Questions to ask & things to think about when looking for a school for your Year R child

There are many options these days when it comes to children reaching school age. State schooling, Independent schooling, Flexi-Schooling, Homeschooling or Home Educating, World Schooling, Unschooling... the list goes on. However, most of us will, at some point, go and have a look around local schools to see what they are like, to work out what is best for our child and family, and to know that we have explored a range of options before making any decisions.

As I'm writing this, it's October 2025. For children starting school in September 2026, the applications for school choices opens on 1st November 2025, with the deadline being 15th January 2026. You should then find out about your child's school place on 16th April 2026. This information was taken from my county's website. Please ensure you check your own county to confirm dates where you live, though it is likely to be the same.

Most children start school full-time in the September after their fourth birthday. There are other options for parents of four year olds who feel their child is not yet ready for school. Your county's website will have details on this.

So... your child is due to start school in September 2026. What next?

From around October, schools will start to publish when their open mornings/afternoons/days are. Usually this can be found on the school website. It may be that you have already missed some, but most schools will have multiple days on which you can go and visit. If you have missed the date, it's worth speaking to the school and asking to arrange a tour on another date. It's worth booking a few open days for schools in your local and surrounding areas, even if you think you know which school you want your child to go to.

Then what? What should I think about or ask when I go?

Once you've booked your visits, think about what are YOU looking for in a school? What would suit YOUR child best? What would your ideals be? And what would you be willing to compromise on?

This is going to be different for every parent, family and child. However, I'll outline what I am looking for below to give you some ideas.

• Local enough area so that friends for play dates etc aren't too far away, and the journey in the morning/afternoon isn't too long. The IDEAL would be that we could walk. However I would be willing to compromise and drive a short period for the right school.

• Play-based learning approach in Year R and 1, at least. I am not looking for a school that goes straight into formal learning in Year 1. I won't compromise on that. My IDEAL would be a play-based/continuous provision approach that goes right the way through to Year 2 and even beyond into KS2 (even if done through more project-based rather than play-based as they get older). This is rare however, so I'm looking for ways the school does allow for autonomy when it comes to learning.

• High-quality provision in the play-based environments. (For Mr 4, I'm particularly looking for gross motor opportunities such as big climbing equipment to use, large loose parts like tyres, planks and crates to build with. Your child may have different interests, and therefore look to see if those could be met with the resources on offer in the classroom.) I am not willing to compromise on high-quality provision.

• A school that values, promotes and follows through with regular if not daily outdoor learning. This is an essential for me. IDEALLY the school would have a forest/nature areas as well as playgrounds, BUT a compromise would be a school that although doesn’t have huge outdoor space, values and uses it well.

• An understanding, nurturing approach across the school, where additional support can be sought and implemented if necessary.

That may have helped knowing what I’m looking for. You may feel like you’re wanting similar, or completely different to me for your child.

Below are a whole host of questions that, as a teacher, I’d recommend you find out about, to help you make a well-informed choice. Some may be answered via the school website, some by the headteacher in their welcome talk on open day or as you’re on a tour of the school, or some may be questions that you need to personally ask.

1. Are you in catchment for the school? (You can check this on your local authority's website)

2. If you are out of catchment, what percentage/number of children get in from out of catchment?

3. How would you get to the school? Can you walk there? If not, is there going to be easy enough parking and time to do drop offs and get to work etc?

4. What type of school is it? Is it a primary school? Is it an infant school? Is there a linked junior school? What's that like and where is it? What're the links between the two schools?

5. What are the school day timings? Are these different for Year R/Key Stage 1 (Year 1 & 2)? Where do you drop off the children? Do you go to the classroom door?

6. Do they offer after school clubs and or wraparound care? What are the availability and costs of this?

7. What are the school's values? Do these values resonate with you and what you'd want to instill in your child?

8. What do the school really take pride in promoting? Is there anything that makes the school different others, and is this something important to you? Eg. Access to a forest for regular forest school sessions, a swimming pool for weekly lessons, a specialist music/PE teacher

9. Is there evidence of the school's ethos? Do they 'practise what they preach'? (It may be hard to see this, but you may get a feel for it around the school or can talk to current parents of the school about it.)

10. How does the school feel when you walk in? Does is feel calm, nurturing and welcoming? Is it clean, oragnised and cared for? Are the staff attentive and friendly when you arrive? First impressions mean a lot!

11. As you walk through the school, are the classrooms open for you to go and look into? (They should be! If they aren't...ask!)

12. How many classes are there per year group? And how many pupils are there typically in each class?

13. Are the classes individual year groups or mixed? If mixed, is Year R taught separately or are they combined with Year 1s? (Ideally Year R have their own class and space.)

14. If the classes have mixed age groups, how do they accomodate this in terms of teaching the curriculum? Do they have cycles/rotations? Do they teach in small groups or whole class?

15. How do the classrooms feel? Are they well laid out? Is there space for the children to move around in? Are the walls visually calm, and focused on what the children need for their learning, or are they just plastered with tonnes of posters etc? (Research suggests that children learn best when classroom displays are purposeful and impactful, done with the children, not just 100s of word cards etc stuck up all year round.)

16. What is the Year R classroom in particular like? Is it set up with the children in mind? Are the walls neutral and calm, showcasing children's learning or things relevant to them and their learning? Is there areas of floor space for them to play in? (You should see minimal tables and chairs in a Year R classroom!)

17. How do Year R run their days? Are there long periods of uninterrupted free play for the children to follow their own learning?

18. Do Year R have access to outdoor space continuously throughout their day? How is it set up? Do they have resources for big building like tyres, planks and crates? Do they have an sand or digging pit and water area? (Tailor this to your child’s interests) Is there an area for being creative indoors or outdoors? Are the children able to transfer resources from area to area or is the play restricted to zones? (Even if zones are labelled, it’s worth asking if they're able to move resources as it’s good practice that they can!)

19. Do the resources in Year R (& around the school) look like they're cared for? They may not be new and shiny... schools don't have budget for that often, but are they cared for? Organised? Accessible to the children?

20. Who is in the Year R team? Will there be any additional adults to support the Year R teacher and children?

21. What phonics scheme do they use? Does this link with their book-banded reading books?

22. How is reading and reading for pleasure promoted in the school? Does the school have a well stocked and appealing library? How often do the children get to visit and use it?

23. Does a play-based learning approach run through to Year 1? (I think it's essential there is at least SOME play in Year 1 to aid transition.) What about into Year 2? What about in KS2?

24. How are the Key Stage 1 (Year 1 & 2) days structured? Do they have key texts they use? What about themes or topics for the learning?

25. What are the KS1 classrooms like? Do KS1 also have designated outdoor spaces to use and play in?

26. Is there enough outdoor space to play in at playtimes? How are playtimes organised? Is there a separate playground or combined space for the year groups? How does this work for Year R? Are there resources for the children to use at playtimes? A big climbing frame big gross motor play? How often do they get to use that?

27. Does the school have a field for PE/ Outdoor Learning etc? If not, where do they use?

28. How often to they take learning outside?

29. What's the school hall like? How does PE work in there?

30. Where do they have lunch? How do lunches work? Do most children have a cooked dinner or a packed lunch? Do the children choose their lunch choice or parents?

31. What is the school's expectations with home learning/homework? (Just reading at home is absolutely plenty for Year R!) What does home learning look like through the rest of the school? Is the amount/type of home learning something you agree with?

32. Are the staff happy? What is the staff turnover like?

33. What is the headteacher's experience like? Have they worked in other settings before? What were those schools like? What is their vision for this school?

34. What is the school's view on inclusion? How do they support additional needs? (If relevant to you.) Do they have a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo)? Who is this? How can you speak to them ahead of admissions/ahead of starting school?

35. How to they manage low-level behaviour? What is their behaviour management approach? Does it include discipline or reward systems? Does that resonate with what you'd like for your child? What about the management of more extreme behaviour?

36. How do staff communicate with parents? And how can parents get in touch with staff?

37. What is the settling in process for Reception children? Do they offer stay and plays? Meet and greets? Home visits? Settling in sessions?

38. What is the diversity like across the school? Do they have children with English as an Additional Language? (If relevant to you) How do they support this in the school?

39. Do they offer school trips and outings?

There is SO much that you can find out about schools ahead of admissions, however, of course... it's impossible to know what it really will be like. What's MOST important is whether you FEEL it will be RIGHT for YOUR CHILD as an inidividual. Do think about the journey through the school, not just what Year R is like.

If you have any questions what so ever, do feel free to reach out to me. The best way is Instagram DM @theknowandplayspace , but you can always email me if you'd prefer. I may not always have the answers, but I'm always happy to listen and talk things through.

Hope you found this useful!