4+ exams if you are a SAHM or have nanny

[ItsFineImFine]

Does anyone have any advice on how likely a child is to get a place via the 4+ exams in London day schools ( Alleyns/ JAGS/ GDST etc) if the DC are looked after exclusively by SAHM or nanny ie without any formal nursery etc before the 4+ assessment?

Thanks so much!

Weird system. I know so many high performing kids who would have failed that kind of test miserably at age 4. My own daughter would have aced it, as she was an early developer in social skills and language, but as a teenager she’s a very average performer in most things and not a high flyer.

@MomFromSE thank you so much! I’m now on the hunt for local nurseries that take the 15 hours so thank you for letting me know!

Yes this is why choosing the right school is important. The right school builds on a child’s skills - doesn’t erase them. And 4+ can help privates identify the kids that will flourish there - many popular schools don’t hesitate to say no if they feel they can’t support a child

One of the difficulties with Alleyns/JAGS is the sheer number of applicants per place. It’s huge. Syd High/DPL/St Dubstans tend to have a lower ratio and the latter two have nursery places so worth looking at early if you like them as options.

My daughters both went to local nurseries part time before sitting the 4+ so weren’t prepped in any way and enjoyed the experience.

Some good local options for your 15 hours outside of the private school nurseries are Dulwich Village Pre-school and Blossoms. They are school hours and term time only so plenty of time at home with mum/nanny as well. My younger daughter had a nanny and did two days a week from 2 3/4 and went up to 3 days for the year before school with me and our nanny covering the other days.

State Schools like Goodrich and Heber also have nursery places but less flexibility potentially in terms of being offered 5 mornings or 5 afternoons (but this might have changed).

Good luck!

At GDs well known private school the first part of the assessment was having her name called and having to go with the teacher on her own. If they didn’t do that they were out! There were twelve different assessment tables but none of the girls did them all. She had to write her name, do some counting, colour a rainbow and make some food out of play dough. She made what she told the teacher was ‘a magic pizza that would inflate her she would float away’. Some schools do expect them to be able to read or at least know their phonics. My DD didn’t go to nursery but had plenty of play dates and I did all the stuff they were likely to do at nursery with them.

@BadgerFace thank you so much! I will try all four of these places, you are a ⭐️!! I spoke to Dulwich nursery they have some space 😊

Thank you @mdh2020 ! This is so helpful to know 😊

@blissfullyunaware well done to your DC on getting into JAGS. Mine did the assessment today but it was her second chance as she cried the first time.
She was inside for the full 1hr 15 mins but doesnt tell me much when I ask except they asked her to draw mum. Do you know anyone who cried and was given a second chance got in?

@shar90 i do! I know a little girl who had an epic meltdown and refused to go in screaming etc then got offered a Place 😊

best of luck!

@ItsFineImFine thank you :)