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Original poster

3+ 4+ 5+ 7+ support thread 2013

322 replies

mumteacher · 19/12/2012 22:26

I have had a number of messages asking if I have any spaces in my classes. I'm really sorry but I have been at full capacity for some time now.

However, I do appreciate that this is a very stressful time of year for parents who have children sitting these private school assessments in January 2013. So, I'm hoping that by setting up this support group thread I can help by answering some questions you have about these assessments.

Hopefully this thread will also contain some useful insight from the experiences of parents who have already been through the process.

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Original poster
mumteacher · 04/09/2013 00:09

Teajunky is your DD sitting school assessments? It's unclear from your post.

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TeaJunky · 04/09/2013 12:36

Oops sorry! yes she will be next year hopefully...

MrRected · 04/09/2013 12:41

I am overseas. This thread makes me feel queasy. Assessing 3&4 year olds? WTAF?

TeaJunky · 04/09/2013 13:31

Hmm Perhaps you shouldn't be living over the sea if you feel queasy m'dear Grin

Original poster
mumteacher · 05/09/2013 00:13

Teajunky too funny!

A child can pick up phonics quickly it really doesn't take long but once they have the sounds under their belt it's about using them to build/ read words which takes a lot longer to achieve. Your Dd DOB will determine how 'reading ready' she'll need to be by the time the assessments come round.

Games:
I spy
Lets see how many things we can find in the kitchen/play room beginning with the sound....
The Montessori app is also great.

Just talking about weather (for example) isn't enough. Draw/paint/colour pictures of different weather/seasons.
Collect all the things you would need on a summers day and put them in one corner of the room - using the four corners of the room for the four seasons.
Maybe dress dolls in different outfits suited for different weather.
What do different animals do in cold/hot weather?
How is the food cycle (harvest..)relate to weather? plant seeds, cress is great because it is quick to grow and then of course you can use it in a meal.

When learning is fun and 'hands on' it's not so easily forgotten.

OP posts:
TweebSha · 05/09/2013 11:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumof2funones · 05/09/2013 15:41

mumteacher- I have read your advice and think that you are kind hearted parent who is helping those of us who just want the best for our kids.

My daughter is at St Helens, she got through the assessments with very little prep from me. She is a wilful and stubborn child, but incredibly bright and bores easily. She is quite happy there albeit that there are times I wonder if a mixed school would have been more appropriate. I didn't sit her for 4+ assessments at nlc and habs, but I am sitting her for 5+ at habs. Any help/advice would be really appreciated. She is very strong minded, so any coaching has to seem like it was her idea! She is very independent, and in many ways too much so.

My son is now due to sit his assessments for the st.johns/northwood prep/st martins trio. My concerns are that whilst he is quite bright, he does not like to share nor listen to instructions. Competition appears to be rampant, with what I understand is a "bumper" boys year... what can I do to help him?

many thanks!

mumof2funones · 05/09/2013 16:02

and is it too late to get him some coaching...?

twinsgogo · 05/09/2013 22:19

Hi Mumteacher
how can I get in touch with you offline?

Original poster
mumteacher · 07/09/2013 00:08

Mumof2funones have pm'd you.

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Original poster
mumteacher · 09/09/2013 22:42

Twinsgogo have pm'd you.

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september10 · 17/09/2013 10:00

hi mumteacher. how can i get in touch with you offline? i have a 3yr old daughter

Original poster
mumteacher · 17/09/2013 23:39

September10 have pm'd you x

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dGorgeous · 18/09/2013 11:12

Hi mumteacher, I want to prepare my son for Habs 5+ and he is currently in reception (April baby). Are the bond 5-6 books good for preparations? I I checked the content of the bond books and they look so advanced for his age.

I will appreciate if you PM me on how to contact you privately.

Original poster
mumteacher · 20/09/2013 21:55

Have pm'd you dgorgeous

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Nickname99 · 08/10/2013 16:27

I happened on this thread while searching for something else. I don't have children of this age group and I have to admit to being shocked at the level of preparation/tuition for school exams talked about for some very little children. Tuition has been rife for 11+ for years, but 3+??

Having worked until recently for 8 years at one of the North London Girls' School Consortium schools mentioned in some of the comments, I can only say that some of the advice given here is definitely not correct. I can't comment on all inaccuracies, but what I would say is - yes, independent schools do not recommend tuition for their pupils - but they don't say this because "they have to say that don't they" - they say it because pupils at independent schools really don't need extra tuition. They're taught well and they achieve good results without it. Extra tuition can heap too much pressure on children.

The only other thing I'd say is - some of the parents on here sound desperate to get their children into one or other particular school, to the extent of getting tutoring for a 2 or 3 year old. Please be aware that - yes, there are many children at top North London independent schools being tutored on top of their school work, there are also a lot of children at these same schools who develop anxiety complexes, eating disorders and self-harming regimes. Although I worked at an independent school my children went to a state primary and a state comprehensive in outer London. One went on to Oxford and the other is currently undertaking a PhD at Imperial. It's not the end of the world if your child doesn't go to one of these very academic schools - with a solid, supportive, loving home background they can achieve anything (though I have to say that if they go to a comprehensive you may well have to get them some extra tutoring to cover the syllabus.

Original poster
mumteacher · 10/10/2013 23:13

I had a meeting with the Head teacher of a top London school last week and tutoring young children was on the agenda. The head explained that they didn't want children so young tutored. I asked if they could tell if a child had been tutored. The head said yes they could "every time". Which then led me to question why they take these tutored children on? If the school was so anti tutoring at this young age surely they should reflect that when making their selection. The Head was unable to elaborate..!

Nickname99 8 children in my daughters year are tutored. 5 out of choice and 3 on the schools recommendation. These 3 have been tutored out of school in a group. I know this because it was suggested to us by the school that my daughter would do well to join this group. We declined as we believe that like you say the teaching in the school should be enough but clearly it's not and when the school asks for extra support to be available out school most parent oblige.

OP posts:
hwjm1945 · 11/10/2013 16:03

Hi
My two are sitting for St Albans Girls and St Ftancis' Letwchworth, for Sept 2014 entry into y5 and y4
Whihc BOND books do I use?

7-8 for one and 8-9 for the other? or abvoe?

Tableforfour · 11/10/2013 20:59

I don't get this "tutoring is evil" attitude. All private schools take from "feeder" nurseries, where they essentially practise (or you could call it tutor.....) for the assessments all day every day from the September beforehand. What's the difference between that and a weekend tutor once a week?

Mummyoftheyear · 11/10/2013 22:15

What a helpful post. Thank you.

Mummyoftheyear · 11/10/2013 22:30

I'm a tutor, too. Happy to add my own top tips :)

Schmedz · 12/10/2013 16:07

Nickname99 you are not alone!

What competitive madness has overtaken parenting when it is felt 'necessary' to prepare and bribe children to behave in a certain manner for the purposes of entering a particular institution?

Original poster
mumteacher · 13/10/2013 02:11

Mumoftheyear welcome aboard (the thread )! ;) As the assessments draw nearer it'll be great for parents to get your top tips x

Schmedz there is a more appropriate thread about the merits or not of tutoring young children that I started around the same time as this one.

I'm hoping this thread can still maintain its initial outlook to help support parents with advice from tutors and parents who have survived the journey! X

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Mummyoftheyear · 13/10/2013 07:52

;)

Tableforfour · 13/10/2013 19:58

What competitive madness has overtaken parenting when it is felt 'necessary' to prepare and bribe children to behave in a certain manner for the purposes of entering a particular institution?

No one wants to do this stuff. But you have to work with the system you are in and, if all the state schools near you are poor, and all the private schools are uber selective, what choice do you have? Is it any worse than finding God in order to get your child into a good school? Plenty of people do that!