Primary Schools

I’d take him so you can see how he feels when he’s there. I took my eldest (May 2019) and there was one school she didn’t leave my side whereas the others she’d go off and speak to people etc

Our schools don’t allow the kids to come on schools tours as it’s during school hours and a distraction but they run separate weekend stay & play sessions so the kids can go in and get a feel for it. (Surrey Heath) Ask the school and see if they do similar because it’s good to not have any distractions and listen but also good to see your child on that environment and how they react.

Each school will be different, I personally am always a little put off by schools that say no or say it’s not important etc. I’m a deputy head and I always suggest little ones come along on tours! We’ve seen a few schools now and my son has come along to all bar one of them. It’s interesting and important for us to see his reaction to the different schools!

I’ve taken my little boy to the ones we’ve seen, we’ve seen 2 so far and the first school he didn’t speak and didn’t leave my side, the second one we went into the year R classroom and he went and sat at a table and started doing the activities🤣🤣 the teacher gave him a sticker and it was really sweet🙈 I’d say definitely take your little one if you can x

I took my little one, for the same reason as most. To see her interaction with the teachers and how she feels in the school. When she's comfortable she just goes and wants to play and join in but like the nursery visits she will just cling to me if she didnt feel comfortable.

We took our daughter for the school we thought we were most likely to pick but went alone for the other visits we did

I'm taking my daughter, it's going to be her school, it's only right she gets to go and view them plus I have no one to look after day

I didn’t take my daughter because I knew it would be too distracting for me! There were lots of people who did bring their children though! My daughter is quite shy in new situations and surroundings so her reaction to the place wouldn’t be indicative to how she’ll find it when she goes there with her nursery friends etc.

We've been to 2 schools and one was an open evening (no kids) the other was day time and took my girls they joined in but the other school is our 1st choice so emailed the school to see about a tour with the girls they only do after school as don't want to interrupt the classes so will be going there in a couple of weeks as I want to see their reaction to that school. See if their reaction is the same for any school or if it was that school.

It's 2026 that they start school, is it not? Or at least it is in Scotland

No, 2025 in England, unless you’re delaying or deferring.

@Chloe, wow, so glad I'm in Scotland as my son would be 3 starting primary school🤣 in Scotland he starts primary in 2026 but starts preschool nursery in January 2026

@Alex I wish!! 😢 it’s the term after they turn 4 so they’ll be the youngest in their class 🙈

@Alex They don’t start at 3 here, they always start after their 4th birthday. If your child is born in September then they start 2026, and they’d be the oldest in the class. August babies start 2025 as the youngest. But yes, either way, it’s still very early compared to the rest of the world!

Scotland have earlier summer holidays than England I believe so yeah would be 3 starting school next year if August born it's good they don't go till 2026.

I did yours with my son and without. He enjoyed the tours, but I remember the information better from when I was alone, because I actually paid more attention to the school rather than my son!