Over the years, there has been a considerable decline in the number of schools and pre-schools facilitating home visits as part of their transition procedures. While we might like to blame Covid, numbers were already in decline before 2020 – the pandemic simply exacerbated an existing issue.
So why has this once routine element of the transitions calendar been mothballed?
Time and staffing are probably the biggest hurdles. For example, for a nursery teacher and early years practitioner to conduct 15-plus home visits, they require at least two days of cover.
Similarly, for Reception teachers, completing home visits is a staffing and timing issue, as the statutory EYFSP assessment must be completed in the summer term, at the same time as many transition activities. Meanwhile, autumn term home visits impact the start of term for Reception children.
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