School checking out home before 4 yr old starts school

Well I think I will try saying once more that it is not done to scrutinise the home, but to meet the family and help the child's transition into school. Then I will shut up, reflecting on how sad it is that some people see something that is done to support the child, in such a negative light.

I think it's quite sad that some people can't, or won't, try to understand that there is another school of thought (!) on this subject.

I do understand that Ana and parents are perfectly entitled to refuse a visit. I just object to the assumption that the motives for making the visit are suspect.

I wasn't suggesting that at all, Mamie, just that some parents may feel very uncomfortable about a home visit.

Still more would probably feel that if they refused to have a home visit that would be construed as somehow 'suspect'.

I don't really see how a complete stranger coming into his or her home is going to make a youngster from a deprived area, perhaps living in a high-rise block of flats, feel better about going to school.

Ana it is because they have met the people they will see in school in the security of their own home! Surely that makes some sense? it is not just deprived kids that are helped by this though!

I agree with posters who see this practice as intrusive.

My children's teachers were not my friends and I am not convinced that they don't (perhaps subconsciously) judge children based on their homes and parents.

I think they are the children for whom it might make the most difference Ana. Some of my link schools were in an area of very high social deprivation and the home / school links were incredibly important to the progress that the children made by the end of Key Stage 2.

Penstemmon, yes of course that makes sense - but possibly not in a home where a knock on the door means 'hide behind the sofa, it's the debt-collector/police/social services'!

Some parents haven't the skills to help their children differentiate between a 'safe' stranger and a dangerous one, but most kids know what to expect from school either by watching tv or talking to their contemporaries.

Well, I'll bow to your greater experience, Mamie - I'm just going by gut instinct!

Another case of slag the teachers! Schools never please everyone! Half the parents complain that starting school is stressful and needs a careful induction others just want /need kids in as quick as possible!

I can say hand on heart that I did not use the visits to snoop on parents. We took toys and photos of school and spent time talking/playing with the child. Mum/dad/gran/childminder talked to us about child's interests, and parent worries , concerns etc. THAT IS ALL!! I never went /looked anywhere in a home that I was not invited to. I was professionally trained to assess children's stage of development..that's what I did!

Someone said meet in school as it was 'neutral ground'! But many parents I worked with did not like school as kids and felt uncomfortable in school. From my experience it broke down some barriers and really elped the transfer to school.

helped

Not 'slagging the teachers', Penstemmon. More the policy.

Maybe it is worth saying again that the visit is by appointment and that parents are perfectly entitled to refuse. I have just Googled and had a look at relevant threads on Netmums and Mumsnet. Some didn't like the idea and refused, most seemed to think it was helpful to them and the children.

Agree with ana. It's not slagging teachers off at all. If anything is being slagged off it's this idea that teachers need to see their pupils at home. I remain unconvinced even though I accept that it is done with good intentions and that some people think it helpful. I think it intrusive so it's good that people can say no thanks. Let's hope that always remains the case.

Even doctors don't usually visit people at home nowadays.People go to where they need professional help with health and education.

Yes my daughter could have refused there is no pressure whatsoever. The GC loved the idea. It's carried out here just before the school holidays and is literally a visit of a few minutes, for the benefit of the children and in school time. The teacher is covering so many appointments in such a short space of time I doubt whether they remember one house from another. The children remember the visit though and that really does seem to be all that matters and the only purpose of such a visit.

I wonder if it's occurred to the naysayers that the some of the poor teachers may well feel intimidated by many of the parents represented on here, not to mention feeling thoroughly badly done by when comparing their modest living quarters with that of their pupils.

Surely that's irrelevant, mice, if it's all about the child? I wonder how many teachers would rather not do this if given the choice? Since the practice seems to vary from place to place, perhaps it is the idea of education authorities or "educationists otherwise". Many extra things teachers are expected to do are not ideas the teachers themselves have had but things imposed from 'above'.

Never heard of that.Dont think it happens here.
What do they do if the child's environment is not good then.Because kids are being abused all the time.They slip through the system.

I'm persuaded by the info on here from those who are professionals and by my GS's experience that it's a very positive thing. If a parent doesn't think so they are perfectly entitled to decline.

I am not sure that this is a good thing. I think it sounds like an intrusive step.

Surely a good teacher will pick up on problems in school and be able to discuss any possible difficulties in the home with other professionals who may be better placed to make home visits and assessments?

Incidentally, DD's teacher did become my BF.

I thought some comments did slag off teachers! I felt people were suggesting that teachers were not professional and would make inappropriate assumptions about children's potential /ability because of their home situation. Also comments that teachers were 'snooping' which is not a supportive comment!

Home visits have been happening since the 80s. I suspect it began in response to more school nurseries opening and younger kids finding starting nursery a bit overwhelming! Day care was less widespread then!

Good Early Years specialists understand the importance of positive relationships with families in supporting children's settling into nursery/school etc. Schools survey parents and ask their opinions..we always had positive comments re home visits. If anyone found it difficult to accommodate a home visit/ did not want one then it was never a problem.

So many suspicious minds out there! I do not see a genuine effort at getting to know children & making them feel secure, by meeting in their home, before they start school as intrusive at all.

Penstemmon I hope you did not think I was 'slagging off ' teachers - just that I have never come across this, but am open to discussion as to the benefits, although I do think the concept could be construed as intrusive.
Many of my friends were/are teachers.

I'm prepared to accept that it's a useful thing to do; I'm just finding it hard to imagine what use it would have been for my own kids. If it had been suggested to me for them I would have asked "Why? they've met the teacher already several times, and the teacher has met them."

Does it happen in Scotland? Two of my kids started school in Scotland and it was never mentioned. In fact, in both cases the schools did not encourage parents coming into school with their children. You left them in the playground—not a problem.