Choosing a school for your child starting Reception can be a daunting task. It is important to find the right school that will support your child’s academic, social, and emotional development. I have always felt that it is similar to choosing a new home, it may have the number of bedrooms and the garden you were hoping for, but do you get the right feeling when you visit?

Here are a few ideas of things to consider when making your decision:

Get inside. Take the opportunity to visit the school during a normal day. Meet the staff, watch some teaching and if you can, talk to the pupils. Children are usually very honest and they will tell you what is good and bad about the school!

How does your child learn? Make sure the school aligns with the kind of learning that you feel your child will thrive in. What is the curriculum like? Are there opportunities for hands-on learning? Will it develop confident, happy and independent learners? Is the curriculum enriched through trips and visitors?

The extra bits. Consider the range of extracurricular activities offered by the school. Children can excel in many different ways and a wide variety of extracurricular activities might help your child find the thing they love, whether it be football, drama, orchestra, outdoor explorers, gymnastics, Beavers and Cubs, book club, yoga or computing.

The facilities and the environment. Are their specialist rooms for teaching music, science, food tech and art? Is there plenty of outdoor space for the children to use? Alongside a traditional playground, is there a more natural environment, such as a forest classroom? Are there sports pitches and facilities to accommodate a wide variety of sports that will encourage your child to be active?

Values. Look for a school that values diversity and inclusiveness. This will help your child to develop a strong sense of empathy and respect for others, allow them to be who they want to be and prepare them for a rapidly changing world.

Belong. Consider the level of parent and community involvement in the school. A strong parent-teacher partnership can greatly benefit your child’s education and provide a supportive network for your family. Is there an active parent teacher organisation that offers opportunities for you to meet other parents, arrange play dates and engage in wider social activities?

Ultimately, the most important factor in choosing a school for your child is finding one that feels like the right fit for your family.

We would love you to come and visit us at The Grammar School at Leeds and find out if we are the right school for you. Call our admissions team on 0113 228 5113 to arrange a visit or to find out more about our Stay and Play Reception taster session on Friday 17 March.

Steph Munro is an Assistant Head in Primary at The Grammar School at Leeds. www.gsal.org.uk