Home visit from school

Savvy_Sue

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

arrangements for the start of term were discussed,

Ah yes, the memories come flooding back ...

DS1 (now 30) I think had a pre-nursery home visit, but the details are too far gone. However it might have been then that I had to explain he wouldn't be starting right at the beginning of term because we'd just booked our last term-time holiday.

With DS3 and his pre-school visit, we discussed whether he'd start full-time or part-time, as he was an Easter baby, and how soon he would start. In theory they started the older ones first, but in his case, they were able to take him from the first day of term, because a lot of the slightly older children were going on their (possibly not) last term-time holiday!

Much easier to discuss this kind of thing at home with one set of parents and not so many children rather than in a meeting or introductory session with up to 30 children and their parents / carers all hanging around.

chesky

Well, mum is now in a complete state of hysteria. She only heard about his start on Friday, so Saturday saw her off to buy school shoes. Her local Clarks didn't have his size, so today we went to the next nearest where she had been assured had some. No they didn't. The next nearest didn't answer the phone. The very helpful assistant tried to arrange for a delivery but they're totally out of stock at the main distribution centre of all black school shoes sized 9g.
Last seen heading for Westfield on safari for said shoes and convinced her precious boy will be turned away in shame at the school gates.

ThumbRemote

Surely it can't have come as that much of a surprise - she must have applied for a place.

Other brands of shoes are available!

Mrs_Soup

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

I think it's to see what kinda environment the child lives in, is the house clean and tidy?

Might ask to use the toilet, then have a wee snoop around when upstairs to check bedrooms.

This is a joke surely. It is absolutely NOT about this. As I said earlier they stayed in the one room I invited them into and did not poke their nose elsewhere. It think they schedule visits for about 30-60 minutes and the reception class starts a week later than the rest of the school to allow this so for a class of 30 they will be doing about 6 visits a day. AND you can refuse a visit eg you might be working full time and your child staying in full time nursery until the last possible minute. It's supposed to be supportive and help the child not be judgmental in any way.

maman

This is now quite normal for children about to start in Reception. It's been a growing trend for many years. I believe it stems from when earlier admissions started rather than 3 term entry. Even the autumn birthdays now have a staggered start leaving the staff free (generally in the afternoons) to do home visits.

While I agree with kit that the purpose is to make the transition smoother, I think she is being a bit naive. Teachers will make judgements. It's inevitable. Teachers will notice the home environment such as how many books, if they speak politely to parents etc. They can't help it teachers make assessments all the time. It's second nature.

ETA: I wonder if staff from Thomas's went to check out Kensington Palace?:D

Savvy_Sue

chesky wrote: »

Well, mum is now in a complete state of hysteria. She only heard about his start on Friday, so Saturday saw her off to buy school shoes. Her local Clarks didn't have his size, so today we went to the next nearest where she had been assured had some. No they didn't. The next nearest didn't answer the phone. The very helpful assistant tried to arrange for a delivery but they're totally out of stock at the main distribution centre of all black school shoes sized 9g.
Last seen heading for Westfield on safari for said shoes and convinced her precious boy will be turned away in shame at the school gates.

This smacks of displacement activity. This is NURSERY school you're talking about, they cannot impose a school uniform, and as long as he hasn't spent the last two years in bare feet he must have something suitable he can wear!

And even if they have a 'suggested' uniform, which includes 'school shoes', I'm sure he won't be the first to start without everything.

Does your DD often need to hear the words 'calm down dear'?

ThumbRemote wrote: »

Surely it can't have come as that much of a surprise - she must have applied for a place.

Other brands of shoes are available!

Quite! Actually many nurseries like them to have wellies, don't they, and I know mine wore plimsoles indoors at nursery.

chesky

I'm quite used to dishing out soothing words by now (by the way it's my DGD - he's my great grandson) and I'm sure everything will be just fine. She does get in a bit of a tizzy.

Just this minute had a message from her - got the shoes, so peace restored. And yes, she applied for a place but only a month ago so she wasn't at all certain she would get one and was told that if she did, he wouldn't be starting until October. So she was in a bit of a flap, as the staff visit is tomorrow and she wanted everything sorted out by then. And again yes, I KNOW other shoes are available but not in Clarks today.

But now it's all good.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

chesky wrote: »

Well, mum is now in a complete state of hysteria. She only heard about his start on Friday, so Saturday saw her off to buy school shoes. Her local Clarks didn't have his size, so today we went to the next nearest where she had been assured had some. No they didn't. The next nearest didn't answer the phone. The very helpful assistant tried to arrange for a delivery but they're totally out of stock at the main distribution centre of all black school shoes sized 9g.
Last seen heading for Westfield on safari for said shoes and convinced her precious boy will be turned away in shame at the school gates.

She needs to calm the heck down, if for no other reason than as she knows the size, she can order the things online.

https://www.clarks.co.uk/c/Tri-Buddy-Infant/p/261268297090


In stock right now.

Although I'd be checking the uniform guide, as it could well say that little ones wear velcro trainers instead of shoes. Something that can be checked at the visit...

chesky

I wish I hadn't bothered to add the post about the shoes. It's rather diverted the issue from the real matter of the home visit - the responses to which were very helpful and reassuring.

Trust me to over-egg the pudding.

maman

chesky wrote: »

I wish I hadn't bothered to add the post about the shoes. It's rather diverted the issue from the real matter of the home visit - the responses to which were very helpful and reassuring.

Trust me to over-egg the pudding.

Maybe you struck a raw nerve without realising.

Believe it or not, there's a very strange poster on here (under various usernames) that has an obsession with threads about school uniform and shoes in particular. This week her poor child was (allegedly) going to school in black plimsolls. Last year it was fake Uggs from Primark! :rotfl:

Hope the visit goes well.