties for anything and everything , it happens at least once every 2 weeks I reckon.

Lots of events at weekend too, if you throw in birthday parties and playdates, my child has a more active social life than I did at University.

Only differences are our App does have class pictures which is nice.

DD's school used to be very like this. However following parental feedback (and cost of living) the school have cut back on the number of non-unifirm days, and there are fewer "events" in school that parents are expected to attend during the school day.

I will ask though, for your school are the parental events the norm throughout or more aimed at reception/KS1?
Even though they've been cut back in general, there were always fewer higher up the school.

Other than the 'open morning' sounds similar to my kids schools (we moved when Y2 and 4). The first school also allowed kids to invite two people to join them for lunch on their birthday, and the cafeteria would make them a cake with a little stuffed toy on top. They would stand on a chair and everyone would sing happy birthday. They also had the kids do half an hour of exercise in the mornings (like star jumps etc) to 'warm them up' (and get rid of excess energy) for school.
Not so many non uniform days - maybe a couple a term.

Neither our infant or junior school wanted parents in classrooms every day. Independence was valued. We had theme weeks and parents assemblies at infants school which were great. Junior school was less accommodating but they did have parental events and as they were CofE , they had services at religious festivals.

The rest of what you list is what a good school would do, except the excessive non uniform days. One a term is enough. Also what does pta do? Lots of teaching assistants is a luxury in many schools now.