Does anyone know what children are asked to do at the 4+ play session at St Albans High school for Girls?

[stressed2007]

My DD will be going for the 4+ 'play group' asesssment at St Albans High school for Girls soon. Does anyone know what they are asked to do/what they are looking for? There is very little information given by the school. Many thanks

they have to retell the story of St alban

Bounce

[Disclaimer: I read the thread title wrong and thought you were talking about what is available at a soft play centre!]

Seriously I imagine they dont tell you much because they want to see the kids as they are - rather than prepared and told by mum and dad what to do/say

If it is the right school for your dd she will be fine

St Albans high school? They assess future pupils at 4?

It is St Albans High School for Girls

This one:

www.stahs.org.uk/

and assess may be putting it a little too strongly. Maybe just "watch".

At 4yo?? For an age 11 entry?? WHY????

It's for a age 4/5 entry - reception

an age 4/5 entry - of course

OH right, it was the 'high' that threw me!!

Don't know about St Albans but my daughter went to a similar thing to a SW London girls' school.
The first assessment involved a jigsaw, being asked to write her name, tracing a line, looking at a picture book with differences and being asked to spot them, beads on a thread (presumably in sequence). From what I could glean anyway - we weren't allowed in but sat biting nails in an adjacent room with horrible coffee. If the girls didn't want to go in one parent was allowed in to settle (yes, some families turned up with dads as well )
It was in a group nursery-style environment for 45 mins (6 girls, 4 teachers) but the second one she was asked back for is one-on-one.
Hope this is of some use. Don't worry. I don't believe the "if it's the right school she'll get in" and all that - ours also said don't do any preparation but I think they expect nurseries will have done some of these things with them.
I also don't think they expect everything to be done perfectly - eg my daughter said she didn't trace the line as it was boring, but she drew a princess instead, as that is what she likes to draw, and was still asked back.

DS1 went for a similar assessment for a selective pre-prep in London, though obviously not for a girls' school. They went off in a group. He told me nothing, but threw a tantrum when he had to go because the session was over. The school told me they'd taught him how to do a jigsaw, and indeed they had. I don't know what else he did.

My nasty cynical mind says they are looking for children who are not disruptive in a group, and will be easy to teach.

In case the informal cup of tea for parents while we waited for the DCs was also part of the assessment I chatted nicely with someone for ages while we tried to work out whether we knew each other from the NCT, and then claimed acquaintance with a mum I barely recognised from Crechendo in a very obvious manner in front of the head just before going home.

DS1 got in, as did the Crechendo mum's boy and the NCT mum's daughter. Crechendo mum told me later she was convinced that our air kisses in front of the head were helpful (ready to be part of the school community darling). The NCT daughter was not obviously co-operative (refused to take her coat off for example, and was reluctant to go to be assessed) but she too got in, possibly helped by having two siblings there already.

I look after several girls who are at WH and have been with me since they were babies. My daughter also went to SAHS.

The assessment is not 'testing' to see what they know, but assessment for their potential to learn. Mums are always trying to find out what happens and no one has a good idea!

I believe ( as the girls were very sketchy about what they did and remembered ) they are asked to pick out their name, write it if they can - looking for pencil control, cut with scissors, - (the 4 year old couldn't!) Listen to a story, ask and answer question confidently, look at the teacher when you speak to them, - what do you think happened next type thing, puzzles, and not a lot else! It's not very long, they only go once, no being called back, as there are so many for the 40 places.

There is a waiting list and places get filled as people move out or away for various reasons. They also take a 4 more again for year 1 and year 2 and you are given the chance to try again by staying on the list of continuing interest.

The girls were not prepared in anyway, they had nursery education at home with their childminder, who collects them and still looks after them. They always did lots of sticking, cutting, stories, puppet and role play, learning through lots of outside experiences. My colleagues daughter was in a nursery from 6 months old, but didn't get in, they assumed she would, so were devastated as they were a bit short sighted in not applying for state schools so had no real back up plan.

There is a huge difference in the age range as some will have turned 4 in Sept 09 and be 4+4months, and the others, summer born, only 3 years +5 months, nearly a years difference, but one of the girls was not 4 until August and she is actually the brighter one!

The assessments are being rescheduled due to the snow, which is interesting, because Reception, Yr 1 and 2 don't go back to Monday, to allow the school to be used for the assessment days, I wonder how they will mange that!

Good luck, if your daughter gets in she will love it, it is such a lovely school and learning environment.

Ours are called back if they are "strong possibles" for a more academic assessment, one-on-one, to assess readiness for reading and numeracy skills, because the school is so over-subscribed... that's SW London for you. Nice to only have to go the once! good luck.

High school mum - you still around? Thanks