School assessment season is about to get underway, and it’s not just older children who are busy preparing for several rounds of academic tests and interviews. Some of the most competitive independent schools start testing prospective pupils from the tender age of two – and the thought of them sitting an assessment at such a young age can be incredibly daunting.
It’s not just a child’s age that can make 3+ and 4+ assessments intimidating. If your child is sitting a prep-school entrance exam, you’ll know that they’ll be tested in English and maths – and they might even be offered a clutch of practice papers to help familiarise them with the process. Yet hazy advice given to 4+ candidates says little beyond the fact they are looking for children who demonstrate ‘teachability’ or ‘school readiness’. This can often seem hopelessly unclear – and only serves to pile even more pressure on parents and their children.
The reality is that most schools are looking for the same skill sets: good communicators, well-developed fine-motor skills, confidence, independence, an interest in learning and the ability to follow instructions and focus on an activity of choice. Assessments at 3+ and 4+ are rarely knowledge-based, but it’s worth knowing that some schools have more specific expectations, such as a child being able to write their name, use a pencil or recognise numbers.
But you can rest assured that the vast majority will be looking at your child’s level of maturity and their general attitude to learning – and the everyday use of the right resources and activities is by far the most effective form of preparation.
Top tips for parents facing the 4+
Read books, books and more books with your children! There is no limit to the benefits that sharing books with young children has in terms of concentration, vocabulary, comprehension and also creativity, empathy and understanding of the world.
To really maximise these benefits, take the opportunity to discuss the texts by modelling your responses and asking questions such as: ‘What was your favourite part of the story and why was that?’; ‘How do you think they are feeling?’; ‘Do you ever feel like that?’. If your child is struggling, you could model your own observations: ‘I think the dragon will steal the gold in the end because he had a big bag hidden behind his back – what do you think?’
Try and notice numbers everywhere you go, and talk about them with your children. These could be anything from car registrations to house numbers or road signs. Using board games such as ludo and snakes and ladders is a great play-based way of helping your child get to grips with numbers too, by teaching them about counting, doubles and number recognition.
Practise separation. If your child isn’t yet attending nursery, make sure they’ve had some experience of being left somewhere without you. Try signing them up for weekly classes – be it sport, music, art or similar – where you can build up to dropping them off and picking them up again at the end of a session.
Do lots of playdough. This is used in primary schools to help build up strength in children’s fingers and practise squeezing, pinching, rolling and stretching techniques. It also helps little ones develop fine-motor skills and their ability to hold and use a pencil.
Label everything. This will encourage your child to find objects with their name on. You could also stick their name to their fridge using magnetic letters and encourage them to take them off and put them back on again in the correct order.
And finally: present the assessment as a playdate in a new school. By doing so, you’ll be able to gauge whether your child enjoys being there, and will minimise any anxiety or pressure your child might pick up on.
To help parents understand where their child falls in terms of key areas of development, Talk ÍÑ¿ã°É and our early-years specialist Sabine have developed a bespoke early-years assessment, focusing on all seven areas of learning – both prime and specific – from the government’s EYFS framework. We have worked with children who have gone on to gain places at some of London’s most competitive schools prep, including
Highgate Junior School,
North London Collegiate Junior School,
Alleyn’s Junior School,
Putney High Junior School,
Wimbledon Common Prep School,
Glendower,
Falkner House,
Arnold House,
Notting Hill and Ealing High Junior School,
Westminster Cathedral Choir School,
University College School Juniors and
Wimbledon High Junior School. We also work with children who are targeting the more competitive schools outside of London.
Who is the bespoke assessment for, and what does it involve?
Realistically, the youngest age a child can be assessed is two and a half, by which time their speech should be sufficiently developed.
Assessments are completely play-based and, depending on their level of concentration, children are fully engaged for 45 minutes to an hour. It’s the perfect opportunity for a child to spend some time in a new environment and practise separation from a parent, which helps replicate the experience of sitting the 3+ or 4+.
As well as covering personal and social skills, fine-motor development, communication skills, pre-phonics skills, comprehension skills and mathematical understanding, the bespoke assessment can also take into account a specific school’s expectations, so there are no surprises on the day of the 3+ or 4+.
After the assessment, parents are given a thorough report packed with recommended resources and activities matched to the developmental stage of their child, as well as detailed feedback on:
- Listening and communication skills
- Comprehension and literacy skills
- Fine-motor skill development
- Ability to concentrate, focus and persevere
- Ability to recognise sounds in words as an essential pre-phonics skill
- Ability to recognise amount, counting skills, number recognition, early calculation skills, and shape, space and measurement skills
Parents are also given a clear understanding of what each school looks for during their assessment, and which schools might be the best fit for their child.
To find out more about Talk ÍÑ¿ã°É’s bespoke early-years assessment, get in touch with our
parent advisory team. Choosing your child’s school is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and our experienced team is here to help and ensure your son or daughter is beaming with confidence when the big day rolls around.
If you’re not quite at the assessment stage yet, we can help you make the right choices for your child as soon as they start their journey into education. Our
nurseries guide includes our team’s pick of the best early years settings in the UK, and our dedicated nursery advisor is on hand to help you explore the very best nursery settings in your area, how to apply for them, and the key deadlines to bear in mind. We will guide you through the decision-making process and give you the confidence to make the right choice, armed with the most up-to-date insider knowledge. We are all parents ourselves – we know how hard this is, and we can make it easier for you.