3+ 4+ 5+ 7+ support thread 2014

[mumteacher]

I started the below thread last year and have had so many people find it useful I thought it might be worth doing it again.

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.

Ha ha ha ha

4plusmum, bobali, no need for bitchiness on the forum. It just lowers the tone which is disappointing. Everyone on here is mature enough to reach their own conclusions. If you don't approve don't visit the thread! Simples ;)

When observations are made, accusations of bitchiness follow.
Very odd. Is there a fan club? For who?
I can't see anyone offering any help or support of late, for you to be so protective of them.

Tomorrow is a big day when the results of the assessments will be declared. I am keeping my fingures crossed. I am thankful to all the parents who contributed to this forum.
Based on my experience of the assessment process for schools like- Channing, Nlcs, Habs and St Helens, i would like to pen down the topics the future parents should go through with their kids for 4+ assessment.

-orchard toy puzzles and games
-Lego and blocks ( make something specific)
-Playdough( make something) this time st helens asked to make a tractor
-Sequence ( finsh a sequence in beading or make a similar pattern)
-rainbow colours and colour in order

• drawing shapes ( specially rectangle and square)
• drawing family
• counting

-Writing name

• child should know address, dob
• whats your last name

-transport

• physical devlopment ( hop on one leg, kick straight, catch, throw ball)
• following instruction
• rhyming words
• opposites
• about hibernation
• lifecycle butterfly and frog
• 2D shapes

For Channing: the first round was baking and cookie decoration; dance; sing. The second round was totally academic.

If i have left something then please add on to the list for the benefit of others in future.

Discussion and debate are a great thing, I'm all for it. But this is pointed cattiness which isn't constructive. I guess there's not much in here now as the process is complete and we await the results.

Good luck to everyone!

Good luck, everyone. Do we know how NLCS, Channing and St Christopher's announce the results? Email, post or phone call?

Destiny, what a helpful post. Thank you.

I've just read this whole thread from beginning to end as not sure whether to sit DS for 2015 entry.

thank you for sharing your experiences destiny...ds would be 3.5 at assessment time and I am really doubtful he would be able to do most on your list...are all the dc aged 4 when they are sitting for 4+?

He attends a superb pre school, but I still think in 6 months from now he would struggle to:

rainbow colours and colour in order
about hibernation
lifecycle butterfly and frog
Writing name
child should know address, dob
I don't think he would be able to make a tractor from playdough either!

yikes, I feel rather unprepared, could most of your dc write their own names by 3.5?

Yes mine could but all children are different x

Mustbeabettermum -where are you thinking of sitting ds at 4+, a lot on that list wouldn't be necessary for some co ed preps, more aimed at some of the specific girls schools at 4+

Habs and nlcssend out letters tomorrow so will get them in the post on Tuesday. Good luck!

Yes Good Luck to everyone and fingers crossed for good news!!! At least this wait is nearly nearly over!

Hi AmIIndecisive, I'm considering Aldwickbury (less keen), Manor Lodge, Radlett Prep, Aldenham and Lochinver House.

They all assess a whole year before entry though and unless I do some serious tutoring, DS (aged 3.5 at assessment time) would be unlikely to able to do the things I highlighted up thread.

In most of the schools you have mentioned, you wouldn't need to a lot of the things on that list so don't panic

thanks AmI - do you know this from experience? hope you don't mind me asking..

But do add cutting out neatly with scissors to Destiny's excellent list, and also completing gaps in a partially-done join-the-dots.

Yes had assessment experience at most of those schools. Radlett Prep assessment very play group based, ML good if you can write your name etc but know lots of kids who couldn't and secured places, though they will expect cutting with scissors and identifying colours and shapes, don't think they'd expect you to make a tractor with play-dough or something or colours of the rainbow in order. Same as date of birth or address, mine could but know lots of kids who couldn't do a lot of that list and secured places at those schools.

Ratio wise ML harder to get into and the Assessment tougher, Aldenham less academic and in my experience, only over knew one kid who sat the assessment at RP and wasn't offered a place! Other people may have a different opinion but most of the things on the list (and it's a great and really useful list thanks for posting) you wouldn't need for a lot of the co ed 4+.

Mustbebetterwife in terms of numbers manor L and radlett prep usually form secondary choice for parents considering Habs and nlcs for their girls. Although the assessment doesn't differ the expectation for girls is higher then that for boys. For example, for a girl the expectation maybe to actually make a tractor but for a boy of the same age to score similar points he may just have to manipulate the play confidently. Having said that play dough very rarely comes up at manor L or Radlett prep.

Your son will be tested in his age group and a lot of the girls will be able to complete many of the activities in the above list but not many summer born boys. It's not nesseary for the schools you mentioned. Your Ds will need to listen to instructions, share, be sociable and there will be an element of drawing. Rect/square again girls manor L like triangles and the different ways in which a triangle can be drawn.

You don't need to tutor. 10 mins everyday finger painting, chalk board or colouring will do the trick. Also get him to write his name on everything he does. Start in sept with just the first letter and you writing the rest. Two weeks later he writes the first two letters and you finish it. Hopefully by Christmas hell be writing his name himself then over the holidays it's about repeatation so he doesn't forget.

For radlett prep some number writing will also be useful. Start with the number of his age. 1 and 10 are easy. And 4 and 7 they don't usually find tricky either.

Colours yes but not nesscarily in rainbow order, although this is easily taught through song.

The best way to teach animal life cycle is to go see the young at farms in spring. But again you won't need it for the schools you mention.

Aldenham is a numbers game again as many of their nursery children stay on for reception.

mustbeabetterwife: my ds was the same age when she did assessments last month and was able to learn most things in the list in a very short period of time. They can grasp more than we give credit. We just have to be consistent and regular with them.
To clarify the tractor by play dough, i was told that they are looking at the logic the child uses to make it like big tyres and not exactly how it turns out.
Lastly regarding rainbow colours and hibernation there are very nice videos on youtube that u can use to make learning fun. My daughter was given 7 rainbow lines to colour in. Since she learnt the rainbow song, she knew what to do.

Thanks so much AmI...do you have any knowledge of Lochinver House and Edge Grove? Might as well consider all the options available..!

I don't know very much about these schools as DS is my PFB so it's all a new process to me, but I have heard from a couple of mothers and reading on this thread echo what you say about RP.

Looking at RP's website there's nothing in great details about what type of education they would receive, how day is structured, no details of any sport, what sports they offer, the teams, matches, results, the same with music.

No details of any other achievements, no list of governors (do they even have any?) I like to see who's on the board as it's not unusual to see names of the head/teachers of neighbouring selective secondary schools, no details of alumini, no pictures of trips, visits etc and they have an Ofsted report, so presume they're not ISI accredited or member of IAPS?

Ofsted rated 'Good', so maybe that an outstanding state primary with strong sports would be a better option for DS...however, saying all that, their leavers' destinations are impressive..so maybe, the website is doing them an unjust service!

On the subject of state primaries, do you think it's considerably harder to get into an indy secondary without having gone to a prep...looking at all the secondary schools year 6 go to from these schools, I've only seen the name of one state school!

Thank you for your advice and help - it is much appreciated.

Thanks mumteacher and destiny, I didn't see your post before I replied.

mumteacher that's very helpful, I was just saying to DH how do you teach a nearly 3 year old to write his own name? We've got as far as a face with two eyes and that I was impressed with!

He knows his numbers 1-10, colours, shapes (not good) but has a very poor attention span, gets distracted easily and wants to kick a ball, jump around, etc - all perfectly normal I know....

I have 6 months though as his assessments will be in October.

Good luck to everyone waiting - I hope you get the results you want.

9 months, not 6 months!

I have heard good things about Lochinver but had no experience, Edge Grove is a lovely school, beautiful grounds and a wonderful new Head. The Assessment is quite relaxed, again a playgroup setting, jigsaw, listen to a story, see how the kids interact.

Re RP, I wasn't really a fan and nothing I have heard about the school has changed my mind but everyone has a different opinion but personally wasn't for us.

Mustbe, OFSTED will only rate an educational setting as 'outstanding' if they demonstrate when inspected that they approach the education of the children in the manner advised and preferred by OFSTED themselves. RP does not do so and make no qualms about this. They offer a good, old-fashioned education. It is an excellent education a,d a superb foundation. Far better, in my opinion, than many 'outstanding' state primaries.

I speak as a parent and as a tutor (I've been tutoring fir about 7 years in this particular area (Hertfordshire) and 20 years in all. My choice of school for my DS was very much made on the evidence before me: pupils I have taught generally from RP are reliably 'performing' (achieving) at a level that is very close to their potential. What more can a girl ask for!

must...wife

My DD was 3.6 years at the time of the RP/ML assessments and 3.8 at the NLCS/Habs assessment. 6 months beforehand she could do very little on Destiny's list, but a combination of topics covered in nursery (hibernation, lifecycles) and some low key tutoring once she turned 3 (45 mins a week) meant that she could do most things on the list by the time of the assessments.

It was amazing how quickly she picked up phonics and writing her name when shown by someone properly qualified who wasn't me. She worked brilliantly with the tutor whilst showing no ability to concentrate when she was with me.

Happy to recommend if you are in NW London / Herts.