Private primary - 'assessment'!!!!

[rydercup]

Well thats what they call it. We have decided on a private primary for our 2 DSs. First DS is 4 in January and we have opted to start him in the nursery there for 6 months prior to him going into reception year (2.5 days/week). We have been there this afternoon (I stayed with him) for a bit of familiarisation and he is due to spend Thursday morning there himself to be 'assessed'. I use this term very loosely...as have the teachers there...but wonder what it is exactly they are going to 'assess' him on. They suggested it was just simple things like social interaction...listening etc. I am a little concerned that they are going to start asking him about numbers/letters/reading.......as there were some kiddies there reading today (eeeekkk!!!!!!) Anybody got any experience of this.

dd went to one in the May before she turned 4 in the August to start Reception in the September. She spent a few hours in a class of peers doign whatever they normally did ie. circle time, play time, story , did a craft activity with another child guided by a teacher etc. It was as much about sociabiltiy and attention span as actual knowledge although she did know her letters and numbers pretty well anyway but as far as I know it went "untested". She loved it !

Phew - thanks Lizs. Hope he loves it too!!!

Well all my 4 started off in a mixed ability prep, so no academic assessment as such. My dd has just started in y3 of a very academic prep.

Girls who begin there in reception have, I'm told, a group/play type evaluation. The prospectus explicitly states that the ability to read or write is not a criterion for selection. I'd be surprised if any schools assessed for reading ability at age 3/4; there wouldn't be enough correlation with how they'll do later on.

I'd expect your ds just needs to relax and enjoy himself - easier said than done I know ! - the rest will follow, in that he'll naturally engage in some sort of play or dialogue with the staff/children once he is relaxed iyswim.

rydercup, different schools have different selection criteria for nursery. You are entitled to ask about what exactly will happen on the day eg is it a group situation with ds interacting with other children or a one-to-one interview (with one parent present but in the backgorund).

dd will have to undergo both types. The academic prep school requires her to perform 10 tasks, yes, which involve colours, recognition of pictures. They might test for numbers, letters but I think accept that a child of that age is not required to know.

They are primarily looking for concentration, enthusiasm.

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rydercup, dss both started at prep in Sept, ds1 in form 2 and ds2 in kindergarten. When ds2 went for his assessment, he hid behind his teddy the whole time I left him, when I came back he hid behind me! He still got in, and is loved byt he teachers

All sounds good - thankyou folks!! Feeling much more reassured! Just hoping he will be Ok on his own on Thursday...he had a little bit of a wobble today but did go off and play with some of the other children!! Its all a bit overwhelming for them isn't it!!