How do you approach 7+ for Y1 kids?

[7plusthinking]

My DC is currently in Y1 in a state primary in London. DC is very outgoing, the type who goes to playgrounds and make friends at once, will go up to kids they meet at softplay and have a gang of friends in an instant, I don't know where DC gets this confidence from as both of us ( parents) are very shy.

Anyway, we are looking at 7+ for private school, the current school in South London feeds into a so-so state senior school , very few do 11+. We just want to have options for DC, the local prep feeds the local grammars and Indie schools and outstanding semi selective academies. We are not dead against going to the local state senior school, if thats the best 'fit'.

Over X mas we discussed this with DC and DC is against any move. (what we expected from a strong willed 6 year old to say).

DC was in a 3 to 18 private school out of London, so spent 2 years preschool and reception there) but we moved them over summer into Y1 as the commute from the sticks into London was killing us, we now live in South London. We decided to switch to state till eight when we moved and we are so far very glad we did , gives us a breather on fees and DC now has a broader range of friends, which can only be good for them.

DC made new friends from day one in London state school and DC settled at once and has 'best friends'. We still arrange play dates with old private school friends , over Xmas we saw their two 'old' best friends. So we know DC will adapt to this ( assuming DC gets into the prep school, we've always gently tutored ourselves with DC and will step this up over this year).

I was wondering, what have other parents done in prep for ...Prep for their DC.

I can't imagine the child doing well in entrance exams for Prep if they are dead set against it, especially at interview.

Any advice? We don't want to force the child , but at the same time, we can't let a 6 year old decide on their education !!!

How is his reading / maths / VR / attitude to learning and attention in class? Keen to learn? Always asking questions?

The 7+ is less about making friends and more about a child's attitude towards their own learning.

How academically selective is the prep? If you can afford it, you might try hiring a tutor for 7+ prep. If your child is very social, they’d probably enjoy chatting with a new person and learning new things, and it might get them more on board with a change.

Perhaps explain the importance of it. The reasons why you want to do it, the benefits. You could also offer up a reward for putting in their best effort as well.

Thanks for the replies.

@Jackal313 We've registered for a very selective prep and a local non-selective, we were thinking of using a tutor for the selective prep and I can see what you mean, it could be a double win.

@theotherplace VR and NON-VR and Maths are strong, Reading and writing seems to have slipped since starting Y1 in the state primary, attention good at school, very keen to learn and help at home and school. So I think academically DC has a shot , socially listens to teachers and polite, gentle with other kids, so all that seems fine, its just getting DC onboard to try for other schools.

@SamPoodle123 Great advice, DC responds very well to rewards, I think a promise for Legoworld or something along those lines would work, will work on pointing out benefits that a child could understand - regular swimming, music lessons, more sports clubs, more clubs, can still see old friends etc