If a child is "national average" at the end of Y3, how are their chances to be successful at 11+

[QuintessentialOldDear]

DS2 has just finished Y3, and he has a very good school report where he is at leve 3c at everything. I am very happy with this.

He came straight from nursery in Norway, with only rudimentary English, and went into Y2. I think he has done very well to catch up with his peers the last two years. His teacher is amazed at his achievement and think he has made a rapid progress. I am aware he may now plateau.

He is very interested in science, a keen reader, mostly reads about rocks, fossils, butterflies, and "young science" books. He also likes historic graphic novels.

Maths is however his best subject.

How can we ensure that we best support his education and what sort of extra things can we do to ensure he keeps developing and will go on to do well for 11+ ?

My brother could barely write his name aged 7, really struggled with writing/reading. Maths was good if the question was read to him.

When this was acknowledge and with work from mum, he gained an A at the 11+.

If your child has caught up already, then there is no reason why not. Keep stimulating him to continue learning.

I think your son does have a chance with the eleven plus, but you will need to find him a tutor to help with gaps in English. This would not be hot housing, but giving your son a fair chance against the brightest children who have been in the UK since birth.

Ds has a friend who got level 1s in key stage 1 SATs as he had only been in England for a term, but he has gained a level 6 in maths and a level 5 in English at key stage 2. The little boy's first language is hindi so he has to learn all his letter sounds as well as new language.

At the age of eleven he has gained a place at a super selective school after a bit of tutoring to get his English up to speed.

Luckily we know just the tutor. His older brother came straight from Y3 in Norway and to Y5, and had lots to catch up on as the Norwegian school system is far behind. He did do reception and Y1 in London, but had 3 years in Norway where he had to start again at R level, as they start school the year they turn 6, not 4, in Norway.

Ds1 did well at 11+ and got into a selective (not super selective) independent. We just want ds2 to have the same opportunity.Not necessarily the same school as ds2 is much more sporty and arty than ds1. He had a fantastic tutor that he saw once a week to bridge the gap in literacy and numeracy. But ds1 has always been the more academic of the two, and ds2 the sporty one. Ds2 also has less patience to spend time on his homework and learning in general.

I think there is a good chance that he will do well, especially because you are looking at independent schools as well. The 11 plus for a grammar school is all about how your child performs on the day, and is often just multiple choice marked by computer. An independent school will use the exam, interview and a reference from the child's current school to determine potential. This is particularly true for semi-selective schools. I'm sure that super selectives are more concerned with raw test scores.

Both your dc have done brilliantly coping with being educated in a new language. You must be so proud of them.