What question should i ask or what to look

[Jaymom]

I have my very first open day visit to primary school tomorrow for my DS.What should i expect and what question i should ask?

How exciting! I would ask, or find out:

How many do they admit in reception ie 1 form entry is 30, 2 form entry would be 60
What the settling in process is (some do it long winded with half days for awhile, and this is useful to know in advance with regards to work)
What outside space there is
Do the classrooms seem dull, or bright exciting places for children to be
Take your child and see what the teachers are like with him, do they try and engage
If the headteacher is there, are they actively talking to parents (as in a visible authority figure) or hiding away in an office
What wraparound care there is and if there is a waiting list, if you know you’re going to need it

But mainly, primary schools should have a nice feel good feeling about them.

The best thing to do is just take it all in. Make sure you go to a few, and then you can compare.

Before you go, be honest with yourself about your child and what kind of environment would work for them / what they may need in future (e.g. if suspected SEND, a strong SENDCO may be important). Have a think as well about what matters to you as a parent.

Make sure you look around and listen carefully. A close friend once mentioned that she had looked at a school where she noticed that they had no artwork on the walls the library was virtually non existent, a headteacher who kept talking about "discipline" and toys that didn't look played with at all. She was really put off as she didn't think that it showed them allowing kids to be kids.

In contrast, DD's school allowed us to look wherever we wanted, have a quick chat to the kids or teachers if we wanted, and the kids genuinely looked like they were having fun. The headteacher also made it clear that she had high expectations, but was very accessible to speak to and interested in the kids who went with their parents. An headteacher like this really sets the tone for the school.

It may be worth asking about how involved the PTA are. We have found that a good PTA makes a huge difference in both making the school a proper community, and also funding extras.

I always laughed when people said they just knew, but we genuinely did when we walked into DD's school. It was really only confirmed, though, when we visited other (perfectly fine, in most cases!) schools and felt flat!

Good luck :)

I looked at books in the classroom, whether there was a library, what music facilities the school had etc.

At our school visit, the receptions arrived into the kitchen to bring the staff blackberries from the wood to make into a pie. Mud everywhere. Slicked onto their cheeks. TA with the same look. Teacher had gone to sort out a load of wet wellies and overalls. Kids looked red cheeked like they had stepped out of an Enid Blyton novel.

Year 6s were working more studiously. Aura of calm.

Headteacher answered the reception phone.

Go and see a few. One we saw was two free flowing reception classes. Couldn't even see a teacher or TA. Headteacher didn't know anyone's name (at ours Headteacher practically knows my shoe size).

You'll know.

Look beyond EYFS. Basically all EYFS classrooms will be lovely, but remember that time is short. Focus on how engaged the older children are and what resources are available to them.

What % pass the y1 phonics check.
Homework policy.
Support for sen / high achievers.
Who gets their work on the walls.
Are y6 children like you would like yours to be.