SENDIASS: Things to Consider When Visiting Schools (Factsheet) - WNC

Take time to sit down with your child and discuss what is important to you in a primary school or the move to secondary school and how it will differ from primary. Make a list of those things you both find important, there will be differences, and as you visit the schools check how they match the list. 

These are some of the things that might be important: 

• Older children already in the school
• Friends hoping to go to that school
• Location - will you be able to get your child to your preferred school on time every day? How will you get them there, walking or by bus?
• Sport facilities
• Computers
• School results
• School discipline
• Subject specialism (Secondary)
• How the school takes care of its pupils (pastoral care)
• and many more

When visiting the school consider the following as you go round:

The Welcome

• Greeting by staff/pupils/parents
• Is information provided on how to get around the school/who’s who etc? 

The Organisation of the school day 

• How is the school day organised?
• Uniform
• Lunchtime arrangements 

What Feeling do you get? 

• Does it feel like a friendly place to learn?
• Does it feel like your child would be happy? 

Does the school specialise in one or more subject areas? (Secondary) 

• Is your child interested in/good at a specific subject?
• How does the teaching of a school specialist subject differ from other subjects or schools? 

Activities at lunchtimes or after school 

• Are there clubs run at lunchtimes or after school? 

Student Support 

• How are students looked after in school?
• Resources e.g. computers
• Does the school seem well resourced?
• What background information can I look at about a school?
• The School Prospectus 
• The School Admissions Criteria
• The Behaviour Policy
• The latest OFSTED Inspection report
• The Special Educational Needs Policy
• The Equal Opportunities Policy
• The DofE Achievement and Attainment tables