These prompts help you reflect on a single visit. This is not a school ranking and not a judgement of the school. It does not replace the official inspection report.
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School name
Visit date
Before the visit
What to prepare before you arrive.
Admissions criteria and catchment Check the school's admissions priority and catchment area before you visit.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Travel route to school Walking, cycling, bus or drop-off route from your prospective home.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Questions you want to ask Bring a written list so nothing is forgotten.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Look up official information Inspection report and performance data are separate sources of evidence.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Arrival and first impressions
Welcome, signage and how the school greets visitors.
Welcome at reception How visitors are greeted on arrival.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Signage and wayfinding Easy to find your way around the site.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Pupils arriving on time Calm and organised start of day.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Site security on arrival Gates, fencing and visitor sign in process.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Behaviour and atmosphere
How calm and confident pupils and staff seem.
Calmness in corridors Movement between lessons feels orderly.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Behaviour during the tour How pupils behave when adults are present and not present.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Pupil confidence Whether pupils seem confident speaking to visitors.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Staff presence Adults visible in shared spaces.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Teaching and learning prompts
What you can see in classrooms and corridors.
Classroom feel Whether classrooms feel purposeful and welcoming.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Pupil engagement in lessons Whether pupils seem involved in what they are doing.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Support during lessons Adults helping pupils who need it.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Expectations on display Work and routines visible in classrooms.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Safeguarding feel
Visitor process, site security and staff visibility.
Visitor sign in process How visitors are checked in and badged.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Site security throughout Gates and entrances feel secure during the day.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Staff visibility at break Adults present in playgrounds and shared spaces.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
SEN and additional support
Inclusion, support staff and quiet spaces.
Inclusive feel Pupils with different needs included in everyday activity.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Support staff visible Teaching assistants or learning mentors present.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Communication for SEN families How the school explains support and progress.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Quiet spaces available Somewhere calm for pupils who need a break.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Facilities
Toilets, outdoor space, library, lunch and sports.
Toilets condition Clean, safe and pupil friendly.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Outdoor space Playground, field and shaded areas.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Lunch hall and queues How lunch is served and supervised.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Library or reading area Books and reading culture visible.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Sports and PE facilities Indoor and outdoor sports provision.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Travel and routine
Walking route, parking, bus and wraparound care.
Walking route safety Crossings, pavements and lighting.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Drop off and parking How parents arrive at the start and end of day.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Bus or public transport Routes available for older pupils.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Breakfast club Whether breakfast care is offered.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
After school club Whether after school care is offered.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Communication with parents
Apps, reports, meetings and response times.
Parent apps and portals How daily updates and messages are shared.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Reports to parents Frequency and clarity of reports.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Parent meetings How parents meet teachers during the year.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Response times for queries How quickly the school replies to parents.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Clubs and wraparound care
Breakfast club, after school clubs and trips.
Range of clubs Sports, music, drama and academic clubs.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Wraparound care availability Care before and after school.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Trips and visits How often pupils go on educational visits.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Follow up actions
What to do after the visit.
Compare with official information Read the official report and data again with your notes.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Arrange a second visit Visit again at a different time of day if you can.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Follow up on unanswered questions Email or call about anything you did not get an answer to.
Positive Concern N/A
Note (optional)
Overall notes
