What happens at a home visit?

[Tiasmummy]

Could somebody help me out and tell me what goes on at a home visit? My daughter is starting reception in September and we were told there would be a home visit? What does this entail? Is it to assess each child? Is it their actual reception teacher that comes?

Thanks :-)

For our school:

• teacher plus teaching assistant comes
• they chat to you & your ds - about nothing in paarticular
• you have a chance to ask any questions/tell them anything you feel is important about your dc

Our lot bought pens & paper & got ds to draw a self portrait, they also took a photo -both of these were up in the classroom when he started school

My mum is a primary school teacher, & did the same in her home visits, so I guess that's pretty standard.

They will not be:
-inspecting your house to see how clean it is
-or testing your child to see what they know

Honest

no, not to assess, just to introduce themselves - usually teacher and TA - they take a photo of the child - sometimes goes on their peg - and bring a book bag or folder with a book in, or something from school - it's a getting to know you thing really - nothing to fret about

sorry, nursery nurse in reception - I'm past it all now !

Thanks for such swift responses :-) Funnypeculiar - that has got me thinking...at my daughters parents evening on thursday they told me that her drawing is a little immature for her age :-( She is only 3...4 in August so she will be one of the youngest...she draws a round face and then the legs and arms at the sides..no ACTUAL body! lol!I just thought it was a bit much for them to say that.

Mary...yeah...nothing to fret about....hmmm...better start de-cluttering! lol!

at ours they were lovely, wanted to know about DS1, likes dislikes, children he has met before that he gets on well with / doesn't like at all.
Info for me about how important it is for them to have spare clothes, look in boys box for drawings/newsletters.
It made me feel comfortable talking to them on the first day, I felt like I knew them better and felt they were approachable.

They didn't go to the loo
they didn't check my skirting boards for dust.
they didn't check to see how educational DS1s toys were
(all fears I had before they arrived)

Greyskull - That sounds lovely :-) How nice to be put so at ease. Hope mine goes as well.

Oh, & on the drawing front, ds (4 last March) has only recently started adding a body to his drawings. Although I would say he's towards the bottom of the class in drawing . SO your dd doesn't sound odd to me. Oh, & his nursery (part of the school) have no concerns.

Reception teacher and one other member of staff (we got the teacher in the school that covers staff preparation time).

They said hello to my dd2 and she hid behind her hair. Then it was mostly form filling. They wanted to know dd's likes and dislikes. Also information about how independent she was. In my case, dd was still not great about going to the toilet, so I let them know that she would need plenty of reminders.

The teachers were on a tight schedule. They had 15 homes to visit on the day, so the meeting was short - about 10 or 15 minutes.

Worth mentioning that where a primary is seen as "desirable" and is over subscribed, and has a small radius of admission home visits have the function of checking that you are actually at the address that you have claimed on your application!

Anyone who has to consider de cluttering in advance of the visit will pass THAT test with flying colours......