private tutor in Hampstead.

[suriya]

My DS( 3+) is going for his assessment at Hall School in Feb 2012. I might be a bit too late but I'm looking for a good tutor just to prep him (crazy...I know!!) for it. Any one knows a good tutor in Hampstead area.

Thanks

I know parents can get quite stressed out about assessments but tutoring a 3 year will not make him/her more successful at the assessments. Having gone through many of these for my son (currently at the Hall) and daughter, the schools generally look for readiness for school at their current age. So all the things your son normally would be exposed to at his current nursery school will be preparation enough. I have found from other parents that some children who are over tutored/prepared often get too nervous at the assessments and tends to backfire instead.

Please do not tutor your child. 3 year olds learn by playing not formal learning. Anyone who takes your money to tutor a 3 year old is a con merchant.

We had a discussion with one of the ex-heads of one of the selective NW schools about this subject. One that does select at 3+.

And we were told exactly what the previous poster said.

Anyone who takes money to tutor a 3 year old is a con merchant. What do you think a tutor can teach a 3 year old in a 40 minute session a week which will be worthwhile / make an impact?

I agree. Schools can spot tutoring and it will count against you.

Ummm there were 8 girls in my dd yr who were all tutored. Yes they spot it and no it doesnt stop them from taking that child on!

So, is that a good sign for that school? I would use that fact as to choose another!

I actually see the point in tutoring IF a child doesn't go to nursery etc. I have done it and it's partly about getting a child to feel secure and confident doing the kinds of activities they're likely to do at an assessment with a strange person and partly insider knowledge on way schools are looking for. I've tried to give parents realistic expectations because you can't teach a 3yo anything they aren't capable of doing, however if a key marker is, say, being able to use scissors and a parent has never done that with a child then learning that skill is obviously beneficial.

I don't just do it for cash btw - I happily share what I know on MN on threads like this and via PM.

I don't really understand schools being selective at that age. It doesn't make sense! Even if a 3 yo cannot use scissors, they may not be interested in cutting or have not been exposed to them - it doesn't tell you anything about a 3 yo child - its way too early.

DS had no interest in drawing or writing until well into Reception (4 1/2!), he couldn't hold a pen, nor could he count properly! Now in Y2 he is in the top group for maths and he writes as well as any other Y2 child.

A friend of ours told me recently that she didn't go to a local private school but her sister did. She said it was because she was too dim at age 4!!! She still went to uni and has a very good job (earns more than her sister).

IME they're not selecting so much on eventual potential as personality and ability to understand and interact (and obey requests) at that point in time to get a group that will 'learn nicely' as a teacher once put it. In primary an environment conducive to learning can give a child a huge advantage.

I agree that the scissors text is fairly ridiculous but it's quite widely used.

You shouldn't need to tutor your son for 4+. Schools just like to see independence in the child and that they are ready for learning. A good nursery will teach you the things you need to know, such as writing your name (but generally being able to recognise it is adequate), know your colours, draw a circle, draw a person, letter, sounds, shapes, number. But most of all they want confident, happy individuals who are nice to other children and are ready to go to school (e.g. not crying when they have to leave their mums). 3 boys from DS class at nursery got offered places at the Hall this year and none of them were tutored, the nursery prepared them and the parents were relaxed about the whole thing which helped. Which nursery are you at out of interest? Broadhurst, mulberry house, fordywych are very good at getting children into prep schools such as the hall.

I'm waiting for an occasional place at The Hall School. Maybe when a child has done 7+ exams and is leaving at the end of yr2. Does anyone know what type of tests they do for an occasional place assessment at Hall School?