What if prep school asking for reference from a new school?

[javaprogrammer]

For 4+ assessment, the school said it will request references from the current school around October. DC will start a new school from September.

The new school won't be able to provide a reference given DC will be there for only a month. Also, the new school is an all-through school (to 18) and is not keen to see children leave, especially early at 4+.

Will the lack of reference be a negative?

You probably shouldn't be starting DC at a school if you're trying to move them elsewhere. I would expect them to refuse the reference and to look fairly askance at you. Key thing - is this on DCs interests?

As most children START school at 4 why would a 4+ assessment want a reference from a "current" school?
Surely there wouldn't be current school.
Do they mean nursery?

I doubt it, private schools need every penny they can get at the moment.

@javaprogrammer it is unlikely they will request a reference until the second round, which for most schools is in January. It would be far too labour intensive to ask for a reference for every single applicant and read them all.

On the application for, you would probably be putting the nursery your child is currently at - so I suggest you don't change anything and let them contact the current nursery for the reference.
If, on the other hand, they request references in January, your child would have been at that school for a whole term and so a reference from them will be more relevant.
If it is a one round 4+ (such as Glendower) then they may indeed request a reference in autumn - if so, just keep the current nursery as the contact.
I hope this helps!

@MyTwoDads
On WUS website, it says it will request reference from 'current' school in October, prior to 1st rounds.