When should I start preparing DS for the 11+?

[rolejij640]

He's in Year 5. Tried downloading some papers but they are all missing solutions!

Thanks for your help

Both my children started in the January before the September test. Our tutor wouldn’t start any teaching before then. They both passed and there was no pressure on them. We laid off the revision over 6 weeks too.

CGP do some great revision books.

DS started at the end of May and passed in September, ready to start next year. I wouldn’t recommend starting so late though as we had to work really hard (DS didn’t have a tutor so I had to work with him) to learn the extra content for maths, verbal reasoning from scratch and how best to tackle the English questions.

Around here in Kent, it's pretty common for once a week external tutoring to start in Year 4.

Same as above, we started in the January or April before the September test. An hour a week.

In the meantime plenty of reading and making sure times tables are secure. This goes a long way.

NW london schools usually early in year 4.

The start of y5.

Dd has a maths tutor in Y4 as her maths wasn't as strong as her English. She then did specific 11+ tuition from September of Y5.
She also did mock exams in May and July Y5.

Here 8n Kent people start in y5 (at least they admit to it from there). The main first step is to ensure lots of reading to improve vocab. Make sure spelling, English and maths is secure. You could then look through some bond books.

Can anyone help with my dilema? I have two kids one in in y5 and one in y4. Have noticed recently school gone down hill. Previous head left due to I'll health and new head come in creating unrest many staff left or on long term sick leave. Recent ofstead review moved school from outstanding to needs improvement. My son has dyslexia and despite meetings with school he feels he gets little support to help him and daughter often complains of disruptive behaviour in her class. Am considering moving them to better school but I'm worried about timing. My son in y5 important year and 11+ he is v bright despite dyslexia feel like current school written him off . Any advice please??

Get a tutor or move schools. Where I live, people get tutors. The schools don’t prep for the 11 plus.

It’s slightly off thread but the teachers seem to have been stuck in a rut. That’s why, when change is required, they don’t like it. If you can get another school now, I might do it. Especially for your y4 child. However it’s very late to change y5 child and a new school might not help quickly either. What does your Sendco say your DS should have in the way of help? What is not being provided?

I'm in kent and the local schools don't prep for the 11 plus. People either get a tutor or diy with bond test papers. Most start in the summer holidays before y5. There are a few prep schools that advertise success in the exam but they are really sweat shops for 11 plus results and not seen as great.

Hi - I'm no expert so please just take this as opinion, not fact! There are 2 different issues here really it seems, whether they're supporting your DS enough at this current time re 11+ and SATS and whether you should move both DC?

I'm guessing DS has a Statement re his Dyslexia? You've said he is 11+ - so I'm guessing this is what his teacher has said in terms of his capabilities? In DD's school, in Year 5 all parents had a meeting with their DCs teacher in which we were told (gently!) if our DCs were 11+ material and if so what we would need to do to support them. Do you use external Tutors for the 11+ and if so, in their opinion is he on track? In our area, no child who didn't have some form of coaching or preparation (varying from external tutoring for 2 years right through to a graduate level parent doing papers with their DC throughout the summer) passed the 11+. Also, have your school and SEN department supported you in your application for the 11+ in asking for special consideration? I don't know where you live but in Kent they view this on a case by case basis www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/304364/response/772683/attach/html/4/FOI151952%20FOLLOW%20ON%20QUERY%20RESPONSE.docx.html

You know your DS obviously far better than anyone else and I hope you don't mind me asking but are the local grammar's which will be fast paced with high expectations & pressure the right environment for him? That's not to say obviously that dyslexic pupils can't do well at Grammars but according to the Canterbury Dyslexia online sheet specifically on dyslexia and Grammars, a pupil with dyslexia who has attained a Grammar place is unlikely to demonstrate the 'typical' dyslexic symptoms.

In terms of what you should do, this is only my advice but perhaps start by taking a look at alternate schools you could feasibly get your DC too that have open places currently before making any call on this? Go in to see them and speak to the SEN specialist about how they could support your son and take a view on it from there? If there isn't anything out there that's better then it's about ensuring your DC get better than support in their current school. People do move children in Year 5 and preparation for SATS doesn't really start in earnest until Year 6. How sociable are your DC as changing their schools at this point will be harder as the children at the new school are likely to have established friendship groups.