What to expect from primary school assessments? Yr1

[Maybetimeforachange]

We have just started the process of moving DD from a state primary to a non / marginally selective prep school. We have found 4 schools with yr1 places all of which would like her to come to spend the morning with her potential class and to have an assessment. I think that we will probably start off with putting her in for our 2 favourites and take it from there but I wondered what they are likely to ask her to do.

She is reading ORT level 8 fluently and writes neatly with good spelling and produces lovely stories. She can also manage straightforward comprehension and can spot mistakes in text ie missing capitals, missing full stops, simple spelling errors. Her maths is a little weaker but still of the standard one would expect in yr1.

What questions are they likely to ask her so that I can gently prepare her? She is very shy so I think it would be good for her to have some idea what to expect.

I don't want to stress her out as we haven't really discussed moving schools with her other than to ask her if she would like to spend the morning in a school to see if she likes it but equally I need to give her the best chance as we are desperate to move her as she is so miserable at her current school.

Finally, What should she wear? I don't want to put her in her current school uniform and she will completely refuse to wear a skirt or dress so would black jeans and a smart plain cardigan with a plain top underneath be suitable to spend the morning in a class?

Where you based? What schools you sitting?

We are in Herts and are sitting her for St Margaret's and St Hilda's in Bushey and possibly for Aldenham.

my ds is at a selective pre-prep in year 1 and from what you have said, she would definitely be in the top third of the class re; writing and reading at this stage. They will probably just read a book with her, do some simple mental and written addition/subtraction/number bonds, see what her concentration levels are like and check she is not disruptive! they may also quietly assess how she is with the other children ie able to join in (if she is very shy this might be something you could work on). Good luck and I'm sure she will get in with no probs

Icancancan, thank you. Interesting to know that she would be around the top 3rd in your school because according to her teacher it makes her completely average in her current class which surprised me a little as her literacy is far better than her brothers was at the same age yet he was considered very able.

I will go over her number bonds to 20 with her so that she feels confident in them. Her concentration is good and she won't be disruptive so we should be ok there. I just need to give her a few reminders that she might like to say something other than watching TV and playing on the computer if she is asked what she likes doing.

In terms of her shyness she will certainly be very quiet at the start and may not say much but if they are having her there for the morning she will hopefully warm up as time goes by.

Would the school maybe lend a uniform for the day if she would be happier being the same? I know a girl came on trial to DD's school and borrowed a uniform.

My DD is year 1 non selective prep and i'd agree that your DD would be at the top end of her class.

My DD can be shy with stangers. I'd try to encourage your DD to say hello and goodbye politely with a smile but i'm sure they would expect her to be quiet in a new environment.

I'm sure she will be fine.

That's an excellent idea about the uniform, I will ask them. When DD had a new girls in her class come for a trial last summer the girl borrowed a school summer dress and sweatshirt and I thought at the time that it was a good idea.