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Primary education

3+ 4+ 5+ 7+ support thread 2013

322 replies

mumteacher · 19/12/2012 22:26

I have had a number of messages asking if I have any spaces in my classes. I'm really sorry but I have been at full capacity for some time now.

However, I do appreciate that this is a very stressful time of year for parents who have children sitting these private school assessments in January 2013. So, I'm hoping that by setting up this support group thread I can help by answering some questions you have about these assessments.

Hopefully this thread will also contain some useful insight from the experiences of parents who have already been through the process.

OP posts:
Tutoringmummy · 20/12/2012 11:23

Xmas Shock

I don't understand this post. Are you advertising your tutoring business in a round about way?

givemeaclue · 20/12/2012 13:44

Tutor for 3 year old?

mumteacher · 20/12/2012 14:31

I'm at full capacity and almost full for next year too. So no not advertising anything. Just wanting to help those that need/want it. I can't answer all my PM and since many ask similar questions I thought a thread like this might be useful.

Eg- my DD is sitting 4+ at x,y,z school what is the best thing(s) for me to do with her over the next 3 weeks?

Etc...

This isn't a thread about questioning why people tutor young children, that is personal choice. Its comments like these that stop some mumsnet users from posting. They fear the attack they will come under should they mention tutoring so young. This is the other reason for this post.

Every parent has the right to do what they feel is right by their child, please don't jugde.

So, unless you can contribute positively to the main post please do not post.


Many thanks,

OP posts:
sh77 · 20/12/2012 21:58

Will be following with great interest. My ds is too young but, if he has the ability, hoping to get him into a top London school. What kinds of things do you suggest I can do to help him (he is only 22 months)? Also, what type of child gets

sh77 · 20/12/2012 22:01

Hit post too soon. Also, what type of child gets into the top schools? Can you give specific examples ?

slalomsuki · 20/12/2012 22:04

Round us the assessments for these levels and higher are done in October and November depending on the age. Some parents have their offer letters already.

mumteacher · 20/12/2012 23:45

Sh77 this is a great age when they(Chn) are into everything. They want to do it all. Whatever you do with your son make he enjoys it and so you're able to focus his attention on the activity for as long as possible, helping him build his concentration span. For example if your building different coloured towers and this time he sat and helped you build the towers for 1.0 minute. Then next time you bring this activity out again see if you can capture his attention for 1.30 minutes. Have at least one activity that requires him to sit with you in this way each day.

Sing lots of nursery rhymes, and read a variety of stories. Ask him what his favourite part of the story was and then tell him what your favourite part was and why.

Talk about things that are happening around him - it's getting colder, days are getting shorter, he may not of course understand a lot of it but the sounds of the new vocabulary will help with learning new words later.

OP posts:
JoanByers · 21/12/2012 00:54
Biscuit
sh77 · 21/12/2012 01:03

Brilliant advice. Thank you. I hadn't thought of improving concentration in any one activity but see the benefit of it. Are you the tutor based in N London by any chance?

Tutoringmummy · 21/12/2012 11:35

I still think this is covert advertising. Why else would anyone give so freely of their time, refer to " almost being full" and refer to PMs they had had asking for advice? Sorry OP you may be genuine, but I think you are over stepping the line a little.

mumteacher · 21/12/2012 16:23

Over stepping a line? Why because I'm not charging for good advise you think I'm not genuine ?! Maybe I'm just not as money motivated as you!!

My classes for this year are full hence I have set up this thread so I can help those who I can't see and so far it's working.

If your name is true and you also tutor why can't you contribute to this discuss? Or won't you give your time so freely?!

Tutoring mummy I ask you again please do not post on this thread unless you can add something positive to the really discussion. It's a difficult time of year for parents going thorough the assessments and the comments you're making are not supportive (this is a support thread). (if you still feel I'm doing an injustice please report this thread to mumsnet and let it be their decision).

OP posts:
Tutoringmummy · 21/12/2012 17:06

It's advice you want- not advise= incorrect spelling.

I find your post very aggressive and with great respect it is not your role to tell me or anyone to step off a thread.

I also find your comments very personal and rather offensive- such as " being money orientated" etc.

I will post as much as I like and what I like within the rules of MN forums.

Jigsawmadness · 21/12/2012 17:50

Goodness me why do threads like these have to descend into bitchiness every time! Mumteacher is simply offering to share her expertise and, from someone who has benefited from her (free) advice in the past regarding my DD's 4+ assessment, I find your tone unhelpful, Tutoringmummy.

OliviaPeaceOnMumsnet · 21/12/2012 18:28

Evening all
We certainly don't want any kind of bitchiness
That said, there is no link here to any kind of advert for the OP's tutoring business - though we would stress that the internet being what it is, we obviously can't vouch for the qualifications etc of any posters on Mumsnet.
Thanks so much and Merry Christmas

Livingintheburbmum · 21/12/2012 20:39

I'll take mumteacher up on the offer of advice. Thanks

any advice on how to make sure DS behaves without over emphasising /hyping up the assessment. Eg I don't want to say to him behave, do your best, don't snatch etc as he then knows that something else is going on . . He's doing 3+ at a north London school

Any other tips?

thanks :-)

mumteacher · 21/12/2012 21:32

Livingintheburbmum behaviour is always tricky in that like you say you don't want to make the assessments a bigger deal than needs to be but you do want your child to behave and do his best.

The 3+ assessment at north London schools will look for a child who follows instructions well, is social and shares.

Instructions- can you please get that blue pencil from the pen pot and put it on my desk ? If a child follows the instructions that's great. Some children will say no and carry on playing with whatever they're playing with. Some children will pretend they haven't heard the question.

Livingintheburbmum I have one word for you - bribe ;) (I'm sure someone will be along soon enough gunning that I said that)!

You have one chance at securing a place and it's not the end of the world if you say to your son the morning of "if you do some great listening to the teachers and do what the teachers ask you, you can have this new teddy/lollly pop/ whatever when you come back out."

With my DD I had to use lollipops - Worked a treat.

OP posts:
Livingintheburbmum · 21/12/2012 21:50

Thanks mumteacher. That's great advice. May well have to get the chocolate buttons out.

My DS is confident mainly but they are so little he could have an off day, not concentrate etc. and the school is so oversubscribed I wonder whether they can just take the ones that happen to be having a good day, slept well etc or whether they really can see the potential. I guess they have to make the selection some how.

One technical q - will any reading or writing be expected at 3+ as opposed to 4+? My DS can recognise letters etc but isn't yet up to writing his name.

mumteacher · 21/12/2012 22:36

No writing words maybe asked to recognise his name and a colouring activity.

OP posts:
Seaswan · 28/12/2012 21:55

Hello Mumteacher,

My daughter is sitting 4+ assessments in a week's time and I've done my best to prepare her based on what I've seen on previous threads...cutting, jigsaw puzzles (she did a 100 piece puzzle on her own today), recognition and writing of her own name, drawing skills etc. she can also read simple sentences and reader books and sounds out confidently. She is articulate and her nursery teacher tells me that her language skills are quite advanced for her age - she was born in March 2009. She counts confidently upto 100 and recognises the numbers too. I'm not overly worried about her academic ability as I think hopefully she will be alright there...but she can be a bit hesitant in new situations socially and tends to observe new people or environments before joining in...being an only child I feel she is a little less confident socially and would like your opinion on how much this may impact her chances of getting in...the first round is all about interacting in a group so would she fare well? Any last minute tips or advice? Thanks from a stressed mum x

Seaswan · 28/12/2012 22:01

Forgot to mention: my daughter's sitting at Habs, NLCS, St. Helen's...

mumteacher · 29/12/2012 22:27

Seaswan your right in that round 1 at the schools you've mentioned do look for girls who interact with each other as the assessment is group based. More importantly it will look at how the girls interact with the assessor/teachers. They will be looking for leadership qualities, for example the activity might be to sing a nursery rhyme and do the actions to it. The teachers may be looking for the girls who sing the loudest and who do the actions which the others girls in the group follow.

Crying and detachment from the parent is also taken into consideration. Round 1 your DD gets up-set and cries it's ok but if it happens again in round 2 it will be noted.

However, they are looking for a mixture of personalities. The main focus is going to be academic ability which, from what you say is fine.

My own DD cried in round 2 and the headmistress of one of the schools you mentioned suggested maybe their school wasn't appropriate for my child.

Lastly please try not to stress- your DD will sense it x

Good luck

OP posts:
Leafmould · 29/12/2012 22:52

Can you fill in a little of the context to this thread please? Is it that dc have to pass an assessment to get into a private school? Do they then get a bursary, or do they have to be selected just for their parents to have the privilege of paying the fees? I am just asking because I am genuinely ignorant about anything to do with private school.

Thanks

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traintracks · 30/12/2012 03:43

I know mumteacher IRL and can vouch that she has more business than she can handle and isn't touting for more! I believe that she has a daughter sitting these assessments this year so it is actually extraordinarily generous of her to be offering tips to children who may be in direct competition with her own.

Leafmould, this is just for the privilege of sending your child to the school and paying the fees! Private schools in N London can be oversubscribed by 5-10:1

motherto4 · 31/12/2012 00:49

I have 3 questions if that's OK.

  1. My DD got a school report at the end of year 4 and got 'A's for English and Maths and 'B' for everything else. What do these grades mean? I just had a baby at that time so didn't bother to ask. I work at a school and understand levels as in 3a, 3b but DD already achieved these grades in year 3; in a different school might I add. I feel that if I ask the school they may think me a pushy parent!

  1. At first I decided against preparing her for the 11, would have had to do it my self as cannot afford private tuition. This is because the grammar school is in another town and, additionally, I don't think my DD would have suited the environment. We have a local private prep and grammar school which offer 50% scholarship to pupils who pass the 11. But even with the scholarship I cannot afford to send her there. However now the local grammar may become a state funded school - the intake will be for all local pupils though they will look into school reports. My question, after all that is, is there any logic in preparing her for the 11*?


  1. If I think my child is able, in one subject, to achieve a level 6 at the end of the key stage 2 SATs then is it worth pursuing with the school, without sounding too pushy!!
mumteacher · 31/12/2012 10:47

Motherto4 different schools use different ways to grade and assess children. It is a little usually to be graded A B C in year 4 but nit unheard of. I would most definitely ask the school if you have concerns. To me from what you've said looks like your DD is doing very well overall. If this was my child I would look at science and ict and see why she didn't achieve higher in these two subjects too. Your DD seems like a bright girl.

If there is no test/assessment for the local state grammar school then it does seem pointless to prepare. I would check with the school if they have a selection process at all before making a decision not to prepare.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to understand how your child is doing at school. Speak to the class teacher she may want you to make an appointment so can discuss your questions properly. Please don't think this means you're a pushy parent. Just one that wants the best for her children. As a teacher I think it's really important to get parents on board.

OP posts:
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