What I would do if I only had 3 months to prepare for the 4+ Assessments!

Phonics

I would cover the 22 graphemes in phase 2 and 3. These are:

P A T I N S M E D O G U B R F L W J Y Z V X

Once my student is confident in all of these and know both the letter name and the sound, I would move onto the digraphs in phase 2 and 3 (2 letters that make 1 sound)

Maths

I would make sure that my student is confident with their place value to 10.

Then subitising to 10.

Writing numbers to 10.

Counting backwards and counting forwards.

Addition and subtraction to 10 (adding on and counting back)

2D and 3D shapes.

Length and height - using language of longer and shorter, heavier and lightest.

Weight and volume - discussing capacity and using language such as more and less.

Creative

I would want my student to be confident with drawing anything that I ask them to draw.

Eg.

house

butterfly

family

face

Animals come up frequently.

Practise drawing. Show your child to scale how big you’d like the drawing to be. Model for them how it should look and get them to practise.

Cutting tasks

Make and create - Junk modelling eg. make a robot out of the egg cartons. Make a boat using only the materials provided.

Writing

Ensure that your child can hold their pen ‘properly’

Show them and model it to them and the practise lots and lots. The writing hand should lean gently on the paper and glide along the page as they write.

If you find that pencil grips will help, use these.

They don’t work for every child. Do what works for your child.

Your child will want to be able to write numbers to 10, all the letters of the alphabet and of course their name.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

Find some great website that have general knowledge for 3 year olds.

Here are a few:

Constantly ask them questions about the world and discuss.

Do mini research project about the world. Create posters together and discuss.

Have lots and lots of discussion.

Get them to ask you questions. Take the time to answer them and then ask them another question.

Your child needs to be very confident in having conversations with an adult that they have never met before so please do ensure that you practise this.

Don’t let the Assessment be the first time that your child speaks to someone new and unfamiliar to them.

Confidence

Your child will need to display and element of confidence in the 4+ Assessments.

Please remember that we are all different. And all children are different.

The important thing is that they have a good go and answer questions.

You can be shy and still be confident.

To support your child with this, ensure that they are exposed to different people in the lead up to the assessments, perhaps people that they are unfamiliar with and encourage them to have a conversation with them. To answer their questions. To ask them questions.

Book your Sample lesson today and see for yourself how incredible our lessons are and how we can support your child to shine in their 4+ Assessments.