A 7+ True Story - Thomas.

This is a true story. As in this is the story of my student - Thomas (changed his name obviously).

I write this story in the hopes of helping some of you to understand the complexities of the 7+ Assessments. With the hopes that you understand the importance of not starting late and with the hopes of you gaining a sharper insight into what is expected of our children in their 7+ Assessments.

Samantha (name changed) called me late September. It was a Sunday and I was on my way to have lunch with a friend of mine (who is also a current client!). As I was driving, my phone rang. I don’t usually pick up on a Sunday but on this occasion I did.

Samantha told me that she was preparing her son for St Paul’s, Latymer and UCS and asked if she was too late (her son was already in Year 2) . I told her that it was October in a few days. Of course, it was too late. The St Paul’s 7+ Assessment is at the end of November and The Latymer and UCS Assessments were in January (just for context). She appreciated my honesty and told me that she wanted to ‘have a go’ anyway.

I was very honest with her and told her that ‘have a go’ would not cut it. She would need to be serious about preparing her son and so would he. He would have 2-3 months of intensive preparation. She weakly said okay.

In hindsight, I should have thanked her and wished her well but I decided to work with Thomas. We did some intensive work together for one month and then the excuses started. ‘Thomas has a birthday to go to. Thomas is sick. Thomas is going on holiday.’

Thomas was not ready for his 7+ at St Paul’s, Latymer or UCS. Samantha started to become more defensive with me and when I spoke to her on her calls she started to become cold with me. I knew she wasn’t enjoying the process. I knew she had no intention of going all in. I rarely received Thomas’s home learning. He was reluctant to write stories and although he did try really hard, there was only so much we could do with 2-3 months together.

He was not offered a place at St. Paul’s, Latymer or UCS and Thomas is continuing at his state school. His mother was annoyed with me and we did not leave things on good terms. At least how I like to leave things when my clients stop working with me.

She expected him to get in because she didn’t fully understand (nor was she open to understanding) the process.

I’ve told Samantha that if she wants to prepare Thomas for his 11+ (he is not ready for 8+) that she would need to start tuition from the autumn term of Year 3 with weekly and consistent tuition. She was not impressed with my suggestion.

Our decisions shape the futures of our children. The quality of our children’s education should be a priority for all of us. That’s not at all to say that you can’t get a quality education at a state school - that’s not what I’m saying at all. That’s up to you to find a quality state school that provides the best education for your child.

If you want to prepare for the 7+ and your child is currently in Year 1, it is too late (28th March at the time of writing this blog). And you have to take the process seriously.

The best time to start is the September when your child begins Reception.

That’s where I see the best results.

However, if you are late, stop procrastinating and just get started. Take the process seriously and go all in.

That is all.

Do you know what the Habs' core values are?

In the last 3 months, I have spoken to over 100 parents who want their child to go to Habs.

They love the school. They love the quality of education provided to their students. They have heard so much about the school from their friends and families.

This is the school!

But then comes the wishy washy misunderstanding. ‘But he just won’t have a chance!’ ‘It’s going to be too hard to get in!’ ‘What’s the point in even trying?’

With that attitude, there is no point.

You want to send your child to Habs but do you even know what their core values are?

Because let me tell you this much. If your child does not demonstrate these core values in the Habs 4+ and 7+ Assessments, they will not pass the Assessment.

Ambition

Curiosity

Courage

Community

These are the 4 Habs core values.

Does your child possess these 4 traits?

Are they ambitious?

Are they curious?

Are they courageous (to have a go and try!) ?

Are they caring and respectful and do they interact well with others?

We all want to answer yes to all of these questions about our beloved children but I invite you to really reflect on these 4 values.

Truly answer these questions about your child - in depth. Find out for sure if your child would be able to go into an Assessment and demonstrate these 4 core values.

Because if you seriously want your child to go to Habs, that’s what they will have to do.

We have supported hundreds of boys and girls to have tremendous success at Habs for over 12 years. I still have a relationship with families that I prepared 10 years ago whose children are now completing their A levels! Work with us to have the highest chances for success in your children’s Habs Assessments.

Book your Sample Lesson Today.

Teach your child story writing for the 7+ in 60 seconds!

The saddest thing I see is parents getting so worked up about story writing.

I hear parents say things like this…

‘Story writing is so stressful!’

‘My child will never be able to write a good enough story!’

‘It’s not fair that they have to write a full page of a story!’

And then guess what? Their children hear them say these things. This is all just sad. And by the way, not helpful at all.

Going to 4 hours of 7+ Assessment preparation classes each week is NOT NECESSARY for 7+ Assessment Success. In fact, it will probably put that majority of children off of story writing for good.

Hours and hours of story writing doesn’t mean story writing success.

In fact, it might go the other way!

At this very young age, short, sharp bursts are always best.

Always.

So let your child develop a love for writing and use my 60 second Magic Formula for 7+ Story writing success!

Obviously this takes more than 60 seconds to prepare for but the process will take you no more than 60 seconds.

You are welcome!

1. Pick a stimulus (5 seconds)

Put your stimulus on the table. This could be a picture you’ve printed or a real object.

Eg. A jewel, a rock, a picture of a fountain to give you some examples.

2. Introduce your character, setting and problem (20 seconds)

Ask your child to tell you this and you write it down for them.

If your child struggles will this (Hint: most children do!), then they need to be reading more. Reading a variety of books to help them to generate their ideas.

3. Go into detail about the problem (20 seconds)

Ask your child to tell you what exactly happens in the build up section (middle paragraph)

4. Finish the story (15 seconds)

Ask your child to tell you how their story will end.

Will it end well or not?

Moral or a question to finish?

The more you can use my 60 second Magic Formula, the more ideas your child will have when it comes to actually writing their story in their 7+ Assessment.

Remember that this is just the planning and thinking stage.

Then your child will actually need to write their story.

However, you don’t need hours and hours. Just give your child 30 minutes and see what they produce.

Mark it and give feedback and ask them to re-write it (again in 30 minutes)

Keep doing this process until you have the story that is the final story and this will become their model.

Place it into a folder in which you will create a selection of stories.

Read these daily.

You want to aim to have a collection of at least 12 amazing, well written stories before your child sits their 7+ Assessments.

If you want your child to master story writing for the 7+ Assessments, book your place on my incredible Write an Amazing Story by Friday Challenge! (7th -11th April). Launching at the end of this week.

This is what I love to do. I will help your child to love it too! Join the Challenge! Also open to current clients.

3 huge problems with the St Paul's 7+ Assessment

Having prepared hundreds of boys for their 7+ at St. Paul’s, I know exactly what to expect when it comes to this very popular school. St. Paul’s is a highly sought after school. Thousands of parents across the UK would love to send their boys to this school at 7+. In fact, many dream of sending their boys to this school at 7+. I don’t blame them.

St. Paul’s is a prestigious school with a reputation for achieving exceptional academic results. The campus is modern and includes a sports centre, swimming pool and a beautiful dining hall. You will be paying for a nearly 30k a year education for your son.

Over the last 16 years, I have seen what works and I have seen what doesn’t.

Here are 3 huge problems with the St. Paul’s 7+ Assessments…

1. Starting too late.

You can absolutely be successful starting later but your son will need to study a lot more intensively than if they were to have started at least 12 months before the Assessment (which is what I advise)

If your son starts too late, it is going to be very hard to cover all of the curriculum at greater depths (which is the level expected at this school!)

St Paul’s write, ‘It is hoped that boys who apply are working at a Greater Depth standard within the Year 2 curriculum.’

This is not just the Autumn term curriculum. This is the whole of the Year 2 curriculum. So basically, your son will need to be at a year 3 standard at a minimum to even be in with a chance of passing the first round.

2. Not understanding the Assessment process well enough.

So much is expected of the boys in this Assessment. If you don’t understand the Assessment process well enough, how will you ever prepare your son to be able to pass?

Most parents sadly underestimate what this assessment will be like and don’t even scratch the surface when preparing their son’s for their 7+ Assessment at this school.

3. Not being able to achieve the pass mark percentage.

When I prepare my boys for St Pauls (7+), I am aiming for 80- 85% in all papers. There is a reason for this!

It is very simple really.

If your son doesn’t achieve the the threshold percentage for passing the St Paul’s 7+ Assessment, they won’t be able to pass the first round.

Here’s a bonus problem for you.

Not preparing correctly for the interview.

We have personally prepared hundreds of boys for both rounds at this school.

We have had tremendous success at St Paul’s.

We would be delighted to support you to have the same.

Summer born means very little in a 7+ Assessment.

Think your summer-born child will get a big advantage from age adjustments in the 7+? Think again.

A lot of parents I speak to assume that because their child is one of the youngest in their cohort that the examiners will lower expectations. They believe their summer-born child won’t need to perform at the same level as an autumn or winter-born child.

They would be wrong.

Yes, final scores are age-adjusted, but the adjustment is minimal. It won’t make up for gaps in ability. Schools expect all children sitting the 7+ to meet the same high standard regardless of their date of birth.

Yet I constantly hear:
“He’s an August baby, so his reading isn’t quite there yet.”
“She’s summer-born, so her writing is behind her peers.”
“He’s one of the youngest, so his focus isn’t as strong.”

To parents, these are observations. I hear excuses.

Here’s the reality:
Your child must read fluently and understand what they read.
Your child must write confidently with strong vocabulary.
Your child must focus, think critically, work independently, persevere at more challenging questions and show resilience.

Examiners don’t assess potential (although many schools say that they do!)—they assess performance. It’s the results that matter! It’s what they score that matters!

If your child isn’t fully prepared, no age adjustment will change that.

If your child is summer-born, the best strategy isn’t hoping for an adjustment—it’s closing the gaps early. Need help? Book your Sample Lesson today.

Over-Reliance on Nursery for 4+ Prep shows a deep misunderstanding.

A deep misunderstanding of what a nursery is.

A deep misunderstanding of the amount of children that need to be looked after by one human being.

A deep misunderstanding about the role of the EYFS practitioner.

With a ratio of 1:5 in the over 2’s category and a ratio of 1:13 in the over 3’s category. Look at those ratios again!

So if your child is over 3, their ratio will be 1:13.

I don’t know about you but that’s a huge ask on one human being.

To prepare your child to be ready for their 4+ Assessments when they have your child plus another 12 to be teaching/ looking after.

Have a look at just some of the expectations of an early years practitioner. There was a full two pages of expectations in the job specification that I analysed.

• Provide care and support to all students and parents

• Take responsibility for the health and safety of all pupils

• Plan activities and assess all children

• Aid with the overall development of all pupils

• Take groups of children on educational visits

• Setting out equipment in interesting ways and clearing away after use

• Write weekly lessons plans and evaluate them each week

• Carry out play ground and lunch time duties

All for a starting salary of 30k (if you’re lucky!).

And yet, the majority of you continue to tell me that it is up to your child’s nursery to prepare your child to go in and pass their 4+ Assessment.

Are you ready to re-think this?

'I'll wait until my child is 3!' is not a strategy for 4+ Assessment preparation.

‘I’m really against tuition!’

‘I just don’t agree with tuition!’

‘Oh, it just doesn’t sit right with me!’

‘I just don’t want my child to do tuition at such a young age!’

I don’t know why there’s so much trauma around the word ‘tuition’. It must be some deep childhood trauma, I’m not quite sure what it is. But I hear parents saying these things to me every single day.

And then comes the total and utter confusion.

These parents want their children to be offered a place at coveted schools like Westminster, Haberdashers and Highgate?

Oh the contradiction. Oh the total and utter confusion.

Wake up everyone!

It is nearly April!

Most of my clients have been preparing for the 4+ with myself and my team since September -December of last year.

If you keep waiting, how is that going to be helpful to any one?

You have a vast curriculum to cover to prepare your child for these prestigious schools.

Then comes the … ‘Well I’m not worried, she goes to a top Nursery/Pre- prep and x children got into x schools.’

Listen up, out of those x children, how many of them were in fact tutored - I promise you ALL OF THEM.

So please don’t wait. The time to start was 3 months ago! But if you’re just getting started now, just start.

Going to Nursery Full Time is not a strategy for 4+ Assessment Success.

Far too much confusion around this one.

So your child goes to a top Nursery or pre- prep. Perhaps they go to Bright Little Stars or to a Bright Horizons or to a Fountain Montessori. Or perhaps they go to a top pre prep like The Mulberry House School (This is where I worked for 3 years) or to Devonshire House. Please don’t for one moment think that sending your child to Nursery or a pre-prep is a strategy to help to support your child to be offered a place at a top Independent School.

This is not the case.

Now many of you will argue will me and say that you are paying nearly 30k per year to send your child to a top pre-prep so shouldn’t it be their job to prepare your child for their 4+ Assessment?

The answer is a harsh no.

It is not.

That is up to you.

You choose to send your child to a nearly 30k per year pre-prep. That is your choice. That is personal to everyone.

Believe me when I tell you that the majority of my students have a private tutor and attend a top pre-prep. How do I know this? Well, because I am that tutor!

The majority of our students attend top Nurseries or prestigious prep schools. That’s because our clients fully understand that it is up to them to ensure that their child is ready for their 4+ Assessments and not the nursery/pre- prep that they go to.

So when you call me and tell me that your child goes to an exceptional nursery or pre-prep, please remember that this is highly irrelevant and means very little.

Take responsibility for the success of your child.

No one else will ever care as much as you do.

Remember that.

Mastering fine motor skills for 4+ Assessment success!

Struggling with pencil grip, scissor skills, or buttoning up a coat? These little things make a BIG difference in the 4+ assessments!

Fine motor skills aren’t just about neat handwriting—they show dexterity, independence and school readiness. Many 4+ Assessment tasks require children to:

Hold a pencil correctly and form letters/shapes with accuracy and precision
Use scissors and build with small objects like lego
Fasten buttons and complete puzzles and beading

These are just a few examples.

Many students who start working me with less than 6-9 months to go before their 4+ Assessments struggle with their fine motor skills and fine motor control. It hasn’t been practised enough. Parents can sometimes underestimate the power of practising these skills every day and consistently from a very young age. I have personally been working on fine motor skills with my son from the moment he was able to pick up small objects. Every day, I provide him with tasks that help to strengthen his fine motor skills. He now has exceptional fine motor control. There are things we continue to work on such as cutting which is still very challenging for him - and that’s okay! It’s about consistency and doing things daily (even for just 5-10 minutes).

And by the way, the reason he struggles with cutting is because that is one task I do not do with him every day and I am not consistent with it.

3 fun ways to strengthen fine motor skills at home:

1. Play doh Fun – Rolling, pinching & shaping strengthens little fingers!
2. Tweezers & Pom-Poms – Picking up small objects builds grip strength.
3. Buttoning & Zipping Challenge – Encourages independence with dressing skills.

Strong fine motor skills = confident, independent learners!

How is your child currently doing with their fine motor skills? How could you support them today to strengthen their fine motor skills?

Developing strong listening skills for 4+ Assessment success!

Did you know that in the 4+ assessments strong listening skills can make or break a child’s success.

It will be so clear to see which children are able to listen well and those that are not.

Many children struggle with following instructions—not because they don’t understand, but because they aren’t used to actively listening to someone. These top Independent Schools want to see children who can:

• Listen carefully to a story or task.

• Follow multi-step instructions without needing constant reminders.

• Children who can stay engaged, focused and respond appropriately.

Try these 3 simple ways to boost listening skills at home:

1.Play "Simon Says" – Helps with focus & following instructions!
2. Give Multi-Step Tasks – “First put your book away, then grab your teddy.”
3. Read & Ask Questions – "What happened first/last in the story?" Builds attention & recall!

The best 4+ candidates aren’t just intelligent and bright—they’re also great listeners!

Far too often I speak to parents who tell me things like, ‘My child didn’t pass because they did not listen well but they listen so well at Nursery!’ How is that even relevant? Your child HAS to listen well in their 4+ Assessments. And it’s up to you to ensure that they are able to do so by practising daily.

It takes time, effort and focus to support a 2/3 year old to develop their listening skills!

Are you up for the challenge?

Many of you seem to want to leave this up to your child’s Nursery or pre-prep. Why do you think they care about your child being able to listen well more than you do?

Book your Sample Lesson today!

Boosting independence and confidence for 4+ Assessment success!

"A confident child stands out in 4+ assessments—not just because they know the answers, but because they tackle challenges with independence and self-belief!" Maria Mazarese (Creative Minds Tutors Director)

Many parents focus only on academic abilities but top schools are also looking for children who can think for themselves. Independence and confidence are key! Do not neglect this aspect of 4+ Assessment preparation.

Try these 3 simple ways to build these essential skills at home:

1. Give Choices – Let your child pick between two activities (“Do you want to do puzzles or drawing?”). This fosters decision-making & independence.

My son will always pick both when given the choice. I find this cute but it wouldn’t go down well in a 4+ Assessment! If your child is asked to choose between an activity to go to, they will have to choose. So it is up to you to support your child to be able to do this. And to be able to do it well. Every day ask your child to choose and pick an option out of the ones you give them. This could be as simple as - ‘Which book would you like to read this evening?’ If that question is currently too vast for them, offer them two or three options.

2. Encourage Problem-Solving – Instead of jumping in to help, ask “What do you think we should do next?” This builds resilience & critical thinking.

Many parents that I work with initially jump in and try to answer for their children. This is not helpful. I’m not interested in what the parents have to say!

I’m interested in what my students have to say.

3. Build Responsibility – Small tasks like tidying up after playtime boost independence & confidence in following instructions—a crucial skill for assessments.

When I ask my nearly 3 year old to tidy up, he will always choose to say no and in fact he will even ask me to do it for him! He also asks me ‘Why?’ All I have to do is come down to eye level with him and explain to him WHY I would like him to tidy up and when I do this he will (nearly ) always tidy up.

Confident, independent children are the ones who will succeed in the 4+ Assessments.

Yes we are preparing for the 4+ Assessments but it goes far beyond this. We are preparing our students to be lifelong lovers of learning. Teaching these skills at such a young age is truly extraordinary in my opinion. A three year old who is already confident and fiercely independent? That’s exactly how I’m raising my son!

Story time for Success!

Did you know that story time isn’t just for bedtime? It’s actually one of the best ways to prepare your child for the 4+ assessments! Here’s how…
When your child listens to stories, they’re not just hearing words—they’re building focus, vocabulary, and comprehension (all essential for 4+ success!)

Want to make the most of story time? Try this 3-step technique to boost their learning:

1. Pause & Predict – Stop mid-story and ask, “What do you think happens next?” (Encourages critical thinking!)

I always ask my students ‘What do you think will happen next?’ when we are reading stories together. Students as young as two are asked this question every single week! Your child will 100% be asked to make predictions in their 4+ Assessment. So by exposing them to this questions frequently, your child will build the confidence that they need in order to be able to predict accurately based on the story that they are read.

2. Spot the Details – Point to pictures and say, “Can you find something red?” (Builds observation skills!)

In our lessons, we do picture analysis every single week. When I do picture analysis with my students, I simple start off by asking them, ‘What do you see?’ Done consistently every single week (and with their parents during the week) this activity alone strengthens and builds their vocabulary. Asking my students focused questions allows them to enhance their questioning skills and be able to answer more and more complex questions

3. Retell the Story – After reading, ask them to summarise in their own words. (Boosts memory & verbal expression!) Simply ask your child - ‘What happened in the story?’

Just 10 minutes a day can make a HUGE difference! Try this today & tell me—what book are you reading?

Consistently reading with your child every day for only 10 minutes equates to 70 minutes a week. In a month that’s nearly 5 hours of reading time!

It’s those little moments of time that count when it comes to 4+ Assessment preparation.

3 fun and interactive learning ideas to try today!

 Want to prepare your child for the 4+ assessments without countless and boring worksheets? 

Try these FUN & INTERACTIVE games at home! 

Learning through play is the secret to building confidence, focus & early learning skills! Here are 3 quick & easy games to get started:

Mystery Bag Challenge – Hide an object in a bag. Let your child feel & describe before guessing. (Boosts vocabulary & thinking!) 

Children adore an element of mystery. You can use any bag that you have and just place an object inside. I like to keep this themed. For example, I tell my son - 'This is something that you can find in the kitchen.' or 'This is a fruit.' etc. This is such a fun game with so much learning involved! If they correctly guess the item, they can reveal it and you can use the item to ask them lots of questions. Eg. What do you do with it? Why do you use it? Where else might you find it? 

Sound Hunt – Pick a sound (like “S”) & have your child find objects that start with it! (Builds phonics & listening skills!) It also encourages focus and concentration! Choose two or three objects that begin with that sound and hide them around the room. Give your child clues as to where they can find the items and have lots of fun with this! When your child finds the item, let them tell you what it is and then ask them what sound it begins with. 

 Action Simon Says – Add a two-step challenge: “Touch your toes, then spin!” (Strengthens memory & focus!) Great for the personal development aspect of the EYFS curriculum and also great for following instructions! 

The best part? They’re learning without even realising it!

Ready to take your child’s 4+ Assessment preparation to the next level?

Book your Sample Lesson today!

100% Success Rate at Chigwell (4+) 2025 Entry.

Chigwell is a very popular school that we prepare for every single year. It is one of the earlier Assessments so mu must ensure that you start preparing a lot earlier. Chigwell have not yet published details about the 4+ Assessment this year but last year the Assessment was on the 23rd of September! So you would have only 6 months of Assessment preparation if you were to be starting now.

We prepare all of our students for their Chigwell 4+ Assessment to the highest standards. I know that all of our students are equipped with the skills to be able to answer any question that they are asked, to be able to complete any activity and to be able to go in and truly thrive.

We have such incredible success year after year after year because we do the following exceptionally well.

1. We teach our students HOW to answer questions well and we practise this skill every single week.

   Your child will need to communicate exceptionally well to be offered a place at Chigwell. I wouldn’t recommend sending your child in to this assessment if they are unable to do this.

2. We focus on listening skills.

   Your child will need to listen and engage with a story and demonstrate high levels of listening skills. Listening also includes how your child responds to what they have heard.

3. We cover all of the EYFS curriculum to a very high standard.

If you are preparing for the 4+ Assessment at Chigwell and you haven’t yet started Assessment preparation, the time to start is right now. I don’t personally think 6 months is enough time to prepare for Chigwell but you are better off starting now than continuing to wait.

The Chigwell 4+ Assessment is not easy.

Chigwell at 4+ is very over subscribed.

Chigwell will be looking for something specific in their students.

If you don’t know what they are looking for, work with someone who does.

We have supported hundreds of children to be very successful at this school.

Here is a testimonial from one of my clients whose son has started at Chigwell last year…

I would highly recommend Maria!!! SHE IS SIMPLY THE BEST!

We knew we wanted to send our son to a school that required him to sit the 4+ assessments. I did not know what was needed to prep him. I searched online and came across creative mind tutors. After having read their blog posts on their website, i had a discovery call with Maria. During this call she listened to me and I instantly knew she would be right for us. Her knowledge of the curriculum is outstanding.

We started with her curriculum sprints and then embarked on weekly tutuion sessions online. Maria was kind, patient and structured. She knew exactly what needed to be done and was aware of the timeline we had.

Our son got offers from all the schools we applied to and I am so grateful to Maria for making the whole experience fun and enjoyable for little children.

Thank you so much Maria!

Book your Sample Lesson today.

Confusion is the thief of 4+ Assessment Success

These last few days I’ve spoken to 15 parents preparing their children for the 4+ Assessments.

There seems to be quite a lot of confusion going around.

Rather than focusing your thoughts on this confusion, please direct that energy to ensuring that your child is best prepared for their Assessments.

A lot of parents that I’ve spoken to have attended open days at the schools that they would love to send their child to at 4+. There have been many mixed messages. Or at least this is how the parents I have spoken to have interpreted what they have been told. Many of these parents have said things to me like, ‘My husband has said no to any tuition!’ and ‘I just don’t think my 3 year old should be doing assessment preparation!’

Confusion will rob you of 4+ Assessment success. Confusion will leave you blocked. Confusion will keep you stuck.

And here is what I have to say about it.

If you are preparing your child for the 4+ , please ensure that they are best prepared in ALL of the areas of the EYFS curriculum. At the end of the day, regardless of what your child is asked, at least you know that you have covered all bases.

Please don’t neglect certain areas.

Cover everything! And more!

Children at this age LOVE to learn. They are like sponges. Absorbing everything and remembering so much. It is incredible to see.

So to those of you who tell me that you don’t want your child to suffer because they have to prepare for their Assessments, challenge that thinking. Why would they suffer? I do not understand that at all. Children adore learning! To those of you who think that a 4+ Assessment can’t be as difficult as I say it will be, challenge that thinking. Why do you think I’ve had students start with me from as early as 18 months of age preparing for their 4+ Assessments? Why do you think all of my clients are currently taking massive action every single day preparing their children for their 4+ Assessments.

There is a reason.

Children are capable of learning everything that you teach them. Trust me, children at this age love to learn. So teach them. Have fun with it. Laugh. Joke. Enjoy it. And if your child absorbs it all, that is the cherry on top!

If you need further support with 4+ Assessment preparation, book your Sample Lesson today. We will be delighted to support you every step of the way.

3 character traits of OUR students who passed their 4+ Assessment at Highgate (2025 Entry)

We have prepared hundreds of children for their Highgate 4+ Assessment over the last 16 years. We know exactly what this exceptional school is looking for and we prepare our students to the highest possible standards to be able to go into the Highgate 4+ Assessment and shine. Despite there being 60 places available each year at Highgate at 4+, this is an incredibly competitive school to get into. It is so competitive that this is the only school at 4+ that has a ballot system for children to even be offered a chance to go the this 4+ Assessment!

Think over a thousand children applying for 60 places. Last year, we prepared 5 children for Highgate at 4+. 4 have been offered a place to study at this school from September 2025. This is exceptional.

Here are the 3 character traits of OUR students who passed their 4+ Assessment at Highgate (2025 Entry)

1. Strong physically

All 4 students were very strong physically. They had very strong gross and fine motor skills. They were all able to hold their pencil pretty much perfectly and they could all write their numbers and letters of the alphabet with accuracy and precision. All 4 students could cut to a very high standard. They were all able to complete complex puzzles and demonstrate a variety of strategies to complete the puzzles.

2. Excellent listeners

All 4 students were excellent listeners. When they showed up to meet with me weekly, they were always actively engaged and listening to every single word that I would say. In the 4+ Assessment at Highgate they listened to every single thing that they were asked to do and they did it to a very high standard.

3. Superb focus and concentration

All 4 students were able to focus for long periods of time.

To be successful in the Highgate 4+ Assessment, your child will need at least 12 months of tailored and bespoke 4+ Assessment preparation. Round 1 at Highgate is in November. So as of today, you have 8 months of 4+ Assessment preparation.

Do not procrastinate getting started. You want your child to even have a chance of passing this 4+ Assessment, take the process seriously and put in the work.

It takes time, effort and dedication on your part for your child to be able to into their 4+ Assessment and pass.

Book your Sample Lesson Today.

Can a 3 year old REALLY focus for 60-90 minutes?

Obviously the answer is… yes!

They REALLY can!

Yet so many of you are so sceptical about this.

Why?

You don’t believe that your 3 year old can focus for 60-90 minutes?

You’ve never seen them focus for 60-90 minutes before?

Well, if you are planning to send your child for a 4+ Assessment at a top inner or outer London school, you’d better change your way of thinking.

Because in order for your child to even be in with a chance of passing their 4+ Assessment, your child is going to have to be able to develop the skill of being able to focus for long and extended periods of time.

Parents will say to me that it is ‘impossible’ and that their child just ‘can’t do it’.

This is lazy thinking.

Of course your child can do it.

You just need to put in the work each and every day to support them to be able to do this.

Most of you are not willing to do this.

You want someone else to do it for you. Your child’s nursery/tutor/nanny.

Listen, the only person truly invested in your child’s success is you.

A 3 year old REALLY can focus for 60-90 minutes. How do I know this?

I know this because I see it year after year after year (I’ve personally been preparing children for their 4+ Assessments for over 16 years!)

It is an expectation in these 4+ Assessments. Some will be shorter of course but you want to see your child focusing for extended periods of time over the course of their 4+ Assessment preparation.

So throw your hands up in the air and tell me this is not possible or do the work and support your child to be able to do it.

Book your Sample Lesson today.

If your child can’t follow instructions, do not send them to a 4+ Assessment.

Go to a group class where you have a variety of different children of similar age and just observe quietly.

It will become so clear to you.

Who can follow instructions and who cannot.

If this were at a 4+ Assessment and you were the assessor, who would you invite back to the second round and who would you say bye bye to?

The weekly class that I take my son to currently is Stagecoach (he is nearly 3 years old). He is in a group of about 6-8 children. There are 3 types of children in his group.

Group 1

The overachievers

These children are the ones who always put their hands up. They are so eager and keen. They want to answer everything that they are asked. ‘Me, me, me, pick me!’ They listen to everything the teacher says as though everything she says is just amazing. They focus.

Group 2

The distracted

These children are the ones who have their eye gaze everywhere else but on the teacher. They listen to her reading the story for a few minutes and then look over at the toys in the corner. They never raise their hands because they are too distracted to even be fully listening to what the teacher is saying.

Group 3

The ‘I’d rather not be here’

These children clearly have no desire to be in the Stagecoach room. They are attached to their mother or father and they cry frequently. They definitely are not listening to a single word the teacher is saying and they do not take part in the activities.

Which group does your child fall under?

Mine falls under group 2.

If your child doesn’t fall under group 1, do not send them to a 4+ Assessment. What would be the point?

Summer born v Autumn born children in the 4+ Assessment

So your child is summer born and they are going to be doing their 4+ Assessment in the next 6-10 months. You breathe in a sigh of relief because the school you desperately want to send your child to has told you that your child will be grouped in terms of age. You imagine that this means that your child will be assessed differently to their winter born peers and you would be wrong about this.

Children are grouped into age groups (at most 4+ Assessments) but please don’t take this to mean that they will be assessed differently to their peers who are older than them.

I’ve never spoken to one single parent who has ever told me that their child was assessed differently compared to a child who is winter born.

The Assessments will not be different for your child just because they are summer born.

Why would they be?

Do you really think that these top independent schools have the time to differentiate their Assessment procedure for summer born children? No they do not.

Prepare your child in the exact same way as a child who is nearly a year older than them will be prepared.

If you don’t, it is highly likely that they will not be ready for their 4+ Assessments and it is very likely that they will not pass.

Their percentage will be adjusted to give them their final mark but only ever so slightly.

At the end of the day, if your child is unable to fulfil the criteria of the school assessing them, they will not pass - regardless of their age.

Book your Sample Lesson today.

How 'easy' is your child to teach?

Would you say that your child is ‘easy’ to teach?

Have you observed them in a group environment with other children?

Have you seen how they are as part of the group?

I invite you to just spend some time observing. Being the silent witness.

I invite you to not just listen to your child’s nursery teachers telling you that they are ‘doing great!’ or ‘They had a great day!’ What does that even mean anyway?

Take responsibility and take the time to just go and watch your child in a group setting. I promise you it will be eye opening.

Most Sundays, I take my son to Stage coach. I just sit and observe him and it is fascinating.

He is not as ‘easy to teach’ as other children in the group and let me explain to you how I know this.

He doesn’t actively listen to the teacher all the time. He does switch off if he gets bored or if he loses interest. I observe other children literally glued to the teacher and listening to every single word that she says.

He doesn’t raise his hand to answer the questions without my encouragement. Other children have their hands up the whole time and patiently wait for the opportunity to be called upon in order to be able to answer the questions. Even if their answer is wrong, you can see how proud they are of themselves!

When he is asked to answer and put on the spot, he will most often withdraw and not answer. I observe other children saying the answers with confidence and delight.

When my son is asked to do something like tidy away a toy that was used, sometimes he does it but there are also times where he literally just refuses. Other children follow the instruction immediately.

My son is not ‘easy to teach’ compared to the other children in his group.

If it was a 4+ Assessment, you can see why this would be a problem for my son.

Remember that these top schools will have their pick of the children that they want to come to their schools. Teachability is very important. They want children who will be ‘easy to teach’.

So if your child ‘easy to teach’?

And I don’t mean ‘easy for you to teach’! I mean ‘easy for others to teach’.

Answer this question with honestly and sincerity like I just did and then get to work with supporting your child to develop the skills needed in order to demonstrate teachability in their Assessments.

That’s what we do here at Creative Minds Tutors. We support all of our students to go into their Assessments and show exactly what the assessors are looking for. After all, your child will be one of hundreds and hundreds of children being assessed.

Why would these top schools want to choose your child?