Parents and guardians

It is important to consider your child’s needs and research several schools to find out which will be the best match. Distance to school, how your child will get there, whether to opt for schools in the three-tier system (Lower-Middle-Upper) or the two-tier (Primary-Secondary), the impact on peer relationships and the support available at an individual school will all need to be considered.

Virtual School suggests:

• Looking at the school’s website for basic information about the school
• Looking at the school’s OFSTED to see what it is judged to be good at and where they need to improve: Find an Ofsted inspection report
• Arranging visits and going to school open days
• Meeting with key members of staff like the Designated Teacher or SENCO

When meeting with schools, PAC-UK have created these prompt sheets to help you find a good match for your child’s needs:

• Key Questions for Primary Schools (PDF)
• Key Questions for Secondary Schools (PDF)