Assesments for private nursery

[jesska]

We are taking our 2.8yo DS to two private schools for assessments for entry to kindergarten next school year. We are currently living abroad and planning to come back to the UK next year, so we're making a special trip combined with an xmas family visit...

Long story short, this just occured to me (and will probably sound insanely silly), but does DS need to be wearing something "smart" for these interviews? I mean, I wasn't planning on taking him looking like a complete slob, but he only has casual things, ie jeans or play trousers... duh, because he is 2!! But I thought I should ask in case I'm in for a rude shock when we get there. I'm otherwise not getting to excited about the interviews, since we will be fighting major jetlag at that point anyway, so my expectations are low.

Tia!

I would never have thought there was an "assessment" for kindergarten, even a private one. Do all private nurseries do that? What sort of assessment?

I would take him there with the sort of clothes a 2.8 year old will feel confortable in.

I know, it seems ridiculous. It's not so much an interview as that they just want to see the kids playing etc. This is for the nursery of Dulwich College Prep School, which is near where we live. I think they have to do assessments because they don't do admissions on a first-come-first-served basis. The other school we are taking him to, Herne Hill, goes by who is on the list (which DS is, yay!) but they still have to see him before they formally offer a place.

It is over the top, but as we are currently abroad and the local school (v good, so v oversubscribed) doesn't have a nursery, we thought we had better cover all bases.

Ds just had an assessment at a private school for entry into reception next year. I just put him in a pair of tidy joggers (as opposed to ones with tomato stains/on the edge of growing out), and a long sleeved top. But their kindergarten (where the assessment was) wear joggers, sweatshirts and polo shirts anyway.

Assessment was just seeing if he could go to the loo independantly, take his coat on and off, talking to him about stuff (he was happy to be left, so he spent the morning with them, therefore I didn't get to see it all), and playing with him

Thanks. I honestly don't have any really smart things for him anyway right now, so he'll just go in his normal things. I think he will be ok going for a "special play" as I've advertised it...he goes to a preschool twice a week and never bats an eyelid when I leave (in fact they have to remind him to say Bye!). He isn't toilet trained yet but they can't require that right now. For next year, fine, but right now we're still working on it.

When my DS2 went to his nursery for a trial morning - to see if he was ready to start next term or the one after - he wore a knitted tomato hat, his favourite t-shirt and a pair of hand-me-down shorts ... this was for Thomas's, SW London, pretty hardcore private. All his choice. I don't remember our other 2 children even having a trial morning there.

For Reception Assessments, I put them in clothes they felt comfortable in but a bit smart, like a special morning feeling but not so they were uncomfortable curling up on the floor & listening to a story. They just drew, cut out, talked about stories etc.

If they're going to be doing normal nursery stuff, he should wear normal nursery clothes - the kind yr happy to come home covered in paint, glue, glitter and whatever he's cooked! Or he could wear an overall?

Does anyone know what sort of things they do with our DCs at these assessments? We have one coming up for our DS who is not quite 3 for the nursery of a prep school (the same one that Jesska was writing about in this thread above). I'm fairly relaxed about it as I'm assuming that not too much can be expected of 2 1/2 year olds, but DH getting worried about it and concerned that we should be doing more with DS to prepare !

I am looking for these assesssments too? My DS is going for one of these and getting very worried about them. What can they assess the 3y old on? Can anyone share their experiences with us? Thanks!

a friend has been offered a place at dulwich college pre-prep for reception. he was already reading cvc words at 3 years old and they remarked on this. however, his physical development was average. children taken off for approx 30 -45 mins for a 'play' session. about 16 places available I think? being dul coll. probably looking for above average academically even at this age! would think at 2.8 some knowledge of letters, particularly in his/her name, basic shape recognition, etc

oddly, dulwich college prep school is not part of dulwich college.......

dd1 did an "assessment" morning where she joined in with the nursery class for the day (her assessment was for reception, so the nursery class were her peers at the time of the assessment)

she just joined in with their activities - some painting and playing and they spent some time with her.
she was reading fluently by then but they didn't comment on it so i don't think they "checked" or "assessed" her specifically, they would have commented i am sure.

the nursery children wore uniform so she had to wear a dark colour dress/cardigan (i ended up buying her it from asda as had nothing suitable).

she really enjoyed the day and the next morning refused to go back to her old daycare nursery!

Hi, DS (was 3.5 at the time now 4) had a couple of interviews for private schools around us. He can't read but knows his letters.
Basically they took them off into a classroom for a couple of hours, they had to draw a picture and describe what they were drawing, they sat down for a story, one school then took them outside for ball games and running around and the other did sort of cognative games inside - sequences, matching stuff.
My son loved it - hence the amount of info - I was in a next door room listening to the head mistress. Although we were offered both, we opted for the C of E primary 4 mins walk away!
PS no need to dress up. need to look clean and presentable, but thats it