4+ pre prep assessments

[drmumoftwo]

Hi guys,
Can you please share your experience of the assessments at both 3+ and 4+. Any particular toys or activities that children were asked to do? Please and thank you!

Depends on the prep. But usually 3+ is ‘easier’ - entrance is focussed on them being potty trained, how well they can communicate and interact with each other in a group play setting, and your standard p’s and q’s (my son seriously impressed by trying to hold the door out for his teachers).

4+ can go into phonics / handwriting / maths depending on the prep. Or the children might be asked to make a short verbal presentation on a favourite topic. But it can vary wildly.

My little nephew was apparently the only one who participated in "tidy up time!"
But he told us he'd done "some counting" (of dinosaur toys).
That seems to have been about it but he was offered a place.

Should also add that if you already have siblings in a school 3+ and 4+ is usually just a formality. This frustrates me as the mum of an Only - we spent ages potty training him as it was a ‘requirement’ & we started and there are siblings in his class who are still in pull ups!!

Thank you both! Really helpful! I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old but we're hoping they'll end up at the same school.
We've applied to a few schools in central including St Paul's Cathedral and have a 3+ assessment at Grimsdell. Looking at Habs, UCS and Highgate. Our priority is that he goes to a supportive happy school that will encourage kids to be the best version of themselves. academics are very important to us too! We heard Westminster under will be starting at 4+ soon and hoping they do so in the next year or so

I have girls (2 y) and I’m honestly disturbed by the stories how often 3 year old are tutored to get to a school of their parents choice. I’d like to have a bit more relaxed approach. Where does your elder son go to nursery? Hope it’s ok to ask. They should be able to advise on 4+ prep. Our nursery advised boys normally move at 7+ as that’s when they’re ready to sit assessments.

Hi @teoma thank you for your message. He goes to a lovely nursery nearby which focuses on the child's happiness, confidence building and kindness. I completely understand where you're coming from. We were too. The whole idea of assessing a child at that age is not ideal at all, however, the state schools in our area aren't great.
The most important thing to us is that the kids go to a school which focuses on wellbeing and thankfully a lot of the schools we apply to do. Im asking about the toys not because we want to put any pressure on them to play with them, but so that they can familiarise themselves with them and see if they enjoy playing with it. In the end, if they get accepted to a school and we're concerned about the pressure put on the child at the assessment, it would be a very quick no from us.

I think it’s basic counting, cutting with scissors, being able to focus while listening to a story and answer questions about it, naming shapes and colours, picking a card with their name on it (some deny that’s a requirement but lots of my friends have mentioned it and I have every reason to believe them).

Hi - I’ve set up at 2024 thread here if you want to join!
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/primary/4938610-4-assessments-2023

Casting my mind back, the assessment included things like 'please can you fetch the purple pen from the blue box and bring it to me'. Another one was toy cars arranged in a pattern, with son being asked to copy the pattern ( two cars then three cars etc).
Doing a simple jigsaw.
Asking what he thought was interesting about a picture or photograph etc.

They used to be big on pattern recognition and jigsaws 'tessellation' as indicators of mathematical ability ( load of cobblers if you ask me)!

thank you. At which school was this?