Preparation for 4+ (2020)

[mumtoone2016]

My daughter will be sitting for 4+ assessments for entry in 2020. While she has been going to a simple daycare nursery since the age of 6 months, I am looking at ways to start actually preparing her for the assessment. I am not location bound, currently renting in Reading, working in London - so easy to move around wherever is the best. In terms of future schools, we are looking at Habs, Guildford High, Wimbledon High, Putney High, Kensington Prep. It is a fairly long list, widespread in terms of location but I understand all of these turn out to be highly competitive places in terms of admission.

What is the best way to prepare her - should I send her to a Montessori or such nursery? If yes, did you have recommendations? Or should I look at keeping her in a daycare with added tutor - any recommendations for tutors please? As I said, I am happy to move - London, or commutable to London places.

Thanks!

Stilllookingfor

I would really say it could differ from school to school. e.g. my friends got their DD into NLCS at 4+ - very very intense training / tutoring / music for that. I also have a very close friends whose DD did St Helens at 4+ - a more balanced child with more focus on social skills instead of reading skills. Then for Ken Prep, my comments above are for admission to Reception. The kids I was referring to (including mine) are winter babies.

As @skal says, the majority of children in DS's class (and maybe the rest of the school Pre 7+) are winter babies. There's always a rush of birthday parties within the 3 months of the school year. Only DS and two other children are spring or summer babies.

Thanks for your response! I will look into the reading scheme mentioned here (we are still into Peppa pig and Gruffalo books ;))

Has anyone looked at www.mumsinthewood.com? They have an education section and we sent both our little ones for a mock. It really helped calm them down prior to the actual assessment. Might be worth looking at?

3/4 year old don't need calming down for 4+ for God's sake! It is very much playbased. If you practice some of the tips on 4+ threads on mumsnet over the years - you will be fine

My daughter was going to a daycare from 3 months old up to reception. She got in at ken prep (with no tutoring). Not sure about the other schools, but she could not read etc but she is very curious and loves to join in. I think at this age they are more looking at how kids interact with each other if they can follow instructions etc. Feel free to pm me if you want.

I can see this thread is a couple of years old... but I am surprised to hear there are assessments for reception acceptance???
Can anyone explain to me please?
I've moved here some years ago but didn't grow up here

@mayflower21 there are some fee paying schools that assess children at 3/4 to decide who to offer places to. This is at competitive independent schools where there is competition for places, so happens more in London than a lot of other places.

State schools don't assess children for Reception and plenty of independent schools don't assess either.

Thanks for clarifying. I've heard of independent schools (are they same as grammar?) but thought they accept older children

Independent schools go from reception, sometimes earlier.