DUCKS 4+ Assessment - Prepare thoroughly for this school.

I personally prepared three boys for DUCKS last year for their 4+ Assessments (Ducks Kindergarten and Infants school)

Children can also benefit from the opportunity of gaining a deferred Year 3 place at Dulwich College.

Out of the three boys that I prepared, two started with me in January (of the year of their Assessment) and one started with me in October (of the year of his Assessment)

Just for your information, if you are considering applying to this school - applications open online 16 months prior to the year of entry (so in May).

This is what the website says about the Assessment at DUCKS.

Children are invited to attend an assessment session during the Michaelmas term prior to the year of joining. The assessments take place on a Saturday and children are seen in small groups of between 6 and 8, according to their date of birth, ensuring we account for age related developmental differences in performance. The children are invited into a classroom setting to take part in activities very similar to those already familiar to them from other Nursery settings. A team of four adults will encourage the children to engage in activities within a stimulating learning environment and will observe both their levels of engagement and how well they play alongside other children, thus ensuring they would thrive within the current Pre-Reception cohort.

4 adults observing 6-8 children! Think about that for a moment.

The activities provided are highly academic and your child will need to be very academically able in order to pass this Assessment.

This school also looks for a range of behavioural factors and your child will need to be able to demonstrate all of these in order to pass the Assessment at DUCKS. For example, they will expect your child to follow instructions exceptionally well.

This is a tough 4+ Assessment and one that need careful and thorough preparation and guidance,

Having had a wealth of experience with this school for many years, I can help you to ensure that your child goes on with the highest chances for success. As long as you start with enough preparation time that is.

If your child is very academically gifted, they may offer him a deferred Year 3 place through to Year 13.

For boys who perform strongly, and demonstrate an above average ability across all areas of learning during their 4+ assessment, there is the possibility of them being offered a deferred Year 3 place to the Junior School and through to Year 13.

Preparing for DUCKS 4+. 3 places remaining to work with me personally for 2025 Entry.

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Habs' Girls 4+ V NLCS 4+ 2024 Entry

Each year, I prepare a maximum of 12 children for the 4+ Assessments.

Last year, I prepared 8 girls for NLCS and Habs’ Girls (they were or course preparing for other schools too).

Generally, girls who prepare for NLCS, also prepare for Habs. Not always. I did have girls prepare for either Habs or NLCS.

Because I have prepared so many girls for these two schools, I know exactly what these two schools are looking for in their students. I also know exactly what they don’t want.

When you book one of our packages, I will of course share this all with you.

This is so that we can avoid certain things that went wrong in the Assessments this year and make sure that your daughter has the skills that these two schools are looking for in order to be successful.

Habs’ Girls’ was ‘easier’ to get into this year in the sense that a lot of our girls passed their 4+ and were successful at gaining entry to this school. Four of our girls were offered a place at Habs’ girls. This is exceptional. After all, they only have 40 places available and 4 of those girls were prepared by me!

I say ‘easier’ in inverted commas because is was definitely NOT easy! But we had a lot more of our girls getting into Habs’ Girls.

NLCS was a different story this year. We still had a lot of success but all of the girls who were successful at getting into Habs were not successful at getting into NLCS. The student who was successful at getting an offer for NLCS hadn’t applied to Habs.

Perhaps the two schools communicate with each other? Could be!

This is how the 4+ Assessment works at Habs’ Girls:

All applicants are invited to an assessed group activity session, lasting about 50 minutes, in December. The groups are organised by age – those of a similar birth month are grouped together. Twins are invited on separate dates. 

The second stage involves a selected number of candidates, with their parents, meeting the Head of the Junior School and other members of the Leadership Team. These informal meetings are an opportunity for parents to ask questions about the school and to establish whether they think it is the right place to educate their child. It is also an opportunity for us to spend more time with the child and their family, to establish that the parents are seeking the education which the school is offering, whilst also identifying whether the ethos and values of the school and the parents are aligned.  

This is how the 4+ Assessment works at NLCS:

Round 1 - Play activities testing school readiness which lasts about an hour.  Children are grouped by age and there are about 12-16 children per group. Activities usually include pre-school tasks such as colouring, cutting and sticking.

Round 2 - A smaller group are recalled for the second round, which includes a group activity followed by one to one puzzles and games with a member of our teaching staff.

The 4+ Assessments to both of these schools are rigorous. They are challenging. And your daughter 100% needs to be prepared.

However you do this, please do prepare them.

Book your Sample Lesson today.

Only 4 places remaining to work with me (2025 Entry)

Highgate literally give nothing away about the 4+ Assessments

So let me give a few things away here!

First of all, this school is incredibly difficult to get into (at all ages!)

I would have to say that this was one of the hardest Assessments for my 4+ cohort (2024 entry).

My students didn’t give much away about the Assessments (I honestly think that they were told not to!) but they did give enough away for me to understand exactly what this school are expecting of their students at 4+. We had incredible results at Highgate this year! (and each and every year!)

The main reason that we have such exceptional results is that we know the school very well. We know what they want and expect so we can support our clients exceptionally well.

Highgate has 60 places available at 4+

So substantially higher than other schools at 4+.

However, it also has a higher number of applicants.

Highgate has a ballot system in place

Unlike other schools at 4+, Highgate have a ballot system in place. This is because they have such an incredibly large volume of applicants that they couldn’t possibly assess all of them. I don’t know the exact number of applicants they get each year but I would assume its in the high hundreds!

The first round is in October/November

Pretty early on in the year! Some of my students will have only recently just turned 3! The first round is rigorous. A lot will be expected of your child at the Highgate 4+ Assessment. For more support with preparing for Highgate (2025 Entry) book your Sample Lesson today. All of our packages include ongoing contact with your teacher. I personally currently only have 5 places remaining to work with me.

The second round is in January

Usually the second week of January. In the second round your child will need to show excellent academic aptitude, answer questions exceptionally well and show excellent behaviours for learning. It is tough! I’ll just say that much.

Highgate specify that the second round explores children’s understanding and capabilities in greater depth.

Now is the time to start tuition if you are preparing for Highgate for 2025 entry at 4+.

We are the best company to support you with your Assessment preparations. We would be delighted to work with you.

Book your Sample Lesson today.

Why the term 'Play Date Assessment' is SO misleading.

As a parent embarking on your 4+ Assessment journey for the first time, you will not know what to expect.

I speak to parents all.. the… time who tell me:

‘I wish we had started sooner.’

‘Why didn’t I know about you 9 months ago.’

‘Why did I believe what I was told.’

This is what they tell me.

They feel regret. They judge themselves for their choices. I always tell them not to. And that it is not their fault at all. If it is their first time, how on earth would they know?

Perhaps they heard from their neighbour or their best friend’s hairdresser. Sometimes these Chinese Whispers don’t help either.

My mission is to dispel these nonsensical things that parents will hear whilst on their 4+ Assessment journey and be very honest and sincere about the whole process.

What you then wish to do with the information I provide you with is of course completely up to you.

If I’ve helped even just one person to go through this process in a calm way with the knowledge that they needed in order to support their child in the best possible way then I have succeeded.

Onto the topic of this blog.

I spoke to a parent yesterday who is preparing her son for his 4+ Assessments at several North London Schools. She wants him to go to UCS at 4+ (Reception entry)

When we spoke, she was very confused.

She told me 100 different things in the space of two minutes. I told her she had to slow down.

She told me,’ UCS says that the Assessment will be a playdate so I’m not too worried. I don’t really see why I should prepare him.’

I told her that this is absolutely NOT the case and that she absolutely MUST prepare her child for his 4+ Assessment at UCS.

Having prepared hundreds of boys for this school, I know exactly what the Assessment will be like. It is not a playdate. 

The boys that I prepared last year for this school who had at least 9 months of Assessment preparation did very well at UCS at Round 1 and most passed at Round 2. 

The boys who started with me with less than 3 months of preparation were not successful. 

What does this tell you?

Well, what it tells me is that you absolutely do need to prepare for the 4+ Assessment at UCS. And you need to give yourself enough preparation time. 

9-12 months is ideal. 

I know exactly what is needed in order to be very successful at this school. And I am here to support you every step of the way.

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As a parent all you want is what's best for your child. But what is best when it comes to tuition?

I speak to so many parents each week who enquire about tuition with either myself or one of our exceptional teachers.

I hear from them and what I hear is how much they want what is best for their child.

I totally get that. I am a mother myself and I feel exactly the same.

But with so many options out there, how on earth do you know which one is the ‘best’?

Ultimately, what my clients want is for their child to be successful in their 4+ Assessments. What they want is for their child to have options. What they want is for their child to go in and show their ultimate best.

I went to the Googles and had a look for myself.

When you google ‘4+ Assessment preparation’, you are provided with 6 Tutoring Companies who prepare specifically for the 4+.

So who do you choose?

You choose the one perhaps who can come to you in person.

Please don’t base your selection solely on the fact that someone can be physically present in your home.

Do they actually have experience with the school/s that you are applying to?

Do they know why children have been unsuccessful?

Do they know why children have been successful?

Can they tell you which sorts of activities have come up at their school historically?

Please ask these questions!

The biggest objection I get from parents, is that they want someone in person (we are exclusively online and have been for nearly 4 years now).

Let me tell you, that most of these parents who have said no to me in the past have not been successful at gaining entry to their school of choice. And some of these parents come back to me for 7+ or 11+ Assessment preparation because they know my personal success rate is exceptional.

It is for 4+, 7+ and 11+ and everything in between.

You want what is best for your child.

Choose the best for them.

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The truth about Merchant Taylors' at 4+

First of all it is very important that you know that at this school only 7-8 boys will pass the 4+ Assessment (2025 entry).

Here is what the school says about their 4+ Assessment process:

Candidates are invited to school in groups of 10-15 boys for a session that lasts about an hour.

• The assessments are informal and are based on the Early Learning Goals of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. 

• All assessments activities will be very similar to activities that children carry out in their current nursery.

• We contact nurseries to provide written reports for all candidates.

• We are looking for teachability and sociability in our 4+ assessments. We are not looking to find out what the children know but whether they have the potential to flourish in our learning environment.

MTs’ are therefore looking for a very specific type of boy who will ‘flourish’ at their school.

Most of our boys who sat Assessment at this school made it to the Waitlist. They are still there. Perhaps some boys who passed Merchant Taylors’ at 4+ will choose to attend another school such as Habs and therefore a place may become available.

If you are preparing for this school, I would highly encourage you to focus on the ‘teachability’ and ‘sociability’ aspect when preparing your son for Assessment at this school.

Book your Sample Lesson today and we will support you every step of the way to have the highest chance for success at Merchant Taylors’.

NLCS 4+ Round 1 and 2- Let's take a deep dive into the 4+ Assessments at this popular school.

So you are thinking of applying to North London Collegiate for your daughter’s 4+ Assessments.

This, by far has been the hardest school for girls to get into.

Even our most brightest, highly academically gifted girls.

So let’s have a look at each round at this school and gain a better understanding about why it is so hard to pass for the 4+ Assessments.

Many parents go into the Assessment at this school very naively.

They don’t know how hard it is to pass the 4+ Assessments at this school.

Of course, it isn’t their fault if it’s their first experience with this school.

This is what the school’s website tells us about Round 1:

Play activities testing school readiness which lasts about an hour.  Children are grouped by age and there are about 12-16 children per group. Activities usually include pre-school tasks such as colouring, cutting and sticking.

So what exactly is school readiness?

School readiness is exactly what the two words tell you. How ready your child is for school.

They will be Assessing at least 20 different things and looking to see if your daughter can do things such as:

Listen well

Follow instructions

Complete tasks with enthusiasm

Show excellent focus and concentration

These are just a few.

The Assessors will be observing the girls and simply choosing the girls who are able to demonstrate these traits. If your daughter is unable to show these, they will not pass the first round at NLCS.

So the first round is a group activity. Your daughter will be with a big group of girls (up to 16) and she will take part in a variety of different eyfs activities in a classroom most likely.

This is what the school’s website tells us about Round 2:

A smaller group are recalled for the second round, which includes a group activity followed by one to one puzzles and games with a member of our teaching staff.

We are looking for children with a curiosity for learning and the confidence to have a go at something they haven’t seen before. They need to be able to listen to and follow simple instructions as part of a group or one to one with an adult.

In the second round your daughter will be in a smaller group (5-6 girls) and the Assessment will then become 1:1. Don’t be surprised if there will be a group of Assessors in the room with the girls. If they are not prepared for this, it could be overwhelming for them so do prepare them.

What does curiosity for learning mean?

So I think this is the most important part of the Round 2 Assessment at NLCS and perhaps where certain girls didn’t quite show what they needed to show in order to pass the Assessment.

A curiosity for learning can be taught.

It can be practised.

It can be refined.

Encouraging your daughter to be curious. To ask more questions and to want to know more is 100% something that you can practise with your daughter.

That's what we do in our lessons. And especially if our students are preparing for NLCS.

So if you are preparing for NLCS at 4+. Be prepared. It’s not easy to get into. But with the right preparation, you will definitely increase your chances for success.

Book your Sample Lesson today. Last few places remaining to work with our Company Director Maria Mazarese for 2025 Entry.

My honest opinion about open days (4+ Assessment preparation)

Attending an open day will seem like a very important part of the 4+ Assessment preparation process. And it is.

Having done this for over 14 years, I now know exactly what to expect from my current clients and from parents who are looking around for the best teacher to support their child with their 4+ Assessment preparations.

I know what I will hear from my own clients after they’ve attended an open day at one or more of the schools that they are applying to. And I know exactly what they will tell me.

So let me help you with this.

If you are attending an open day, you have most likely applied to the school/s and have received an invite to attend. Some happen earlier in the year and some later (it will depend when you apply!)

You will most likely have a tour of the school and see the ‘school in action’ and then you will most likely have a talk with the Head Teacher where he or she will give you more information about their school and about the 4+ Assessment process at their school.

Here are just a few things that you may be told which I would not believe.

‘It will be an informal Assessment’

Trust me, it won’t be.

‘Tell your child it will be like a play date.’

Please do not do this.

‘You do not need to prepare for the Assessments’

Utter nonsense.

‘Your child will just come in and play with other children’

No they won’t.

‘We do not agree with tutoring’

What does that even mean?

‘We can tell if a child has been tutored’

No they can’t. Unless a child has been tutored in a way that they just memorise everything. That is not how we teach our students.

I’ve had parents stop tuition with me after having attended open days and it breaks my heart. In 90% of cases where this happens, their child has not been successful. Not because I am amazing at what I do but because they simply were not prepared for their Assessments. The 10% who did make it were exceptionally academically gifted. And most of that 10% only got into one school out of the 6/7 they had applied to.

So attend each Open Day because it is very important that you see the school. It is very important that you love the school. But please do be cautious with regards to what the schools will tell you.

Don’t sabotage your chances for success.

Ask questions if you have them, remember that YOU are sending your child to THEIR school. And YOU want to make sure that it is the right fit for you and for your child.

Need further support with 4+ Assessment preparation? Book your Sample Lesson Today.

You want your child to pass their 4+ Assessments at top London schools but you don't want to "Stress them out!"

First of all if a three year old is getting stressed out about their learning, something is going very wrong. A three year old must always love learning. In fact a student of any age must always love learning.

I’ve spoken to several parents this week who have told me that they don’t want to start 4+ Assessment preparation because they don’t want to ‘stress their child out!’ then in the same breath they tell me that they will start around August, September time. Hear me when I tell you that this will be far more stressful for them.

They will have so much more to catch up on by then.

Starting now gives them a lovely, calm steady pace in which to prepare for their 4+ Assessments.

The people who mostly get stressed out is the parents.

If you prepare your child in a calm, nurturing and effective way, there is no reason for them to get ‘stressed out’. In fact, I’ve never had a student be ‘stressed out’ in any of my lessons.

And if it were to ever happen, if I were to ever see a glimpse of resistance or refusal to learning, it would immediately be a discussion with my clients to discuss what we can do in order to make things better,

At the end of the day, 4+ Assessment preparation is tough. It is challenging. It takes work. It takes effort. It takes determination. It takes the ability to make mistakes and try something new.

If you do want your child to pass their 4+ Assessments then it will truly all be worth it.

We do not just prepare our students for their 4+ Assessments we prepare them for a lifelong journey of learning. Of wanting to learn. Of wanting more challenge.

Need more support with 4+ Assessment preparation? Book your Sample Lesson today.

The main reason boys were unsuccessful to Habs boys' in the 7+ after Round 2

First of all, it is very important to remember that hundreds of boys will apply to this school to sit their 7+ Assessments. With this in mind, it is also important to note that there are only 18 places available.

So out of these hundreds of boys that apply, 18 will pass their 7+ Assessment at Haberdashers’ boys’.

So if your son passes, this is truly exceptional.

It certainly means that they are academically excellent and advanced and it also means that they are able to communicate and articulate themselves very well.

All boys who apply are invited to Round 1 to sit papers in Maths, English and Reasoning. If you want in depth information about Round 1, please book your Sample Lesson.

Boys who are successful at Round 1 will be invited to Round 2 which takes place in January.

In order to pass at Round 1, you want to be aiming at 85% in all of the practise papers that your son completes as they prepare for their Assessments.

So here it is. The main reason boys were unsuccessful to Habs boys’ in the 7+ after Round 2.

Is is very simple.

They were not prepared for what was asked in this Round.

I of course will not reveal too much here. But what came up was a surprise and most parents that I spoke to after the fact, told me that they simply had not prepared for this.

My students did. Not because I know what will come up but because I prepare for all eventualities (as best I can!)

This is why I truly believe that the highest quality of tuition is such an amazing investment in ensuring the highest possible chances for success when it comes to passing the 7+.

If you’re going to invest your time, effort and energy anyway, you might as well do it in a way that maximises your chances for success.

If you are preparing for Habs Boys’ 7+ in 2025, now is the perfect time to begin tuition.

I will prepare a bespoke plan of action for your son that will take his learning and understanding to the next level. See them begin to really thrive at school and demand more challenge!

The 4 puzzle pieces that MUST fit together in order for your child to PASS their + Assessments

I like to see the 4+ Assessments like a 4 piece puzzle.

All of the 4 pieces MUST slot together beautifully.

If they do, then your child will succeed and will highly likely pass their 4+ Assessments.

If they don’t come together beautifully then it is highly unlikely that your child will pass their 4+ Assessments.

Here are the 4 puzzle pieces for you. Slot them together to guarantee success!

1. A desire to learn - This can’t be taught or tutored. This is innate. It comes from within. If can however be encouraged and developed through tuition.

2. A thirst for challenge - Your child actually wanting to be challenged. Loving those challenges. Wanting more and more of it. This comes with practise and exposing your child to new and challenging things daily.

3. A hunger to communicate - You child needs to love to speak to others and actually want to communicate with people that they’ve never met before.

4. A strong sense of resilience - This is the toughest piece in my opinion. Developing a sense of resilience at the age of 2 and 3 is definitely a skill.

Which puzzle piece do you think will be the hardest on to prepare for?

How do you stop a child from refusing to do something?

This question made me giggle. I have to be honest!

I was asked this question the other day by a potential new client.

First of all, you don’t ‘stop a child’ from refusing to do something. If they refuse, that is their choice.

You can provide them with strategies to support them to actually want to do something. Now that is different isn’t it?

Let me give you some real life examples from my own clients.

Client 1

I gave my child a 12 piece puzzle and she looked at me and said, “No, I’m not doing it!”

At the stage of year where we are currently, this is not a problem. It will become a problem let’s say around August/ September.

At the end of the day, your child will need to go into their Assessment/s and do what they are told! Sorry to put it so bluntly. So if they say ‘No!’ in the Assessment, they will definitely not pass.

If your child tells you that they don’t want to do a puzzle, first of all ask them ‘Why?’

They may have a reason.

Perhaps they perceive it to be too hard for them.

Perhaps they want to do something else.

Perhaps they simply are not in the mood for a puzzle.

What I see too often is the child saying no and the parent getting frustrated about it. Not helpful.

Ask why and listen to your child’s answer.

Tell them that it isn’t a problem and try again later. You might find they say “Yes!”

Client 2

My child refuses to write. She just doesn’t want to even hold her pencil.

Again, at this point in the year, this isn’t a problem. It will be a problem if they are still refusing to do it around August/September time. In some Assessments at 4+, your child will need to write and they will need to write well in order to pass!

If your child currently does not want to write, please don’t make it a problem.

It needs to come from your child.

They need to want to write.

Model it to them. Show them how much YOU love writing.

Provide other writing opportunities for them that don’t involve holding a pencil.

‘Writing’ with their finger in sand/water.

‘Writing’ on your back.

‘Writing’ on the wall/glass.

For more incredible strategies from a professional who knows each school and what they are expecting, book your Sample lesson today.

All of our students who have had at least 9 months of 4+ Assessment prep were successful to at least 4 schools of choice.

Don’t underestimate the importance of starting early. Students who are successful in the 4+ are usually those who get into multiple schools of choice. And then there are those who get into none of their schools of choice.

I honestly believe that starting early is a game changer in 4+ Assessment success.

With so much to cover why would you start any later than this?

Do we prepare students who start later than this and have success?

Absolutely!

But these are the exception.

Don’t risk it!

You are reading this blog because you want your child to go to a top school. Prepare them and prepare them properly for it. Give yourself the gift of 9 months of preparation time. You will never regret it. It is an investment into your peace of mind. It is an investment into your child’s learning. It is an investment into your child’s understanding. It in an investment into knowing that you’ve done everything possible to prepare your child for their future.

Book your Sample lesson today.

What you want is for your child to be successful in their 4+ Assessments

What you want is for your child to be successful in their 4+ Assessments.

What should matter above all else is that the person that you will work for is truly rooting for you. That their ultimate goal is for your child to be successful to as many schools at possible.

What you want is for your child to go into their Assessments happily, confidently and calmly.

What you want is for them to know what to expect. To know exactly what they need to do in order to be successful.

What you need is to cover all bases. To ensure that your child is confident with their phonics, that your child can blend (if they need to be able to do this in their Assessment), that they have a strong mathematical knowledge and have covered all areas in depth that need to be covered, that they can hold their pencil well and write numbers and letters of the alphabet, that they can answer questions clearly and with detail.

These are just a few things that your child needs to be able to do in their 4+ Assessments.

We will guide you every step of the way. Our Home Learning Support Packages are the most thorough on the market (in my opinion!)

Book your Sample Lesson today.

"I barely survived the 4+ Assessments" - A true story

I spoke to a potential new client the other day who was asking me for further information about the 7+. He said something that really struck me.

He said - “You know, I do wish I had found you sooner, I barely survived the 4+ Assessments.”

I asked him what he meant.

He told me that he had no idea what it would involve. He told me that it was like sending his child into the wolves’ den. “There was no way he would come out of there in one piece!”

Those were his exact words to me.

He felt deeply frustrated by the whole process,

“Why do these schools tell parents not to prepare their children? It is complete and utter nonsense!”

He told me that compared to the other children in the Assessment (at a top boys’ school), his son really stood out. First of all he was nervous and went in upset. Second of all, he didn’t want to engage in conversation with the assessors and finally he didn’t want to do certain activities.

This is why I speak very openly and honestly about the 4+ Assessments. I want all parents to be prepared. To send their children in prepared. To have the best possible chances for success.

What I want is for parents to thrive and not ‘barely survive’.

Book your Sample Lesson today.

Thriving or Surviving the 4+ Assessments. Real life stories.

Surviving the 4+ Assessments or thriving in the 4+ Assessments?

I hear so many different stories everyday.

 And they all come down to these two concepts.

 1.     Parents who experienced great success in the 4+ Assessments and truly thrived.

2.     Parents who struggled in the 4+ Assessments and experienced great difficultly.

 Let me give you some examples for both of these concepts.

 1.     Parents who experienced great success in the 4+ Assessments and truly thrived. I have changed students/clients names for privacy and confidentiality.

 Sam

 Sam began tuition with me when he was 2 years and 6 months. July born, his parents were concerned that he was too ‘young’ and that he would never ‘catch up’ to his peers who were ‘much further along than him’. These were the stories that his parents told me and I would always tell them the same this – none of this was true.

Yes, Sam might be nearly a whole year younger than some of his peers in the 4+ Assessment but this definitely didn’t mean that he would be ‘behind’.

 His parents sat him for the following schools (in order or preference)

 Habs

Merchant Taylors

The Hall

UCS

Highgate

Manor Lodge

Lockinver

Sam received nearly a full year of tuition and for the most part was consistent at joining me each week for his 30 minute lesson. Each week, he received bespoke home learning targeting specifically what he would encounter in the Assessments at the schools his parents had applied to.

 Sam struggled with writing up until 2 months before the Assessments. Keep in mind that from the list above, some assessments happened a lot earlier than others (October v January)

 We persevered and before his Assessments he became obsessed with writing (to our delight!)

 Sam was successful at being offered a place at Habs, The Hall, UCS, Manor Lodge and Lockinver. His parents have decided to send him to Habs. We had the best call ever a few weeks ago. The ‘I don’t know which school to choose call!’

2.     Parents who struggled in the 4+ Assessments and experienced great difficultly.

 Tobias

 Tobias started tuition with one of our Senior Tutors in July of the year he was sitting his Assessments. His mother wanted him to get into either Highgate or UCS and decided to start preparing him for the 4+ Assessments. She told me that she started late because she had been ‘preparing him herself.’ Tobias was one of our youngest students (August born).

He lacked focus and concentration and wouldn’t engage for more than 2 minutes at a time. Had he started earlier, this wouldn’t have been an issue. It was an issue because we had too much to cover and we didn’t have enough time to cover it.

 I also advised his mother that two schools is not enough and that she really should choose at least another four schools. With a lot of persuasion,  his mother chose a back up school (a non selective school)

 Tobias also was unable to hold his pencil and he was very reluctant to write. Both UCS and Highgate require students to write in one way or another in their 4+ Assessments.

He improved a lot on his cutting and he was strong with his mathematical skills. Unfortunately, without the writing ability, I told his mother that it was unlikely that he would pass. Without the focus, it was unlikely that he would pass. Without being able to colour in with accuracy and precision, it was unlikely that he would pass. He did not pass Highgate or UCS at 4+.

I know the calibre of students that both UCS and Highgate are looking for and I will always be very honest with all of my clients. After all, this is a huge investment for my clients. It is an investment in terms of money and in terms of time.

Tobias did gain entry to the non-selective school that his mother was advised to apply to and will be trying again at 7+.

So, do you want to thrive in the 4+ Assessments or do you want to thrive?

 I know the one I would choose.

 Book your Sample Lesson today.

Do you want your child to thrive in the 4+ Assessments?

Here is what thriving in the 4+ Assessments look like.

Parent

Calm

Relaxed

Serene

Prepared

Organised

Informed

Child

Confident

Ready

Prepared

Reading

Writing

Knowledgeable

Polite

Attentive

Focused

I could of course add many more but these are the main ones that you and your child will need in order to thrive in the 4+ Assessments.

We prepare our students specifically for the schools they are sitting Assessment at. No two lesson plans will ever be the same. No generic tuition. Only the highest quality, bespoke tuition. Your child will be prepared for each school that they will be sitting Assessment at.

All of our tutors have over 10 years of experience actually preparing children for these top schools. We know exactly what they are looking for and we will guide you to have incredible success and to actually thrive throughout the process,

Book your Sample Lesson Today.

Is your child resistant when it comes to completing certain tasks? It's not a problem!

I hear this repeatedly from my clients.

My child doesn’t want to do:

writing

reading

phonics

puzzles

lego

My child won’t:

Answer questions

complete their home learning

hold their pencil

follow my instructions

None of this is a problem and let me tell you why.

My students who are currently preparing for their 4+ Assessments are between the ages of 2.5 and 3. Let’s not forget this. These students are still very young. If they don’t want to do something, it’s just not a problem. They decide. Always go with their flow. Your child doesn’t want to hold a pencil - no problem. You hold it and show them how you do it and how much you love to hold a pencil. Your child doesn’t want to read a book with you - no problem. You continue to read it anyway. Your child will be observing your learning behaviours and with their own time, they will naturally want to try to do what you are doing.

A child being resistant towards a problem is never a problem to me. What is a problem, is making a big deal about it, reacting in a negative way about it and telling them that there is something wrong with them. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them!

In my lessons, when one of my students doesn’t want to do something - let’s say for example, count the objects on the screen. I move on immediately to another task. I usually come back to the task that they were resistant towards doing and most often, they will complete it.

Let your child take the lead with their learning. Give them the opportunity to decide what they want to do. I guarantee, the results will follow. Be consistent with it and keep going.

Preparing for the 4+ Assessments for 2025 entry? Book your Sample Lesson today.

What you want is for your child to go into their 4+ Assessment CALMLY and CONFIDENTLY.

I’ve been talking to a lot of parents today about 4+ Assessment preparation. What I’m noticing is that a lot of the parents that I talk to seem to focus a lot on the academic aspect of the 4+ Assessments which of course is very important. However, it is by no means the most important part of 4+ Assessment preparation.

In my opinion, the most important part of 4+ Assessment preparation is going into the Assessment calmly and confidently.

If your child doesn’t go into their Assessment/s calmly, they are unlikely to be successful.

If your child doesn’t show confidence in their Assessment/s, they are unlikely to be successful.

Let me give you some examples by sharing some real life stories that happened this year in the 4+ Assessments.

CALM

To me going into the Assessment calmly means walking in happily. I imagine a child just soaring into the room as though they are walking on clouds and into something that they actually want to do. They actually want to be in that room.

Not being calm means going into the Assessment crying, screaming, not letting go of mum or dad (or whoever has dropped your child off). Not actually wanting to be in the room and doing anything within their power to leave the room indicates to me that a child is not calm.

Please don’t be surprised… these things do happen.

This year, many of my clients told me that they saw children crying and screaming and refusing to go with the assessors into their Assessments. Many of my clients told me that they heard from their friends that they were called to come and collect their children because they wouldn’t calm down.

CONFIDENCE

Having confidence has nothing to do with being shy or not. You can be shy and still have confidence. You can be loud and have very little confidence.

To me, going into the Assessment/s with confidence means being able to communicate well with adults and with children. Confidence was another very important aspect of 4+ Assessment success. Children who were not able to articulate themselves with confidence were not successful. Children who were unable to answer questions with confidence were not successful. Children who didn’t interact well with other children were not successful.

So yes, prepare for the academic aspects of the 4+ Assessments but please don’t neglect these two very important parts of 4+ Assessment success.

Book your Sample Lesson Today.

If your child is unsuccessful in the 4+ Assessments, what are your options?

If you choose tuition with us it is highly unlikely that this will happen. It never has happened.

Children who have at least 9 months of tuition (4+), 12 months tuition (7+) and 24 month tuition (11+) have been successful at gaining entry to at least one school of choice. When I say ‘at least’ what I mean is ‘at a minimum’. The majority of our students are successful at gaining entry to 3 or more schools of choice in all of the Assessments that we provide support with.

We advise all of our clients to choose at least 6 schools (all Assessments) 7 schools is optimum.

Less than this I wouldn’t advise.

However, if your child is unsuccessful in their 4+ Assessments, here are your options.

1. Choose a great pre- prep school that will support you with your preparations for the 7+ Assessments. If you need further support with this, please email me (office@creativemindstutors.com). I would always recommend you continue with tuition even if you do choose this option.

2. Continue with weekly tuition to support you with your preparations for the 7+ Assessments (the best time to begin is January of the year that your child is in Reception)

3. Choose a great state school and prepare your child for the 7+ Assessments with tuition.

4. Choose a great state school and prepare your child for the 11+ Assessments with tuition (the best time to start is January of the year that your child is in Year 3)

5. Apply to Grammar schools at 11+ and prepare with tuition.

So, as you can see you have plenty of options!

Need further support? Book your Sample lesson today.