If you’re child will be attending a residential school there will be additional things to think about, and more questions you might want to ask.
These may include:
- what links will there be between the school and you, such as home visits or letters/emails?
- how and when you will be contacted about your child’s progress?
- how and when you will be contacted if there is a problem?
- would be possible for you to contact other parents of children at the school?
- what privacy will your child have?
- can you visit the dormitory or bedroom your child will use?
- will your child know who to go to if they are worried or have a problem?
- what arrangements are there for your child to telephone home or receive telephone calls?
- what arrangements are there if a child needs attention or is ill during the night?
- what are the bathroom facilities and routines?
- what arrangements are there for medical care?
- what opportunities will there be for your child to join out-of-school activities, for example, Brownies, Cubs, Guides, Scouts and youth groups?
- will your child get the same opportunities to shop, cook, clean and play as he or she would at home?
You might want to arrange to meet the person who will be responsible for the overall care of your child outside of school hours.
If it is proposed that your child remains at school over the weekend, what would be the range and programme of activities? It’s important that you are happy with the residential arrangements for your child, and that you are confident that the school can meet your child’s needs