3+4+5+7+ support thread mumteacher 2021

[Mumteacher1]

I know it’s a little later than usual but here it is! #letsdothis

In previous years I have started these threads to help and support all those involved in the independent school admissions process.

I wasn't going to start one this year as I know I would not be able to check back on it as regularly as I would like, which then defeats the purpose of the thread.

However, after numerous positive PM's about the threads I think it would be a shame not to start one where at least the hand holding can continue. 🤝

There are many many people who have been through the process and 'live to tell the tale' . There are also other tutors I know who read this thread and it would be great if you all could help and support and share your ideas

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/3780207-3-4-5-7-Support-thread-2020-Mumteacher

@mumzy4u @hopefulmum16 Yes, it seems that competition for Habs is fierce. If we got it (and didn’t get UCS) we’d probably move to the area. It’s such an impressive school all the way up.
If I’m honest I’m a bit worried about sending my DS to Highgate with the fallout from the whole recent scandal. It seems like it might be quite a highly charged environment to be sending a young child into, and I’m slightly concerned about the reaction to all the ‘rape culture’ allegations making it an uncomfortable environment for both the boys and the girls. I haven’t ruled it out completely, but to be honest if a better option does come through at this point, I’ll take it.

@NorthwestLondonMama i can honestly say moving to Elstree was the best decision we ever made. There is a much more laid back parent atmosphere - not the ‘tiger mum’ types you may have experienced. No competitive conversations, lovely houses, great families and safe. You would be very happy I’m sure if it.

@mumzy4u i might PM you if you don’t mind if we do get Habs. This is all sounding very appealing!

@NorthwestLondonMama please do :)

GOOD LUCK for Monday.

I one day hope my daughter also gets into HABS . We don’t live in Hampstead or golders obviously and whizz kids is the other prep type nursery but it wouldn’t work for us as the hours are literally for non working parents. We’ve chosen a nurturing nursery nearby that peeps for radlett prep, manor lodge, habs and nlcs but not to the levels I’m sure of the three above - but I hope our chance will be good as any.

@mumzy4u nice to have someone on the thread also nervously awaiting the Habs outcome for the girls school. Also in a similar type of nursery as you but not a specific ‘feeder’ one.

Hi all, I have a child at Highgate and another at Channing so feel free to ask any specific questions about either school.

@4pluscraziness - do you have a back up?

Not set in stone. I refused to get into the ‘pay thousands in deposits’ game- although I totally get why people do it. I’m sure that spaces ‘open up’ in the local preps once these results all come through this week. How about you @mumzy4u ?

i joined this thread for the purpose of next year. But when I do my back up would be over subscribed manor lodge!

Echo the sentiments on how stressful it has been.

I’m surprised how difficult I am finding the rejection (even though knowing it’s a lottery) - even though we applied speculatively in that DS didn’t go to any feeder nurseries (I didn’t know this was a thing until seeing the same uniforms and seeing parents knowing each other at assessments) and didn’t spend as much time as we could one on one as we have two kids with 14 months gap (she’s the oldest). I feel a bit ridiculous for it, tbH given we have a place at less selective school - real first world problems!

@sunrise16 was there a reason why you sent yours to different schools? As I will be going through this again next year for DS2, I don’t know whether I should do the same again to see how she fares or whether it’s better for them both to go the same school being only a year apart (and easier logistically)

@mumzy4u that’s super organised :) and I hope all works out for you.

It’s really bothered me knowing there are feeder nurseries. I think there are also some politics involved here in how many kids are selected from these places because of relationships. Hope it works out for you.

I think there are nurseries that have the relationships but I think its more about specifically preparing kids for what will be expected at these assessments which these “feeder” nurseries are aware of. But tbh at 4+ its still a lottery. I think the 7+ nurseries are a good option, takes the pressure away at 4+ and you get two shots !

Bullshit, there's not 400 applicants.

FTR. I have a child at habs.

@tiktokontheclock do you know how many are called back for the second round?

@tiktokontheclock unnecessary reaction but ok - this is what we were told at open day as children are now coming from quite far a field.

@tiktokontheclock they offered 9 parents q&a slots and said no more than 9 parents in each so there weren’t more than 80 in round 2. My guess is max 65. But this is just guesswork.
they actually said on the call they started with 180 applicants for boys this year in round 1.

@Tenterhooks we have a younger DS so the option of a mixed school was good. Also the two older are very different personality - wise. But logistically it’s hard even though the schools are so close together!

@hopefulmum16 i may have to do 4+ with my youngest next year, what sort of things should I be doing with him to prepare him? Any advice about what you did at home with your DC to avoid a tutor would be much appreciated!

@sunrise16 i can imagine it’s hard! If it’s working for you all then great. We are in Islington which makes logistics hard. Trek to any prep school!

@WoodlandWalks123 our nursery did loads such as phonics, numbers, various other games etc i did more of the same but just as fun games - hiding letters and asking him to find those sounds. We did counting songs and he went from being able to count from 10 to 100 in two weeks once he got the hang of it. I also got some activity books from amazon and did pages here and there whenever he was in the mood. Lots of reading and discussing stories. Rhyming words (you can search fun games to encourage that). Get jigsaw puzzles and other problem solving games (such as castle logic). Pencil grip to slowly work way up towards writing the name at least (you can again turn it into a game, write his name with one letter missing and get that one letter perfected first and move up). Drawing if possible (although my son isn’t into drawing). Lots of creative play with toys and legos and magnetic tiles (literally after every assessment he told us he played with cars, trains, legos etc).

More importantly just don’t overdo anything if you are stressed and they are not getting the hang of something rightaway - the most important thing our nursery also advised us was to ensure that they are willing to try new things so any kind of pressure isn’t great.

Lastly a lot of it is about a kid being able to play nicely with other kids and follow instructions so lots of play dates and perhaps after school classes where they have to listen (like football or something else) might help.

I would say this is very much still a lottery and even though I felt that “academically” my son was prepared, I couldn’t predict how he would be on the day. Just got him a good nights sleep and made sure he went in happy and excited. Rest 🤞

Hi - just came across this thread after I realised I’ve been quite anxious about results on Monday. If there were only 60-80 girls at habs second round and my daughter didn’t get a place I would be so upset. But one things I’ve learnt in this process is , we all need to take a step back from this ‘North London’ bubble for a second and realise this isn’t real life, whatever will be will be and all our kiddos will do well wherever they go because all of you I’m sure are great parents. Everyone’s idea of success is different and as long as our kids grow up to be happy, humble and kind as well as achieve in whatever they put their minds to. This is what is important, not this rat race which I think can become very very wayside. Good luck to all - positive vibes x

@hopefulmum16 , seems like you did everything right and that would have been on the list, and I agree with you about the ‘don’t stress if they don’t get everything’. I was less academically prepared (I knew what I needed to do but for example time didn’t permit learning numbers to 100 etc) but we did what we could, to a good standard. 100% Lego, magna tiles, play dough are all massive parts of the assessments but I think luck of the draw not sure how much of that my kid had (again she’s not so great but she is better at reading, drawing, adding simple numbers). I’ve been told many times that while there is an academic element they are looking for ‘bright eyed and eager’. Let’s hope so as they can’t be good at everything !

@hopefulmum16 thank you so much that is soo incredibly helpful. I have saved your response so I can refer back to it for next year!x