10 Tips to make your school welcoming and friendly

August 23, 2025

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Creating a school that feels warm and welcoming isn’t just about smiling at the gate. It’s a culture, an ethos, and a strategic decision that affects everyone.

Including new pupils starting in September, children joining mid-year, trainee teachers, new staff, governors, parents, and visitors.

The first impression of your school often sets the tone for every relationship that follows.

Here are 10 practical ways to make sure your school projects a genuinely welcoming, inclusive environment, long before anyone even steps through the front door.

Jump ahead to:

Why is a welcoming school environment important?

10 ways to make your school more inviting

The impact of a welcoming environment

How can IQM help with your inclusive environment?

Why is a welcoming school environment important?

It sounds obvious, doesn’t it? Surely all schools are welcoming and friendly?

But think back to a school you’ve visited where you instantly felt comfortable: perhaps someone greeted you by name, the reception staff smiled, the signage was clear, and the space felt alive with pupils’ achievements. Now compare that with a visit where you weren’t sure which door to use, no one seemed to notice you waiting, and the foyer felt cold or chaotic.

The truth is, when it comes to welcoming and friendly schools, they aren’t all created equal. A genuinely welcoming environment isn’t just about being polite. It’s about creating a culture where pupils, staff, parents, governors, and visitors feel they belong the moment they connect with the school, sometimes even before they set foot through the door.

At IQM, we believe in creating an inclusive setting from the beginning, including the welcoming ethos and feel of your school. It’s included as one of the first evaluative framework assessment criteria under inclusive school values.

Let’s look at 10 ways your school can ensure that welcoming and friendly are the first thoughts that come to mind when your school name pops up.

10 ways to make your school more inviting

1. Start with your digital first impression

For many parents, staff, and visitors, their first experience of your school isn’t the building, it’s your website.

Make sure it’s easy to navigate and includes clear information on:

• Directions and public transport links (nearest buses, trains, and walking routes)
• Parking arrangements and accessible entrances
• Who to contact for additional support

This small step reassures families and staff before they arrive and shows your school values inclusion in every form.

If you’re able to have translation options on your school website too, that removes the initial communication barrier straight away.

2. Review the journey to your door

Think like a visitor. Is the signage from the street clear? Are there safe crossings, dropped kerbs, or ramps to help those with mobility needs? Is the main entrance obvious, or do people wander in looking lost?

A quick accessibility audit of your external site can highlight small but important improvements. Some schools add QR codes on gates linking to maps in multiple languages: simple, affordable, and effective.

3. Use technology to bridge language gaps

Welcoming families who speak little or no English is easier than ever. Free translation apps, handheld devices, or dual-language signs in your foyer can help new arrivals feel valued from day one.

Staff should be trained to use these tools quickly and confidently.

Displaying welcome messages in the top languages spoken in your community sends a powerful signal: you belong here, and we’re ready for you.

4. Make your reception team your ambassadors

The first human contact many visitors have is your admin team.

Are they given the time, training, and support to represent your school’s ethos? A friendly greeting, clear guidance on signing in, and confidence in safeguarding procedures set the tone.

Consider:

• Is your sign-in system easy to use and accessible?
• Does your reception area have inclusive visual cues (photos of pupils, achievements, or values in action)?
• Are staff briefed on how to welcome everyone, from inspectors to a nervous new parent?

5. Rethink your foyer or waiting space

First impressions linger. For example, a bare or cluttered foyer can feel cold, while a thoughtfully designed space communicates pride and inclusion.

Some schools in IQM Cluster Groups have transformed waiting areas by displaying:

• Images of children’s learning journeys
• Positive messages about the school’s inclusive ethos
• Information boards showing upcoming events in accessible formats

This not only reassures visitors but also makes a great first impression during Ofsted inspections and external reviews.

6. Build a welcoming culture among all staff

Reception staff may be the first face, but every adult in the building shapes how visitors feel.

Teachers, teaching assistants, lunchtime supervisors, and caretakers should understand that a friendly “hello” matters.

Embed this into staff training and induction so new staff learn from day one that being welcoming isn’t optional, it’s who you are as a school.

7. Plan for smooth arrivals of pupils and staff

Children starting in September or mid-year deserve a confident, well-structured welcome.

A few ideas:

• Assign buddies for pupils joining classes mid-year.
• Provide welcome packs for trainee teachers or new staff with maps, routines, and staffroom norms.
• Offer a virtual tour or short video walkthrough for nervous families.

These low-cost strategies reduce anxiety and help newcomers feel part of the community straight away, from pupils to newly appointed staff.

8. Ensure accessibility isn’t an afterthought

From front gates to classrooms, can every visitor and pupil move freely?

Accessibility considerations can include:

• Step-free entrances and wide corridors
• Clear signage with large fonts and symbols
• Adjustable or varied seating in waiting areas
• Assistive listening devices for meetings, if needed

Even if your building has limitations, showing that you’ve considered and planned around these issues demonstrates genuine inclusion.

9. Use displays and visuals to celebrate diversity

The visual story your school tells matters. Displays should reflect the pupils and families you serve: different cultures, lifestyles, languages, abilities, and achievements.

This representation reminds everyone walking in that this is a place where all are valued.

Avoid tokenistic posters; instead, use real photos of your pupils, quotes about their successes, or examples of inclusive practice in action.

10. Keep communication open and proactive

Welcoming people isn’t just about the moment they arrive. It’s also how you follow up.

Clear, timely communication with parents, staff, and governors helps them feel informed and included.

Consider sending:

• Introductory emails to new staff before their first day
• Welcome letters to parents explaining routines and key contacts
• Governor information packs with strategic priorities and site details

When people know what to expect, they arrive feeling confident rather than anxious.

The impact of a welcoming environment

A genuinely welcoming culture benefits everyone.

For pupils, it reduces anxiety, supports positive behaviour, and sets the tone for successful learning. For staff, it encourages belonging, boosts morale, and reinforces shared purpose. For parents and governors, it builds trust and partnership.

And remember, these impressions often form before anyone walks through the door. A helpful website, clear directions, and proactive communication all show you’ve thought about people’s needs.

When Ofsted or other visitors arrive, they’ll recognise that your school isn’t just performing inclusion, it’s living it.

A welcoming ethos is more than a nice extra. It’s evidence of strong leadership, safeguarding awareness, and strategic thinking.

How can IQM help with your inclusive environment?

School inclusion values are one of our eight assessment areas that underpin the Inclusion Quality Mark evaluative framework. Schools are required to evidence how they demonstrate an inclusive ethos, including creating a welcoming and friendly environment for all.

Get in touch for your FREE school information pack, detailing the evaluative framework, pricing and process in more detail.

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