Yr2 prep for 11+ 2027

[Razzmata]

Hi, calling out to yr 2 parents prepping for 11+ 2027. Let’s gather together and share our journey towards the prep

😂😂

@QGMum I know 😬😬😂😂😭😭

@Razzmata Are you genuinely serious?

Why on earth would you prep for 11+ in YR2? They don’t take it until YR6

This is bonkers. Please don't start worrying about the 11+ in Y2. You need to wait at least two years before 'prepping'. The best thing you can possibly do at this stage is let your child enjoy his or her primary years without stressing about (or even mentioning) future exams.

Don’t do this to yourself or your child

i would request you all to please keep the thread positive. No need for negativity.

For those who do not understand or appreciate the intent, let me clarify. But if you still do not understand or agree, please feel free to not comment.

This thread is for the journey towards 11+ prep. It can start with eg just reading, what books are most liked at the age etc so just motivating other parents with similar interests to kick the tyres and keep a nice paced healthy momentum.

@Razzmata if you are genuinely serious, why not ask different questions e.g:

Is there any useful prep for 11+ in years 3, 4 & 5?
We could suggest asking your DC's teacher queries on their progress, are they at GD in English / Maths etc. Get a tutor sorted in year 4. Start in year 5 etc

Or

I live in Kent / Bucks / Trafford ....... what do I need to know now for my Y2 child?
We could talk about the importance of catchments / distance and admission criteria.

Trying to start and sustain a support group for an exam 3.5 years away is just ridiculous

I thought someone who has started in y3 was crazy!!

@Pipsquiggle I understand you are all about criticism and correction here. That's not what this thread is for so please find another.

Unfortunately for you, I don't think you can really control where other people post or offer advice.

Why not start a thread in the Primary section asking how best to support a Y2 child or something?

There is no useful 11+ specific prep you can do in Y2 so you might as well just concentrate on supporting your child at school and decide later if the 11+ is a realistic option (you may find it hard to tell at this age).

@TheRainItRaineth I hear you but it should not be so negative that it feels like an avalanche of attack to just a simple thread. That's all. Why try to control what I ask, where I ask either?

mumsnet should be a place where people should feel safe in asking without being called "crazy" or "bonkers" as some have above.

@Razzmata to be clear you see it as 'criticism & correction' - IMO my questions are better structured and more useful to your current situation as I assume this is your first DC and haven't experienced 11+ before.

Maybe you should listen to the plethora of people who have been through this. I will be staggered if anyone says
'Oh yes OP starting a support thread for an exam in 3.5 years time is great planning'

I am happy to support / offer advice to anyone going on the 11+ journey. It can be a bloody nightmare. Just about to start it again with DC2 in Sept

but you know .......................... you do you

I think that in Y2 l would do exactly the same things with my child that l would do if we lived in a Comprehensive School area and no 11plus exam

@Frankley I saw some cgp books for year 2, math let's say, which entailed questions at a much more deepening level. There are things perhaps not done at DD's school-only basing on what I'm shown at parent evening, class work books, or homework sheets.

This triggered my interest in seeing how dd responds to a deepening level and she actually started enjoying them very much and keeps asking for more. Her confidence has grown and so has her interest in academics including her zeal for reading.

Hence I would really like to keep the momentum going, as long as Dd keeps "enjoying" the process. I'm keen to learn from other parents what they do..how they use the weekdays, what sort of extra curriculars help eg drama vs lambda?

Because you will likely get more helpful advice if a) you ask a sensible question and b) you ask it in a place where other people are likely to be dealing with similar things as they have children of a similar age.

If you are really keen to learn from other parents what they do, surely asking parents with children the same age whatever question is likely to be more helpful (though I imagine if you ask about prepping for 11+ in Y2 on any board the answers will be broadly similar to what you have encountered here, unless there is some kind of tiger parent board).

@Razzmata You are coming across as intense.

I mean this kindly, I really do, you need to calm down.
If you carry on like this, you will be putting too much pressure on your DD (and yourself), she might burn out by Y6.

Here are my starters for 10 for the 11+:
Where is your DC in her cohort? Top Half? Top Quarter?
Is she at 'greater depth' in Maths, English, SPAG?
If she's not the above by the end of Y4, grammar may not be the best for her. This is the biggest problem in our area, parents forcing DC to take 11+ when they are clearly not suited for it.

Brilliant that she likes reading - keep her reading - anything she enjoys. Don't force her into genres that she finds a chore.

Let her do whatever clubs she likes. You may need to think about reducing activities in Y5 start of Y6 if she does loads. Y5 is when the real hard work begins.

It would be useful to know which area you live in or if you are interested in any super-selective grammars. I have no experience of the latter, I hear that is a very different ball game. I would absolutely be seeking first hand advice / experience from friends or other parents if you are applying to super-selective grammars.

@Razzmata Ignore what the critics said. Everyone has his or her own journey to go through.

You seemed to imply she is good in Math. Very often, boys or girls (especially boys) are extensively trained to get very high marks in 11+ and the deciding point would often be the English paper (granted, it is easier to train up math for exam in a short period). I suggest you to have her read and write as much as possible at an early age. Challenge her to write long and complicated stories.

You can continue to let her do the CGP or schofield books and if she is at state school, make sure she is at least 1 year ahead of the national curriculum. But at year 2, don't overload and do too many repetitive exercises/questions.

Re superselectives, I see OP has mentioned Tiffin Girls on another thread. DD was offered a place there a few years back. We didn't do anything until quite a long way through Y5. I think the beginning of Y5 will leave you more than enough time to prepare. In the meantime just focus on supporting her in whatever she is interested in and would like to explore. Trying lots of different things is a good idea so she can find out what she really likes.

Maybe OP is American, since she used 'lambda'.

I would focus on reading a variety of books and extra curricular activities :) Life outside of academics is also very important. If you make it to the interview rounds, they want to see your dc has other interests besides just academics. Help her find her passion and what she loves doing. It will also help her settle in nicely at secondary if she is keen on the sports/clubs they have on offer. It is a good way to make friends and bond with classmates.

@LilacMember thanks, you are spot on! with creative writing I really need help in finding a way that works for her and also inspires her to do more. Are there any good resources or fun activities to encourage writing? We are doing the usual, Twinkl, comprehension, reading, deep conversations, but then there are things like drama (with proper scripts and term performance) where I see a different passion in her for languages.

@Razzmata do you know if creative writing is part of the admissions?

Round here it is all multiple choice - the longest thing they have to write is their name.

Again - none of this do you have to do in Y2 or Y3, probably even Y4.

Would you describe yourself as a 'tiger mum?' It would be helpful to know as it sounds like you are going to just keep ploughing on your way irrespective of your DC's capability &/or capacity.

What's the point of asking advice / pointers, from people who have gone through it, when you are just going to revert back to your own echo chamber?

I know quite a few families who started tutoring in year 2 & 3. This is in SW London for Tiffin and some of the more selective independents.
One woman I used to work with with was basically preping her son from age three for Tiffin. That wasnt unusual for the Asian or eastern european parents I knew. He got in then won a scholarship and bursary for Eton, went to Oxford and now is studying at Harvard. He's a lovely young man.
It's not a path I chose to take but their children mostly seem very happy and well adjusted.

For creative writing I would just encourage a love of books. Read to them as much as possible. Buy them all sorts of different books so they can find the ones they love. Set aside 30-60 minutes every night specifically for reading in bed.