Pre-prep assessments - HELP!

[mybabyangels]

My dd has turned 3 a couple of months ago. Like most parents, she was registered at nursery/pre-prep from 6 weeks old at a numbers of schools in the Fulham/Kensingon area where we live. We had a PTA last Friday with her Montessori school teacher that said that although incredibly academic and independent, she may need help to expand her language skills to get through the assessments and to feel comfortable with working in groups (she's ONLY 3 for goodness sake!). I asked what the assessments would entail but she said it varied and couldn't provide concrete advice. Now I am in a massive panic as she will be assessed at Glendower in November (aged 3.5) and then at Ken Prep (my first choice) and Thomas'/Fulham thereafter. I have been advised that tutoring is the way to go but I have no idea where to start with that. Are these private tutors readily available, where do I find them and what should I expect to pay them? Does anyone know about the assessments at these three schools and could tell me more? The schools are a little cagey! Any advice would be gratefully received! Thank you in advance!

Why are you putting your dd through this? There are plenty of non selective schools that get equally good results. to expand her vocabulary you should read with her.

Who advised you to tutor at this age, and why do you think the advice is worth taking?

If you want to expand her vocabulary, read to her and perhaps ask her what she thinks might happen next. Make up stories together. Ask her to describe what she's doing, what she's drawn, what she liked best during the day.

'Like most parents'. Chortle. Really not, really, most parents do not do this.
'Incredibly academic'. She's three.
Agree with other posters' advice. Though perhaps also suggest that you should widen your social circle.

You cannot tutor a 3 year old to feel comfortable working in groups. This is something that children develop after working in groups on a variety of activities. As other posters say - expanding vocabulary will come through reading a wide variety of books and through talk. She shouldn't have an enormous vocabulary yet - it comes with time and experience. Words can't be taught out of context.

If the prep schools are any good the assessments will not be to see what she already knows - they will be to see if she fits in with their school ethos and if they think she has the potential to learn. This is not something that can be faked or tutored.

If you want her to go to these schools then you are just going to have to hope that she fits their criteria. Please don't put any pressure on her - they are assessments, not exams.

tutoring a 3 yr old would be madness. Some dcs aren't up to a ludicrous exam at that age. I didn't put my dd through these, because she was/is very shy and I thought would hate them. She got into a very academic prep aged 7, I know plenty of others "failed" at this age who went on to do more than fine. Put your dd through it, if your heart's set on it, but beyond reading and playing with her, you can't do a lot more. And btw the Montessori head sounds rubbish, if she can't give you an idea about school's requirements. Double rubbish if she recommended the tutoring.

My children have done assessments for 2 of those three. My son is a July baby so I wondered how he would get on at Thomas's, he loved it. I think they read them a story and asked them to talk about it which he sees as great fun. I worried as he was no where near able to write his name etc which I am sure some nurseries teach them in advance of the assessment, but I need not have worried.

I agree w poster above who said there is a big element of how will they fit in, eg Thomas's is very concerned about manners, listening and maturity as they do a lot of moving around the school and need to be under control, able to follow instructions etc. so tutoring is not the answer, but getting them comfortable w sitting still and listening, doing fun puzzles w people they have only just met, getting them to offer opinions in stories when you read together etc., that's all you really need.

Hi, we did assessments from November to Jan this year at a number of London schools - not the ones you mention though. We didn't tutor, but DD goes to a good kindergarten which I'm sure helped. Assessments varied from school to school, but could involve listening to a storybook and answering questions, drawing a picture of your family, writing your name, recognising and grouping similar objects or shapes, replicating models made of duplo/Lego blocks, and group play. I've heard of schools also doing puzzles, lacing, threading beads but as far as DD was willing to tell me, none of her assessments included these skills. They also didn't do any sport or physical activity (that I know of). Reading and writing was not assessed, other than the child recognising or writing their own name.

In terms of what you can do :

-I know that some people register their children to schools they are not interested in, just so the child gets a "practice" assessment before their "real" ones, to get comfortable with the setting.

-There are lots of good apps that can also help your DD with maths and reasoning. If you do a MN search you will find loads of suggestions.

-If you want to improve her vocabulary, I would recommend books such as the Hairy McLary ones, Katie and the Sunflowers (and others in that collection), Julia Donaldson's, Harry and the Dinosaurs and generally just lots and lots of reading.

For those who say "don't put your child through that", my DD had a ball each time. I told her they were "special playgroups" and she had/has no idea she was being assessed. She is not the most outgoing child, although she isn't shy, but the schools obviously have tons of experience at putting children at ease. They are assessed with children of the same age so you don't need to worry about her being young - she will be compared to her age peers. The highlight for DD was being given a biscuit at the end of each session. It was certainly not an ordeal!

Some people on MN seem to think that only the most outgoing children perform well at assessments. That was not my experience. I also think that schools are probably looking to get a mix of personalities - who would want to teach a group of 20 alpha kids? They need some compliant / cerebral kids to counterbalance the very energetic/ dominant ones.

Good luck, I walked in your shoes and I remember the stress! It will all be fine in the end.