4+ assessments 2023

[Agirlcanhope2023]

Thought I’d set up a thread for those of us sitting our DS/DD for the 4+ in 2023 (for September 2024 start date). Anyone had any assessment day(s) yet?

Joining….

We’re going for one small prep that we love, assessment is next month.

We’re also toying with a big name 4-18 option, which is amazing on paper and super competitive, but I didn’t love when we visited.

My son has an assessment in 2 weeks and will let you all know about it after. Good luck everyone!

First one is this Friday…yikes! The rest are next year.

We are going through the process with our DS. No idea what to expect, other than the old posts from a rather infamous poster!

Next year, wow, as in January or are you sitting for 5+?

Same majority of my sons assessments will be next year too! Only one this year which is for 3+ and all the ones next year are for 4+. Is anyone here applying to schools in central and north london?

Yes Jan 2024 & we’re sitting the 4+ in a few NW London schools😀

Ah good luck @BubbleTe ! We have one in 2 weeks in NW london but heard positive things about the assessment process! I hope your little one enjoys it and gets in!

Thank you @drmumoftwo! Best of luck to your DS in all of his assessments. Except for one school, I have heard positive stories about the schools in NW London. I am keeping my fingers crossed that mine is ok getting dropped off at a foreign school with teachers and kids who are strangers…

Yes I am worried about the drop off too! I imagine they try to make it as relaxed and fun as possible to try and put them at ease.

Also in it, we've gone a bit overboard with the registration process and we'll likely drop 2 on distance/ preference. Did 2 assessments so far and 2 more next week!

Could anyone who has done the assessment share the process or any tips? If you're happy to do so?

Can't give much insight really, our daughter just said she played with new teachers and that there were many toys! Not very helpful, sorry...

I wonder when mumteacher will start her thread…

It doesn’t look like mumteacher has done one in recent years?!

We did assessments last year - got a notification of the new posts so thought would drop by and provide some insights. My son appeared for UCS, Highgate and Habs and got all three thankfully. As you can expect, it is very difficult to get info out of a 3 year old, so hopefully some of it is useful. As a standard, they normally all ask them to identify their names when they enter on stickers and put them on. The main thing at all of these were how much the child listened and how open they were at trying new things - so pressure would do the opposite on the child I feel - make the “prep” fun!

Habs: Round 1 - he mentioned they had fireman hats with some role playing. Cutting and sticking pictures. They also built a lion’s den with magnetic tiles and cookies with play dough. I don’t remember round 2.

UCS: Played with animals (this was likely for counting), playdough, trains, puzzles and magnetic tiles. Get castle logic game and similar games, they had that in Round 1. Did some drawing and wrote his name. Patterns. Being able to count within 10 (they will give objects and ask how many penguins for example). Listening to a story and answering questions. Rhyming words. Cutting pictures and sticking them. They also made them march (physical exercise is part of the assessment at UCS).

Highgate - Played with fire truck, cars. Legos. Listening to a story and answering questions. Match words to pictures (simple three letter words). Writing name or letters as asked.

Good luck!

Thanks @hopefulmum16 that is so helpful of you. Congrats on your offers last year!

@hopefulmum16 where did your child go to nursery?

Thanks for the intel @hopefulmum16 - that's super helpful ! It's funny that UCS ask them to write their name - when I did the tour earlier this year, they said they don't expect the boys to write and, in fact, prefer they don't know how to write because usually they're taught incorrectly & UCS have to re-teach it to them! Well done to your son!

Tbh in reality if they asked him or not we will never know lol, like I said a 3 year old not reliable source of info but in all honesty all the kids in his class now do know how to write it (even if not perfectly). I still think a kid listening and being cooperative is the most important factor !

We had an assessment last week in Highgate , he was so happy when going upstairs , but came back crying because some other children were emotional , (2 other kids were asked to go home, because they did not stop crying) and he always cries when someone else does, he is August born. Hopefully it did not stop him from being active. A little bit worried.

@deeib hi, I wouldn't worry about the crying. I heard from another mum that her son cried after both of her prep school assessments but received an offer from both! Sorry to hear he cried though! Must be heartbreaking to know 😞

At one of the open days I went to (can’t remember which one!) they said they were very used to children having a bit of a wobble - it’s a big deal for a 3 year old to be in a new environment, especially as
of the youngest ones too. Try not to worry, although I know it’s easier said than done! How did Highgate go? Think they assess earlier than some of the other big ones in NW London (eg Habs hasn’t closed applications yet).

I know everyone says you don’t need to prep… but is anyone doing any prep?

I’ve been encouraging DD to have a stab at writing her name, doing simple maths and phonics games with her, and giving her opportunities to practice talking to strangers.

She seems to find it all fun, so I hope I’m not too tiger mum!

What did they ask him during the Highgate assessment, @deeib