4+ Assessments 2025

[KnackeredBunny]

Main thread for 2025 applications. Can’t find the previous thread for 2025 but from memory it has a typo in the title. I’ve only made this one to make sure everyone finds it easily!

Advice from previous assessments gladly taken. This is our first time applying. It’s a little early still so why don’t we start with where everyone is applying?

We’re looking at The Hall, Alleyn’s, Habs, Highgate UCS, and Manor Lodge. Have looked at some prep from previous threads and starting to think we’re seriously under-prepared…

Anyone know when we will hear from Manor Lodge about assessment times? We got our slot for Radlet Prep and both are on the same day 😬

There will be judgment because at this age they really do not need a tutor. These children are not being tested on the quality of any answers. It’s about their ability to answer questions, follow instructions, listen and absorb what they are being told, their confidence, etc. A tutor won’t help with any of that.

I’m sure you can ask to move one of them even if they’re at different times, quite a lot for your child to have two in a day! They will understand they know we’re all applying to multiple schools.

I’m just going off the numbers posted by the tutor on the other page - but his success rate is better than the average odds so there must be some value to tutoring

At 4 years old, any success would be limited and perhaps there is more of a point about the which type of families will get a tutor to begin with and therefore how they teach their child more generally, in that the pushy parents won’t need a tutor in the first place.

We went through the 4+ last year and got offers from all, with no prep other than teaching DS the general things a 4 year old should know.

Such destructive messaging here. Tutor your child if you want and nod along to what negative comments people have, Tutoring is just teaching your child. That is all. I've been teaching my child since he was 16 months old. He's now 3 and two months and thriving. A quality tutor can support with all of the skills being assessed in the 4+ don't get that confused.

But what would a tutor add that parents can’t, at this age? I’m genuinely curious, as tutoring for pre-school age children is not something I’ve heard of until recently. Do they tend to be used by parents who work very long hours and have less time to do things like daily reading with their children? Or is it more targeted towards the school assessments?

It's not just daily reading though. It's all 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum covered consistently and a tailored programme of study for all of our students. It's not just for parents who work long hours and have less time. I work 60+ hours a week and dedicate 30 minutes a day to my son's learning as a non negotiable - as do all of our clients. I'm not perfect and there are days we don't but we try our best.

Shamelessly place-marking

Interesting - thank you for your reply.

I would have thought that all of the areas within the EYFS framework would be covered pretty comprehensively with normal parenting, without much need for any concerted teaching, so had presumed tutoring might be for time poor parents. I can imagine the targeted support feels reassuring if the child is facing an assessment.

In reality, you shouldn't need to tutor for 4+, that's what all the schools say. However, when you have a few hundred children going for 32 places, how can you help your child stand out from the crowd. Put this together with children not being robots and some picking up things much quicker than others, it's true that some will need a helping hand (one could argue that they may not be able to keep the moment going when if they actually do get offered a place and start in Reception).

I have assessed children that barely knew any numbers or sounds and only a couple of shapes (this is more common than you think). There's not necessarily anything wrong with that and they will be taught it in the remaining year at Nursery plus in Reception but compare them with the majority of children that do know numbers, colours, shapes, letters etc. you can see why they would need a helping hand and why schools would offer to the children that could.
There's no shade on the parents, but they obviously weren't aware of what is being tested at 4+. If they had, I'm sure they would have spent more time focussing on these, or using a tutor to support the preparation.

But that comes back down to the point that children can learn all that stuff without tutors. DS was at a play based nursery - they were amazed when they found out he could write his name and could count to 1,000. We didn’t teach him any of that for the purpose of getting him into a good school but simply because he’s a naturally curious and observant child who asks lots of questions and wants to know things. These are all things that parents can do without hiring an external tutor. That’s why a tutor is pointless at this age.

'A tutor is pointless' is absolute nonsense. A tutor is of incredible value to any child regardless of an assessment.

Do what you think is best for your child and not what other parents are telling you to do.

@SummerIce if only life was that simple! It's true, parents can (and should) support their child in preparing for the 4+, I certainly did for my son, but does everyone know the content of the assessments?
Every mark counts when you are up against 300-400 other children. If that was the case, everyone would be entering the room on an even playing field. They are far from it, unfortunately. Also, keep in mind that schools are selective at 4+ for a reason. They want the most well-rounded and able children. It will require preparation from parents, or from external help.

There are lots of facets to the 4+ assessments (which is why it is so different to 7+ or 11+), plus the child's personality and mood on the day play an important role too (they are only 3yrs after all!).

Writing your name and counting to 1000 will not guarantee a place. I assessed a boy once that could name all the planets, drew them in correct order, size and colour! Impressive, yes, but we didn't offer him a place. There were other areas of the assessment that he did not perform as well on.

We can go round and round debating the pros and cons of tutoring/teaching/preparing for the 4+ assessments but at the end of the day it is the parent's choice and we shouldn't shame them or make them feel bad for whichever route they take. It's already a source of stress for many just thinking about it! 😊

It’s not about shaming, in any way. It’s about not adding to the stress and worry by making parents think they are failing their children because they don’t have a tutor. Parents have enough to deal with without external pressures.

I have no skin in the game as we’re passed this stage. We went through the process last year and applied to and had offers from Habs Boys, Grimsdell, Aldenham, Radlett Prep, Holland House, Edge Grove and Manor Lodge. We did no extra prepping or tutoring and told DS that he’s going to these schools to play and see which one he likes most (luckily he had forgotten which one was his favourite when it came to starting school!). Obviously I believe DS is special but I’m not under any illusions that I have a super child and ultimately he passed these assessments without any special preparation or training apart from going and being himself.

And perhaps that makes me naive about the whole assessment process as we didn’t stress over it but assessments at 4 are very different to 7 and 11.

Well written!

Nobody passes a 4+ without being prepared and if someone tells you their child did, they are lying to your face. Nod and smile and do what you want!

Well as I said above, we never prepared so not sure why you’re so convinced I’m lying. What would I gain from lying? Of course children pass without getting prepped - my son did, at several schools.

Ok. Your child was prepared one way or another. You do not send a child into a 4+ Assessment without prep.

So many of you will say this isn't true. Ok then.

I get it, you have a vested interest in pushing for tutoring because it’s your business or you work as one. But arguing with me about what I did with my child and claiming I’m wrong and must be lying is really very odd behaviour.

Just going by my experience. I don't know which schools your kid got into but top schools need thorough prep. No one is arguing here.

And going by my experience, you can get offers from the top schools without any preparation and tutoring. I listed the schools we got offers from above and DS is now in his fourth week at one of those and loving it. I get that you need to advertise the need for one as that’s your job but saying parents who don’t tutor or prep are lying is just foolish when I have said several times we never did. I’m pretty sure there are many parents who do lie about it but not everyone is lying.

Anyway we can agree to disagree.

South Hampstead sent out assessment times for first round - thats our first one so starting to feel very real !

Manor lodge assessment times are out!

Anyone sitting radlett prep and manor lodge this week? We’ve got both assessments back to back on the same day. Feeling nervous it’s all come around so quickly. Although can’t wait for it to be over.