In my opinion it is harder to PASS at Round 1 (4+) - Here is why...

At Round 1 most schools will be looking at your child’s behavioural characteristics and these are a little bit more challenging to prepare for (and also not completely within our control!)

I am completely in control with regards to how much my student will learn, what they learn and how much they retain. I know with 100% certainty that my student will be able to write their name with accuracy and precision, I know that they will be able to cut neatly and colour within the lines. It is completely out of my control how my student will behave on the day of their Assessment. Yes, I can teach them behavioural expectations and practise these but whether or not they actually demonstrate these on the day will be exclusively up to my student.

Each school will have their own criteria regarding what exactly they are looking for in their students behaviourally.

For example, at one particular school they are looking for children who follow instructions (perfectly!), children who are compliant, children who show amazing listening and children who can answer questions really well.

So even thought your child might be exceptional academically, most of this will not be Assessed until Round 2. So please do prepare for both aspects of the 4+ Assessments! Focus equally on both but ensure your do prepare for Round 1.

Having witnessed Round 1 Assessments several times, I can tell you that what is Assessed is mostly relating to the behaviour of the child. Let me give you an example.

At one Assessment, I had a child who was clearly academically strong but after ten minutes, he stopped following the instructions completely. I asked him to go over to the puzzle activity and he simply looked at me and said, ‘No!’. He proceeded to go over the the cars activity instead. When I asked him to join me at the cutting table, he looked at me, smiled and ran the opposite direction. He did not meet the criteria to pass the Round 1 Assessment.

Tell your children what is expected of them. How else will they know!

If you’re looking for the highest quality tuition from the best teachers who have years of experience with our youngest learners and exceptional results, book your Sample Lesson today.

How do you know what to prepare for at Round 2? (4+)

Just like Round 1, round 2 will be very different at each individual school. You will need to prepare for each school differently.

For example, some schools have 1:1 Assessments at Round 1 whereas at other schools it will still be a group Assessments. At some schools there will be smaller groups of children and at other schools there will be larger groups of children. At some schools there will be 3-4 adults in the room wheras in other schools there will just be one or two. At some schools, the expectations will be a lot more academic whereas at other schools they won’t be. So, why is is important to know what to prepare for at Round 2?

It is so important.

If your child doesn’t know what to expect, it can become quite overwhelming for them. Imagine going somewhere completely new and unfamiliar to you and having 4 adults in a small room watching you as you play, asking you to read words and to write numbers? Overwhelming.

But if you know to expect it, you will most likely feel more relaxed and at ease. You probably still will not like it but at least you are aware of about what to expect.

Imagine going somewhere new and unfamiliar and going into a room with one adult that you have never met and having that adult ask you questions for 30-45 minutes? How would that feel to a child who is only three years old? I don’t imagine it to be a very positive feeling do you?

At least if they know what to expect, it is far more likely that they will go in at the very least a little more calm and relaxed.

Three year olds are very intuitive. They understand what is going on around them so well. Talk to your three year old and explain to them exactly what they should expect when they go to their Round 2 Assessment.

And if you don’t know, work with incredible teachers who do.

Book your Sample Lesson today.

The Reading and Writing Expectations in the 4+ Assessments.

The reading and writing expectations will be very different at each different school that you will be applying to. Certain schools will expect that your child will be able to read 3 letter words with ease and that your child will be able to write 3 letter words with accuracy. They will expect your child to have correct letter formation for all of the letters that they observe them writing and they will expect them to be able to read a 3 letter words by segmenting and then blending it (ie. They can sound it out before reading it)

Most likely your child will be asked to write their name at most schools that they will attend Assessment at. Please note that not all schools will ask your child to write their name. Some schools will be completely ‘play based’. I will talk about how I interpret these two little words in another blog!

Reading

When you begin tuition with us, we will initially learn all of the phonemes (single sounds). Once your child is confident with all of their phase 2 and phase 3 phonemes, we move onto digraphs (2 letters that make one sound eg. sh) We will only ever move onto digraphs if you child knows all of their phonemes really well. You will see your child become so confident with their single sounds that before you know it, they will begin reading 2-3 letter words. It is inevitable.

Alongside learning their phonics, your child will do reading in each lesson. Reading could be listening to a story, analysing a story, answering questions about a story or sounding out individual words within a story. Exposing your child to so many different books will enable them to go into their 4+ Assessments and know exactly what is expected of them when it comes to reading.

Writing

When you begin tuition with us, we will immediately begin an intensive programme of writing (depending on your chosen schools). We will begin by writing numbers. Writing numbers takes time. It can take between 3-6 months before your child can accurately write numbers with correct formation. So we practise writing numbers at every single lesson. You will also receive weekly home learning where you will have the opportunity to practise writing numbers with your child. Children can regress when in comes to writing, please don’t worry about this. It is perfectly ok. Just keep practising. We will then move onto writing letters of the alphabet.

At some schools, your child will be asked to write 3 letter words and therefore it will be an expectation that they write each individual letters with correct letter formation. Pencil grip is also something that we practise. Some schools will expect your child to have ‘correct’ pencil grip. Some children learn this quicker than others. Some children enjoy writing immediately and others simply do not. None of it is a problem. Each child is different and unique.

Take your time with pencil grip and never ever make it a ‘problem’ is your child is not ‘able’ to hold their pencil correctly. Show them, practise it and if they don’t want to just move on and come back to it another day.

Preparing for the 4+ Assessments for 2025 entry? Download your Ultimate Guide to 4+ Assessment Success and be fully prepared.

Why are certain schools more challenging than others to get into at 4+?

Some parents that I speak to are often very surprised when their child is not successful to their first school of choice. They don’t realise how incredibly hard some of these schools are to get into. I don’t blame them for not knowing, how would they? Perhaps this is their first time embarking on this journey, perhaps they’ve not had any experience with the 4+ Assessments, perhaps they just assumed that their child would go to the Assessment and be successful. Unfortunately, it DOES NOT work this way.

So here are just a few reasons why certain schools are more challenging to get into than others at 4+…

1. They are incredibly over subscribed. I heard of one particular school at 4+ having more than 500 children attend at Round 1.

   With so many applicant for such a small amount of places, you can clearly see how challenging it will be to get into certain schools.

2. Some schools have fewer places available than others.

   I have heard of certain schools at 3+ for example that only have 8 places!

3. Some schools have incredibly high academic and behavioural expectations.

   This is why I always talk about knowing your schools and knowing them very well. Let me give you an example. I spoke to a parent the other day who was preparing her child for a top London boys’ school at 4+. She had taught him how to count and recognise numbers to 10 but in his Assessment he was asked to count backwards from 20. She had not gone up to 20 with him. Had she known the school’s academic expectations, she would of course have gone up to 20. In terms of behavioural expectations, most of these top schools will have incredibly high expectations when it comes to the behaviour of their students. They will each have their own criteria but they will definitely be looking for children who can listen well, who can follow instructions, who are kind and caring and who can focus and concentrate for certain time durations.

   So when I speak to parents who are incredibly shocked that their child hasn’t got into their top school of choice, I completely understand their frustrations. After all, they have worked so hard to give their child the highest possible chances for success. I get it! But the most important thing to manage is your expectations. Expect your child to go in and give it their all and if they are successful, it is the cherry on top. Please don’t go in with the expectation that they will get in. It takes a lot more than just showing up to the Assessments to pass. It takes time, it takes patience and it takes lots and lots of practice.

   Are you preparing for the 4+ for 2025 entry? Book your Sample Lesson Today

My personal opinion about Round 1 at a Top London Girl School (4+)

Here is my honest opinion about a Top London Girls’s School at Round 1.

It was so clear that this school was looking for a girl who is confident. A girl who exuded confidence. A girl who could answer questions with confidence.

Previously at this school even girls who were a little more timid would be successful at Round 1. I personally didn’t find this to be the case this year.

Girls who were academically very gifted but who perhaps were a little more on the quieter side, were no successful at Round 1.

I of course this think that this is a huge shame. But it’s not my school and it’s not my choice.

So if you are preparing for the Top Girls Schools at 4+, please prepare (lots and lots) for confidence. I have created a Drama Club just for this! If you would like to join, it is only £20 per week and you will see incredible progress in terms of your child’s confidence.

How do you know what these schools are looking for at 3+/4+?

How do you know what these schools are looking for at Round 1? 

Years and years of experience. Over 14 years! 

Years and years of hearing feedback from my clients. 

Years and years of seeing the children who make it through the First Rounds and those that don't. 

Years and years of knowing what these schools are looking for in the students that pass. 

Each school is different. Please don't think that you will be preparing for each school in the same way. You won't. 

Our bespoke tuition is tailored to each school and all of our lessons are carefully planned and tailored towards each school that your child will be sitting their Assessment at. 

Download your Ultimate Guide to 4+ Assessment Preparation. 

Children who passed the Round 1 in their 4+ Assessments were children who...

1. Could focus on a specific task for 3-5 minutes

In Round 1 of the 4+ Assessments, your child will be expected to complete a variety of tasks. Usually, there will be different tables set up with activities. In most Assessments, your child will be invited to go and take part in the different activities and they will be observed by the EYFS team. It will be an expectation that your child will be able to focus on the task for a period of time. Each school will have their own criteria. However, as a benchmark, I would say that 3-5 minutes is a good timeframe to aim for. You want to aim for your child to be able to focus and concentrate on s particular activity for 3-5 minutes and then move onto the next one. In our lessons, we break up the focus into blocks of 3-5 minutes. For example, we might do phonics for 5 minutes and then move onto maths. We might to reading for 5 minutes and then move onto cutting. This is done intentionally to give our students practise and to know how long we expect them to concentrate for. Some students are able to do this very well and others need more practise.

2. Were able to show concentration and interest in different tasks

In the 4+ Assessments, your child will be observed engaging in a variety of different tasks. They will need to be able to show concentration and interest in the task/s that they are engaging in. A child who wouldn’t have passed their Round 1 Assessment would have been a child who perhaps didn’t show interest in a task and who didn’t engage in a way which would have demonstrated focus and concentration. For example, if your child is asked to do a puzzle, the assessors will be observing how they do the puzzle, do they focus on the edges first, do they look at the picture to help to guide them with where to place the puzzle pieces, do they try to place the pieces together and then try to manipulate them in a different way. Do they give up quickly or do they persevere? A child who for example gets frustrated with the activity wouldn’t do as well as a child who continues to try.

3. Were able to show a genuine interest in the tasks provided to them.

Genuine interest means truly wanting to engage in the task/s. Children who do not show genuine interest might only choose to engage in tasks that they like. When faced with tasks that they perhaps don’t like or aren’t as good at, they make either refuse to do it or simply say no. This will not be good in a Round 1 Assessment. For example, if your child is asked to do some cutting, a child who shows a genuine interest in this activity will be one who sits down calmly and really tries their best to ensure that their cutting is of the highest quality and precision. A child who is less interested in cutting, might sit down and quickly do the task so that they can move on to something they enjoy more. Rushed cutting will not be good in a 4+ Assessment.

Download the Ultimate Guide to 4+ Assessment Success today!

Teach sounds before you teach the Alphabet

When I start working with students who have been taught the alphabet, it is far harder to teach them phonics.

The letter name is different to the letter sound. This is why it can become so confusing if a child has been taught the alphabet first. Please don’t panic if you’ve done it this way. Just go back to teaching them the sounds. It will take a little longer and that’s ok.

My son is now 18 months and I am teaching him his phase 2 phonics. I use Anima phonics which is my favourite phonics programme (I do not get paid for recommending them, I just like them a lot!) I am fully ware that he will be exposed to the alphabet in his every day life and that is ok. He goes to nursery part time and he spends a lot of time with family members. But when he is with me, we learn the pure sound of the letters only.

I promise you that it will make it far easier to teach your child to read if they associate letters with sounds.

Only once my students are confident with the letter sounds do I then teach them the letter names.

What are your thoughts? Leave your comments below.

This happens every year after the 4+ Assessments

And this year is no different!

Each year after the 4+ Assessments, two things happen.

1. I hear from parents who had contacted me before the 4+ Assessments and chose to work with someone else and were not successful in the 4+ Assessments. They contact me because they now need to get started working on the 7+ Assessments.

2. I hear from parents who didn’t contact me before the 4+ Assessments but they also need help with preparing for the 7+ Assessments.

This is how I like to see it. If I were preparing my son for one of these top schools, I would 100% choose to prepare him for the 4+ and really GO ALL IN. Why you ask?

It is much easier to get our children in to these top schools at 4+ than it is at 7+ and 11+. With the correct preparation for at least a period of 9 months, you can support your chid to be successful in their 4+ Assessments. More spaces (usually!) are available at 4+ compared to 7+ and 11+. Some schools take more children in at 3+ (eg Merchant Taylors) so it is important that you know your schools! If you are preparing for the 3+, it’s the same thing really. Go ALL IN at least 9 months - 1 year before their Assessments.

It is far less stressful to get them in at 4+ than at 7+ and 11+. Maybe not for the parents but it is definitely far less stressful for the children. At 4+, your child will either be 3 or 4. They most likely won’t even know that it is an assessment. They will go in and thoroughly enjoy themselves. With the correct preparation, they will be able to answer everything that is asked and answer it well and be successful. At 7+ and 11+, the children are a lot older and are fully aware of what is going on.

So, if you find yourself in this position after the 4+ Assessments are over, book your Sample Lesson and let’s get started straight away with 7+ Assessment preparation. Well maybe give your child a little break and then get started! ;)

What do they even expect from a 3 year old?

I spoke to a very cross parent yesterday.

He was cross because his child hadn’t been successful to any of the 4+ Assessments (so far) and he was very confused.

He had been preparing his son for his 4+ Assessments from the day he turned 2.

His son didn’t have any formal tuition.

When we spoke yesterday, we were exploring options for the 7+ Assessments which is the next step is a child is unsuccessful in the 4+.

Deeply frustrated, he asked me this questions… “What do they even expect from a 3 year old?”

I think it’s the wrong question. A better question would be, “What does my child have to do in order to be successful?”

Do you feel the difference between these two questions?

The first one is filled with despair and completely out of our control and the second one is completely within our control.

We know exactly what a student needs to do and show in order to be successful. It is what we do every single day.

Let’s answer this question:

“What does my child have to do in order to be successful?”

Each school looks for different things so this is the first important point to mention and why I always say that you MUST know your schools very well and if you don’t, speak to someone who does and who has experience with the school/schools that you are applying to.

The schools at 4+ are looking for children who can:

1. Answer questions well (full sentences and with confidence and clarity)

2. Be academically able - be strong in the EYFS maths and english curriculum

3. Show logic and analytical skills

4. Follow instructions

5. Interact with others well (children and adults)

If your child can do all of the above, you have an excellent chance of being successful.

I like to see the above as puzzle pieces. If one piece is missing, it is likely that your child won’t be successful. If your child holds all of these puzzle pieces, he or she is highly likely to be successful.

Preparing for 2025 entry?

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What will my child be expected to do in their Round 1 Assessments? (4+)

First of all, it is not a play date so please don’t tell your child that it is. It’s not. Your child will be expected to do the following in their Round 1 Assessments...

Answer questions with clarity and confidence.

Your child will be asked questions by the teachers who are assessing. These top schools are looking for children who can answer questions clearly and with confidence. They are looking for a high level of vocabulary and for accuracy in their use of tenses.

Follow instructions

Your child will be expected to follow instructions. Let me give you an example.

I spoke to a parent (not one of our clients) who told me that in of their daughter’s 4+ Assessments, she was asked to draw a butterfly. She told the teacher, ‘No, I will draw a dog’ and she did. She did not pass her 4+ Assessment at this school. Another child was asked to line up and he ran into the middle of the room instead. He was not successful in his 4+ Assessment.

Following instructions is key and it is something that we work on in each and every one of our lessons. It is something that I encourage my clients to work on daily with my students.

Complete a variety of tasks with enthusiasm and focus.

These top schools are looking for children with a thirst for learning more and with a desire to learn. ‘Teachability’ is a word that is thrown around a lot when talking about the 4+. How easy your child is to teach basically!

Remember that these top schools have their pick of who they want to attend their school! Hundreds of children will apply for very few places. You want your child to of course be themselves but they must also show what these schools are looking for.

It’s as simple as that!

Is it true that Round 1 will be the same at each school at 4+? Absolutely not.

Of course there will be similarities in Round 1 Assessments but there will also be subtle differences. It’s very important to understand these differences and prepare strategically for each school that you are applying to at 4+.

I spoke to a parent yesterday who told me, ‘But surely they just do the same things in these Assessments?’

Well no, not really.

Yes, your child will most likely do a puzzle, play with some lego and do some drawing but this is very important to remember. What each school looks for in their prospective new students will be different. One particular school is looking for confidence, another school is looking for HOW children answer questions, another school is looking for students who can follow instructions well. Other schools look for a combination of all three of these. Some schools are more academically selective than others.

So if you are preparing for the 4+ for 2025 entry, please make sure that you are preparing for EACH individual school that your child will be sitting Assessment at. If you are not sure, speak to someone who is and who has over 14 years of experience preparing students for their 4+ Assessments with incredible results.

Book your Sample Lesson Today.

Is coaching really needed for my child to pass their 4+ Assessments?

I was asked this question the other day after one of my Sample Lessons.

The question really surprised me.

It surprised me because to me the answer to this question is very logical.

It also surprised me because it made me realise that many parents don’t really fully understand what they are getting themselves into when they decide to sit their child for their 4+ Assessments.

Coaching is 100% needed because your child needs to be fully aware about what is expected of them at each different school that they will be attending.

They need to understand that it is absolutely NOT a ‘playdate’ and that there will be things that they will need to do in order to pass.

Myself and my team of 4+ Assessment specialist teachers will do just that. What we do is support our students to have the best possible chances for success in their 4+ Assessments.

We coach parents and children so that they know exactly what to expect. It will be different for each different school, please remember this.

Each school will have their own specific criteria that they will be looking for.

Also remember that all of these schools are very over subscribed at 4+. You must know the stats well so that you can manage your own expectations. For example Merchant Taylors at 4+ only take on 8 boys! Of course your child needs to have that slight edge that will allow them to stand out from the other boys.

Your child will need to be ready academically and emotionally. Your child will need to be taught how to follow instructions well. Your child will need to show enthusiasm, listen well to the teachers and the other students. Your child will need to contribute their answers.

Such huge expectations from our youngest learners.

So yes, you can of course choose to not prepare your child for their Assessments. That is completely up to you. I’m talking to those of you who what to ensure the best possible outcomes for your little ones. Get expert teaching and coaching from us.

We have over 14 years of experience with the 4+ Assessments and we have had exceptional results. This year will be no different. I am so excited to be able to share our results with you by the end of this month!

You still have time to prepare. Book your Sample Lesson Today!

The best way to prepare your child for their 4+ Assessments

January is a very important time of year in the 4+ Assessment World!

Many of my current clients have already been working with me for 3 months preparing their children for their 4+ Assessments (2025 entry). I always tell parents that there is no ‘right’ time to start 4+ Assessment preparation. You will start when you are ready to start. Simple. However, you definitely do not want to leave it to the last minute. There is far too much to cover,

January is important because it is the time of year that many parents are thinking about who they want to work with to prepare their child for their 4+ Assessments.

The best way to prepare your child for their 4+ Assessments, is to choose best teacher for them. Whether you teach them yourself or you get the help of a qualified professional, you want the best of the best. That’s who we are. I say that with confidence, because I know how to get my clients the results that they desire.

My clients’ number one priority is for their child to be successful in at least one of their 4+ Assessments. My number one priority is for them to have options. My students have always been successful at gaining entry to at least one of their target schools and often, they are successful to several or all of their target schools. Of course, this is dependant on many factors. Here are three of them:

1. When they start.

Students who start with us who have at least 9 months of Assessment preparation are far more likely to be successful in their 4+ Assessments than a student who has 2-3 months of Assessment preparation.

2. How consistent they are with their tuition.

Students who meet with us weekly are far more likely to be successful that those who are not consistent or who take a lot of breaks in between lessons.

3. The schools that they are applying to.

Some schools are notoriously harder to get into at 4+. This is why it is vital that you discuss your school choices with your teacher and that you are very strategic about it. If you are applying to 4 of the most prestigious schools in London and you don’t have any back ups, this won’t be the best strategy.

So, choose your teacher. Choose the BEST teacher. Choose a teacher who has experience and has had success in getting children into your target schools. Choose a teacher who knows how to prepare your child effectively for their 4+ Assessments.

Please, please, please do not just choose a teacher on the basis that they will come to your house. This is completely irrelevant. Trust me on this one.

Once you have chosen your teacher, it’s time to get to work.

Book your Sample Lesson today.

All about Round 2 Assessment Preparation for the 7+ Assessments

As we come to the end of the 7+ Assessments, myself and my team are reflecting on how things have gone for our cohort.

The most important thing (by far!) is knowing your schools very well. I know historically what has come up in the last 14 years in all Top schools at 7+. Of course new things can come up (and they do!) and we can’t always predict what will happen on the day and ultimately it will be up to your child and how they do on the day. However, preparing your child to go in with confidence and be able to answer everything that they are asked will give them that slight edge over the other candidates.

Please do not sabotage your chances for 7+ Assessment success by neglecting Round 2. It is equally as important as Round 1.

You need to make a very detailed plan about exactly what you are going to do. And you need to follow it.

I’ll give you an example of a top Boy’s School that I m currently preparing several students for:

Spellings - Year 3/4 Curriculum

General Knowledge

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

Maths - Quick Mental Recall

English - Comprehension and composition (oral and written practise)

Interview questions

If you need any further support with Round 2 Preparations for Assessments happening next week, book your Sample Lesson today!

3 Top Tips for choosing the BEST teacher to prepare your child for their 11+ Assessments

I hear from hundreds of parents who call me to enquire about the 11+ Assessments.

Choosing a teacher to support your child to prepare for their 11+ Assessments can be incredibly daunting. First of all, at 11+ there are just so many options available. You have the option of group tuition, 1:1 tuition, at home tuition, online tuition, study centres. You have so many different price points for the cost of tuition. Then you have the issue of choosing a teacher that your child actually connects well with. A teacher that your child will have an excellent relationship with isn’t always as easy as you think. I think this is the MOST important part of choosing the BEST teacher for your child.

Think about it. If you start preparing for the 11+ from Year 2/Year 3 (which I highly recommend!), your child will be working with their teacher for at least 4/5 years. This is a very long time. If your child doesn’t look forward to their lesson, if your child isn’t excited for every single lesson, then you don’t have the BEST teacher for your child.

So, here are my 3 Top Tips for choosing the BEST teacher to prepare your child for their 11+ Assessments.

1. Choose a teacher who has actual experience with the school/schools that you are applying to.

Seems logical but so many parents that I talk to don’t even consider this one. It is essential that the teacher that you choose to support your child has actual experience with the school/schools that you are applying to at 11+. Every single one of them. If they don’t, how can they effectively support your child with their Assessment/s? Your teacher must know the expectations at the school/schools that you are applying to. It is absolutely NOT just about covering curriculum.

2. Choose a teacher that your child has an excellent connection with.

Another one that seems logical to me. If your child doesn’t have an excellent connection with their teacher how can you expect for them to have excellent results in their 11+ Assessments?

Try different teachers and choose the teacher that your child is excited to meet with on a weekly basis.

Remember that each teacher has their very own unique style and you must choose the teacher whose style chooses your child the best. For me the is vital. If my students are not excited to see me, then I am doing something wrong.

3. Choose a teacher who will tell you their exact processes and methods for ensuring success.

You want to work with a teacher who will be very honest with you. A teacher who will tell you HOW they will ensure success. A teacher that will tell you their exact plan for the month/ months/ years. A teacher that will tell you their processes that will guarantee success for your child in their 11+ Assessments. At the end of the day no one can 100% tell you that they can guarantee that you child will pass their 11+ Assessments - ultimately that will be down to your child. However, you do need to work with someone who will guarantee the highest chances of success for your child at 11+.

Preparing for the 11+ is a HUGE investment. You, your child and your teacher are investing a lot of time, energy and effort into preparation for the 11+. Such a BIG investment deserves the BEST teacher for YOUR child.

Need support with the 11+ Assessments. Myself and my team only take on THREE students each year for 11+ Assessment preparation. This is because the amount of work involved in 11+ Assessment preparation is huge and we want to ensure that we can provide the highest quality service to our clients and students. We have prepared children for many of the Top inner and outer London schools at 11+. Examples of schools we have prepared for are -

NLCS

Habs (boys and girls)

John Lyon

Merchant Taylor’s

Alleyn’s

Westminster

St. Paul’s

Godolphin

City

Dulwich College

UCS

St Helen’s

Sydenham High

These are just a few!

We also prepare children for Top Grammar School.

Looking for expert 11+ Assessment support? Book your Sample Lesson Today!

3 Issues that have come up in Round One (7+ Assessments)

Round 1 of the 7+ Assessments is now nearly over for 2024 entry. We still have a few Round One Assessments coming up this week and then we will officially be done!

Our students have worked every so hard and shown so much determination.

Here are some of the issues that we have encountered this year specifically. These are things that I’ve heard from some of my own students and from some new students who I am currently preparing for their second round. I’ve also spoken to parents who are not our clients but who called me to feedback to me about Round 1 at certain schools.

Issue number 1

Story Writing

I think that story writing has been the biggest issue that we have encountered this year. The quality of story writing expected at 7+ is even higher than usual (and it is usually very high!)

These top schools expect the highest quality of writing at 7+.

Students are marked according to the quality of their writing.

Story writing needs to be given a lot of time in the lead up to the 7+ Assessments. Children need to be given the opportunity to explore a variety of different story titles, picture prompts, story continuation from a comprehension etc. They need to be given the opportunity to write as many stories as possible. They need to understand the quality expected from them in order to be able to pass at Round 1.

Issue number 2

Not completing the questions in time.

Not completing all (or at least most) of the questions is a big problem. Children need to be taught how to answer the questions in timed conditions so that they have the best chance of completing as many questions as possible in the Assessments. As you can imagine it is very important that children compete as many questions as possible. After all we want all of our students to score the highest marks possible. I heard from several parents that told me that their child left one full page because they didn’t check that there were more questions. When they went back to check their answers they realised that they had left out several questions but they didn’t have enough time to complete it by the time they had realised. I always teach my students to check that they have completed all of the questions before moving on.

Issue number 3

More complex maths questions and two and three step worded problems.

We spend a lot of time in our lessons teaching our students strategies for solving two and three step worded problems. Some of our students feel overwhelmed when they see too much writing on the page of a maths paper. We teach them how to break it down so that it is more manageable and we show them how to clearly show their working out to each step. More complex maths questions that have come up this year have included - double digit multiplication, bus stop method for division, fraction of quantity of larger numbers.

Issues that have come up in the 4+ Assessments 2023

I won’t name the schools but if you’d like to discuss this further with me, I’d be happy to arrange a consultation with you.

It is very important to be aware of the issues that came up this year in the Round 1 and Round 2 Assessment (if applicable to the schools that you are applying to) so that you can support your child to avoid these issues in their own Assessments.

Many parents that I’ve spoken to have been deeply frustrated because they worked so hard for 12 months in the lead up to the Assessment/s and their child was unsuccessful. I understand this completely. Parents dedicate so much time and effort to helping their child to prepare for their 4+ Assessments. Of course, they want their child to be successful but this is not always the case.

First of all, it is always important to remember that all of these Top Boys and Girls schools are very over subscribed and each year they become more and more over subscribed. This means that the competition is fierce. This means that it is harder and harder for children to pass these Assessments. At the end of the day, these top schools have their pick of the students that they want to attend their schools. They will of course choose the students that they think will be suitable for their schools. They will have their criteria and it will simply be a matter of ticking off whether the child meets the criteria or not. There will be a certain percentage that the child needs to score and if they don’t achieve high enough, they will simply not be successful.

These are the three main reasons that I have identified for children not passing Round 1.

1. Not following instructions - eg. The child is asked to go to an activity specified by the examiner and they say no or go to an activity that they would prefer to go to or the child being asked to draw a butterfly but instead drawing a dog.

2. Behavioural issues - eg. the child getting frustrated at not being allowed to do a certain activity or the child not being polite with the examiner or another child. There are many behavioural issues that could cause a child to be unsuccessful in their Assessment.

3. Not listening well - eg. the child listening to a story and asked a question about the story and not being able to answer the question or child asked to respond to what another child has said but not being able to.

Continue to focus on the academic aspects of the 4+ Assessments but please don’t neglect the behavioural aspects. They are just as important.

Think about it, if your child is academically gifted but they don’t follow the instructions given to them by the examiner do you think that they will pass?

If your child is academically gifted but they don’t listen to the examiner, do you think that they will pass?

If your child is academically gifted but they don’t share well with another child or show good team work do you think that they will pass?

It’s important to reflect carefully on all of these and find strategies to support your child with all of these behavioural elements.

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4 + Assessment Information December 2023

As our youngest students are well underway with their 4+ Assessments, I would like to share new things that I am learning with you. I would like to do this so that hopefully it will help you to also support your child to be successful in their Assessments.

How to do everything that you can to support your child to go into their Assessments happily.

This has been a huge one. Not just this year but every single year. If your child goes into their Assessments unhappy or upset, they will most likely not be successful. The only times that I’ve heard of children who have been successful who have gone into their Assessments crying and been offered a place was at schools that had a very strong sibling policy. Apart from this, they have been unsuccessful. This is why it is so important to prepare your child for this. Prepare them to be able to go into heir Assessment feeling calm, happy and relaxed. If a child goes into their Assessment crying or upset, they will not be able to show their truest potential. In all of our 4+ Assessment preparation lessons, we support our students to have the best possible chances for success by supporting them to go into their Assessments calmly and happily. We also spend a lot of time coaching and guiding parents as to the strategies that they can use with their children to prepare them to be left somewhere new and unfamiliar to them.

Is an online lesson as effective as an in person one?

This is a question that I hear time and time again. We are exclusively online. Some parents that I speak to may initially doubt how the lessons can be as effective as an in person lesson.

First of all, question what an ‘effective’ lesson actually is?

Why would it matter if the teacher is there physically or virtually? Why does it make a difference?

I honestly believe that it doesn’t.

To me an ‘effective’ lesson is how much a child learns, how much they absorb, how much they can accelerate their learning and take it to the next level.

Our lessons are incredibly effective and they will continue to provide the highest quality of support to all of our students and allow them to have the highest possible chances for success in their 4+ Assessments.

Why is it so important to have the teacher physically present?

So many clients that I speak to tell me that it is important that they have a teacher be present. However, having done this for so many years, I can tell you that these exact same parents are the ones who often contact me after the fact (the 4+ Assessments) and tell me that their child hasn’t been successful and they then need to prepare for the 7+ Assessments. To me the most important aspect of 4+ Assessment preparation is that the child actually gains entry into at least one of their schools of choice. No one can guarantee that your child will be successful but was I can definitely guarantee is that your child will be ready to go in and be as successful as they can be. That your chid will have learn everything that they need to have learnt in order to go into any 4+ Assessment and shine. That your child will know exactly what will be expected of them at each school that they will be attending.

Why I think it is important that children can read from as early as possible?

It will take away so many difficulties further down the line. I begin teaching older children all the time who struggle with reading. It takes away from the time that we could be learning other things. We still need to spend time learning phonics, sounding out and looking at spelling patterns. If this is done early on, it will enable you to go a lot deeper into other aspects of your child’s learning. Reading opens so many doors, I cannot even begin to tell you the thousands of reasons that I think reading from a very early age is just so important.

The bond you develop as a family, the vocabulary your child is exposed to, the language they are exposed to, the adventures that they can experience. It’s not JUST about reading the words. To me, there’s so much more to reading than just that.

In many 4+ Assessments, your child will need to blend three letter words. So please do ensure that you have prepared your child to be able to do this.

The biggest mistake parents make with 4+ Assessment preparation…

By far, the biggest mistake that I see parents make with 4+ Assessment preparation is not being crystal clear on exactly what is expected at each round at each different school. They treat each Assessment the same. They are not the same.

And if your child is not prepared, there is no way that we can expect that they will go in and be successful.

Let me give you an example.

One school that we prepare for at 4+ at Round 1 is particularly interested in the confidence of the girls who attend their Assessment.

In terms of confidence, they are looking for girls who can:

• Answer questions well, with clarity and confidence

• Articulate themselves well

• Hold a conversation with an adult who is unfamiliar to them

If children are not prepared for all of these, they will not go into this Assessment and be successful.

It is as simple as that.

So this is my point.

Know your schools.

Know them well.

Know what they are looking for. And if you don’t, enlist the help of someone who does.

We have been doing this for over 16 years and we can help you to have tremendous success in the 4+ Assessments.

The number 1 thing that I’ve learnt so far from the 4+ Assessments.

The most important thing by far is this.

You must know each individual schools very well.

You must know what they are looking for.

You must know their criteria.

You must know how they expect their students to behave and to be in their Assessments.

You must know the exact expectations.

Knowing the schools really well will give you that slight edge that you need to allow your child to go in a truly shine. To show exactly what these schools are looking for and ultimately have options of where YOU ultimately want to send them.

Know your schools.

Preparing for the 4+ Assessments? Book your Sample lesson today and see how we can support you every step of the way to have incredible success.

How to support your child to develop a love for reading (ages 1-2)

It is important to mention that birth to 1 is a very important timeframe to begin reading with your child. Just simply choosing a book, sitting or laying down together and reading. Pointing to things in the book and naming them. Asking your child lots and lots of questions and just observing what they do. What they look at, what they perhaps point at, the noises that they make and their facial expressions.

Between ages 1-2 is a crucial time for continuing to build a love for reading within your child. So how can you support your child to develop a love for reading between the ages of 1 and 2?

1. Have a variety of books always available and in a place that is accessible to your child.

You don’t need fancy bookshelves or anything like that. We don’t have any of that. Just a dedicated space where you can place 5-6 books and give your child the opportunity to just explore. Touch them. Open them. Turn the pages. Touch the pages. I always give my son a while to just do this independently. He then often calls me over or brings me one of the books. This is ,y opportunity to read with him! If you don’t have a huge budget for books, no problem. Just sign up to your local library and choose the books you need. Rotate these every now and then or choose the same ones! There are some books that my son chooses more than others!

2. Choose some dedicated times just for reading together.

I have a full on work schedule and I look after my son most of the time so I plan these times into my calendar. They are very important to me. I choose a time in the morning, afternoon and evening. It doesn’t even have to be very long. Even if you only have 5 minutes - it all adds up. You read for 5 minutes every day… that’s 35 minutes each week! By choosing a time, it will also allow your child the opportunity to look forward to these times and know that it’s reading time!

3. Get rid of all other distractions.

Put your phone away, switch of the tv, get rid of any other screens, if you have other people in the room either go to another room or politely ask them to give your the space to do your thing. Your focus is exclusively on your child and on the reading. I can’t tell you how many times, I’ve been reading to my child and then been distracted by an email or a phone call. What message does this give my child? It gives the message that those things are more important than what we are doing and they most definitely are not. For 5 minutes, I can leave my emails and focus on reading with my boy!

4. Let your child choose the books they want to read.

My child is only 17 months and I know the books he loves. These are the ones we mostly read. I always let him choose.

5. Ask lots and lots of questions

There are different levels of questions and I already use all of them with my son. The level 1 questions, he is now beginning to understand. Eg. If I ask him… Where is the tree? Where is the man? etc.

If you would like a list of questions that you can use with your own child, please do email me and I’ll be happy to share these with you - office@creativemindstutors.com

6. Give your child plenty of time to answer.

It may take a longer time to process at this age. I find that when I give my son longer than usual to answer, he ofter will answer. In his own way of course. Perhaps a nod, perhaps by pointing, perhaps by laughing. Whatever it may be, I give him plenty of time.

If your child is between the ages of 15 months and 23 months, we currently have an incredible Reading Club. To join our December Club, simply click here.