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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

Having a 'Home visit' from teachers at DS' school (starts sept)

31 replies

bigmouthstrikesagain · 13/05/2008 08:41

Is this standard? If so what can I expect? Why are they coming here - I would prefer to visit the school?

As ds is my eldest I am a bit clueless about what is to be expected when your child starts school so maybe I am concerned about nothing. It just I associate home visits with health visitors and social workers not teachers and it feels a bit invasive.

There is an open day for dh and I to visit the school (just before the home visit).

Anyway has anyone else had a visit like this - can you reassure me it is nowt to worry about? Thank you

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Twiglett · 13/05/2008 08:44

yes it can be standard and is actually a good way of teacher's understanding the home background of the child ... it's a good thing .. it shows a school that cares for the whole child

they will come round, you will offer them tea and maybe a biscuit (although I always do home-made cake, cos I like bakin'), they will fill out forms with you (no doubt) and you have the opportunity to ask them any questions

before they come you will no doubt clean like a mad fool

sophiewd · 13/05/2008 08:47

Very normal, just teacher meeting your DC in a situation where they are used too.

Blandmum · 13/05/2008 08:49

It is also helpful for the teacher to see the child in as natural an environment as possible....some kids can get stressed out by coming into the school

belgo · 13/05/2008 08:49

I've never heard of this. I'm surprised that the teachers have the time!

posieflump · 13/05/2008 08:50

I wish we had that as I have so many questions but we've just got a tour and there will be tonnes of people there so no chance to ask questions.
I just want to know really basic things like what time school actually starts and if he will be ding half days for the first half term so that I can work out how the hell I'm going to carry on working PT to pay the mortgage! sorry rant over

tortoiseSHELL · 13/05/2008 08:52

I think they like to see the child playing and interacting in their most comfortable environment - they can get an idea of what your child is like at home. Then if there is a problem, they will know to some extent whether it's a 'being in school' problem, or a general 'all the time' issue. And it's also a nice opportunity for you to ask any questions 1:1 to the teacher. Certainly nothing to worry about! Some teachers go round the playgroups instead.

posieflump · 13/05/2008 08:53

Then if there is a problem, they will know to some extent whether it's a 'being in school' problem, or a general 'all the time' issue.

but they haven't even been in school yet!!

Original poster

bigmouthstrikesagain · 13/05/2008 09:01

You should ring the school Posie to get some of your Q's answered, I was told when they rang that ds will be afternoons only till Jan then full-time - this is coz he is a summer baby (not 4 till Aug).

I am nervous but glad it is a common situation - I just will be trying to get the balance right between getting my house looking decent and not going ott. I really think ds will love being at school (he is already excited at prospect) - so I am not worried on that front.

I just wondered if the teachers would be assessing my suitabilty as a parent (quizzing me on my A-level;s or something) - but I think I need to 'calm down dear'

OP posts:

mollymawk · 13/05/2008 09:08

We had this too. I think they like to talk to the children in their own homes. Ours didn't seem to be assesing us as parents (or if they were I was delightfully oblivious...).

The class teacher came and asked me some questions about DS (does he need help getting his shoes on, how do you help him if he gets upset, etc) and a TA came as well and played with DS so I guess they wanted to get an idea of what he was like at talking/counting/knowing shapes etc.

tortoiseSHELL · 13/05/2008 09:16

what I meant posie was if when the child started school, they behaved in a certain way, then if the teacher has seen them in their own environment, then they know if it's something to worry about. So if a child spends a lot of time sitting on their own not playing, and the teacher could recall that they did that at home, that is more info for them. But I'm sure that's not the main reason, it's more for the teacher to get to know the children in a relaxed environment.

choosyfloosy · 13/05/2008 09:22

Wow, I wish our teachers would do this! I'm not surprised they don't - my teachers certainly never did - but what an opportunity! Inevitably ds would be 'discovered' doing a cr*p on the potty in front of Spongebob, rather than doing some educational craftwork or just completing a homemade pizza, but it would be so amazing to actually get to know the teacher, what their strengths are etc...

jennifersofia · 13/05/2008 09:22

We do this at our school. Goodness, don't worry about getting the house looking decent - just so long as there aren't rats running rampant...
It is also for the child - many of them feel really chuffed that the teacher has seen them in their space, and then when they come into school they recognise the teacher and often say, 'I saw you in my house!' or 'You came to my room!'

OrmIrian · 13/05/2008 09:24

Not a home visit. But all mine were visited at their respective nurseries before they started school.

MascaraOHara · 13/05/2008 09:27

We had this. it was fantastic!

dd really looked forward to going to school on first day and seeing mrs x and miss y again

and got introduced to the class teddy etc and told how the children take it in turns to look after it on weekends.

dd really got a lot from it and the teachers had a chance to meet dd on her territory where she feels most confident/comfortable and get a feel for her personality.

they also asked about things she liked and incorporated the things into the starting shcool experience

very positive experience here.

Blandmum · 13/05/2008 09:28

It can also be helpful for the teacher to see the home to make sute they don't later put their foot in it, IYSWIM. It would prime you to avoid taking it for granted that all kids have a back garden if some of the kids in the class live in flats, for example, and if teachers don't livein the catchment area this wouldn't be obvious from the address

MascaraOHara · 13/05/2008 09:28

should also add..

the focus is on meeting the child not the parents iykwim

Original poster

bigmouthstrikesagain · 13/05/2008 10:11

tHANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL - (sorry caps lock!) - the positive responses.

I am very reassured to see this is an opportunity not a threat - and I am looking forward to meeting ds teachers it is going to be good for him to meet them as well as he is very attached to some of his pre-school teachers.

OP posts:

RosaLuxembourg · 13/05/2008 14:07

In our school when they do the home visit they take a photo of them and then when they start school there is a photo of each of them already on the classroom wall. And the teacher is able to greet them each by name - she is amazing, I don't know how she remembers them all straight away.

kslatts · 13/05/2008 15:02

Our school do this and it really is nothing to worry about. When they visited us it was the teacher and the classroom assistant. The teacher asked me to complete some forms and the classroom assistant showed my dd a photo album and talked to her about all the fun things she was going to do. When they arrived dd was a bit shy, but then she got upset because she didn't want them to leave. It really helped as she remembered them visiting when she started school.

Blu · 13/05/2008 15:10

It's standard at DS's school - and is simply so that the child has a chance to meet their new teacher one-to-one, on their own turf, feel confident, etc.

I did not offer cake (home-made or industrial), clean, or anything, really. DS enjoyed meeting his teacher and it definitly enabled him to hit the ground running on his first day, and for her to get to know him a little bit.

When she visited one of DS's friends, she asked him what his favourite book was - he said he'd go and get it, and his Mum nearly dropped through the floor when he came back with...the Argos catalogue.

hoxtonchick · 13/05/2008 15:13

we had this, and it was worthwhile (though not much phases ds).

soapbox · 13/05/2008 15:13

ROLF at Argos catalogue

bundle · 13/05/2008 15:14

ours was v useful - they took a pic at home which was laminated and waiting for her by her peg on her first day

cerys · 13/05/2008 15:47

We have a Nursery class at our school and DS is starting there in September, mornings only. We get a home visit AND he spends part of a morning there in June.
I remember being anxious when it was DD1's turn for the same reasons as the OP. It can really help make things easier for the child in September.

islandofsodor · 17/05/2008 22:52

I really can't understand this and it would not be suitable for us to have a home visit. Either dh and I are out at work, or dh teaches from home and ds would be in nursery anyway.

Unless of course the teacher would like to come on a Sunday which is about the only time we are at home with the children and not working!!!!!!!

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