Private school admissions

[Hertfordshiremum123]

Hi all,

My little boy is due to start reception in September 2018. We are interested in sending him to either Lochinver House, Salcombe prep or Manor lodge.

1. Has anyone had any experience with the assessments? What do they look out for when our children go in? Anything I can work on at home to help?

2. My son is very shy. Extremely shy in fact. He will not allow me to leave his side if we walk in to a new situation. So this is really worrying me regarding his assessment. If I leave him, he will get upset and not do as well as he is capable of. I know these schools look for confidence which I know he is lacking, but he has always been the cautious type.

Any advice on the above will be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance :)

Is he going to nursery? If not this is an urgent priority. Also children do mature. I do not know the precise tests at these schools but apply for a state school as well, just in case! Sometimes private schools are not that choosy but children do have to leave Mum at some stage so best to start now. Experienced nursery staff will help you both.

Thanks bojorojo.

He has been at nursery since 13 months. He's 3 now. He took a very long time to settle in to nursery. I would say he cried every morning at drop off on and off for about 9 months! But one day it just clicked and he started enjoying it and is completely fine at drop offs now.

He is the kind of person that gets very anxious at new environments but once settled, is a happy confident boy.

I'm really concerned that they won't be able to see past his initial anxiety.

We will definitely be applying to state schools too as a back up

He might well change and you also might find that some schools just keep up the appearance of being "completely" selective to give them the opportunity to refuse kids they really don't want rather than just taking the best of the best (or whatever).