Open days

CONSIDER POLICY ON ANY SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF A CHILD

All children have a right to be educated in mainstream school. Some mainstream schools have special units attached to cater for children with particular types of need, such as autism or visual impairments. Such units offer children the opportunity to spend some time in a mainstream setting, but also to receive specialist teaching. Your child will need an EHCP (an education, health and care plan) to be considered for a place in one of these units.

There are also maintained special schools which are state-run and for children with more complex needs that cannot be met in mainstream. Your child will need an EHCP to be considered for a place. Non-maintained special schools are run privately or by charities, some of which are residential. A small number of children with an EHCP may go to one of these schools, where it has been established that no local school can meet their needs. In the case of this type of school, the onus is on the parents to prove that no other school can meet their child’s needs.

The British Dyslexia Association recommends checking the school’s prospectus and asking for a copy of its Special Educational Needs Policy (SEN). It suggests that parents ask if there are special needs staff with qualifications in Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD) and what training do all staff have. The organisation also suggests finding out whether there is a choice of foreign languages that includes more dyslexia-friendly languages. It recommends that you and your child meet the staff who will give specialist help and find out what subjects the support will be available in.

Gett ing a feel for a new school

Attending an open day is one of the best ways to let your son or daughter get a feel for a new school.

Many will offer guided tours and there may also be the option to view a virtual tour on the school’s website. Open days are usually held in September and October, but most schools will allow parents and children book an appointment to visit if they can’t make a scheduled event.

During an open day, you’ll be able to visit classrooms, and often pupils will show you around and talk to you about their school. Parents will probably be invited to hear a talk by the headteacher, the head of admissions or the head of the relevant section of the school.

Looking around the school will also enable you to discover more than you would if you just read the prospectus. It’s an opportunity for you to speak to the staff, pupils, and the headteacher.

Feel free to ask questions if you want to, particularly of pupils – what do they think of the teaching? do they enjoy life at the school?

Look at the work on display. Does it represent a broad range of ability?

Does the school offer extra-curricular activities – such as sports and clubs – so your child can develop their interests? This also shows that the teachers are motivated and enthusiastic. It will help you to really get a sense of what it is like and how it operates on a daily basis.

Make sure you have a few key questions to ask in order to get the most out of the visit – you might want to find out how many children are in a class, or how the school deals with bullying.

Often current pupils will be drafted in to show prospective students around their classrooms and this will give a good insight into what life is like at the school.If they are enthusiastic and motivated then this a good sign that they are happy.

The events will also showcase what extra-curricular activities, such as sports and clubs, are on offer.

Remember to ask about transport –will your child have to make their own way there, or are there buses? Find out about the lunch arrangements – are there healthy school meals available and what do they cost? What are the other options, such as taking a packed lunch?

Make notes and watch your child’s reactions and ask them what they thought. Above all, listen to your gut instinct.