A Parent's Guide to 4+ Assessment Day Preparation for London’s Top Schools
At U2 Tuition, we appreciate that navigating the complex world of London 4-plus school admissions can feel like learning a new language, not least because of the lack of reliable information online. That's why we've created this complete guide to the 4+ assessment day for highly regarded schools, including Westminster Under School, Thomas's London Day Schools, Garden House Chelsea, Alleyn's Junior School, and Francis Holland Prep. Even if your child is preparing for 4+ assessment days at other schools, much of the information in this article will still be relevant.
Blog Contents:
How to Choose the Right School for 4+ Entry
Before considering the 4+ Assessment Day, start by exploring your options. Hundreds of independent schools offer 4+ Entry, but not all require your child to attend an assessment day. To appreciate the range of offerings and formulate your ideas, we recommend you:
Visit school websites and read their prospectuses.
Register for open mornings and introductory events. Visiting a school in person offers a first-hand experience of the school environment, helping to assess its suitability for your child.
Shortlist schools that align with your child's personality and your family ethos.
Throughout this process, it is essential to note that registration timelines vary between schools. Some begin years before the intended Entry, with registration open from birth.
Explore the registration timelines of the schools this article focuses on:
Westminster Under School registration opens two years before the intended year of entry.
Thomas’s London accepts registrations from birth, closing the main list in September before entry. An electronic ballot determines who will attend the assessment day.
Garden House Chelsea encourages registration within a year of birth to ensure a place on the interview list.
Alleyn’s opens registration just one year prior to entry.
Francis Holland Prep also allows registration from birth, with deadlines typically in November before the year of entry. They encourage attending an open day when your daughter is approaching 2 years of age.
At U2 Tuition, we have extensive experience supporting families through the 4+ admissions process. Our support includes working knowledge of the excellent range of institutions in London and an ability to assist you in identifying the best environment for your child.
If you’d like expert guidance on where to begin your child’s educational journey, speak with a member of our team today.
What Happens on a 4+ Assessment Day?
Each school structures their day slightly differently, but there are key themes, namely that the assessment days are informal, warm, welcoming, and relaxed.
4+ Assessment Days at Westminster Under School
Stage 1 (October): Informal visit with classroom-style, play-based activities.
Stage 2 (January): A follow-up for selected candidates, again in a friendly setting.
Garden House Chelsea 4+ Interview Days
The Garden House equivalent of an assessment day is an interview typically involving the Head, another teacher, the child, and their parents.
The interview focuses on assessing the child's readiness for school. It also establishes whether the school environment meets the child's and parents’ needs.
Girls' prep: Interviews in January.
Boys' prep: Interviews in November.
Thomas's London 4+ ‘Discovery Sessions’
Thomas's runs 'Discovery Sessions' in the Michaelmas or Lent term.
These are 45-minute, play-led sessions involving small groups of up to 12 children.
Led by the Head of the lower school, gentle observation of group play and the completion of some independent activities are used to identify children who will thrive in their dynamic setting.
Again, they also focus on gauging a child's readiness for school.
Alleyn's Junior School 4+ Assessment Days
January assessments focus on language development, practical reasoning, and group play.
The objective is to identify those with the potential to thrive in their lively school environment.
Children are assessed in age-cohort groups (by birth month) in a familiar nursery-style format.
4+ Assessment Day at Francis Holland Prep
A 2-hour relaxed session, which takes place in January before Entry.
Activities include reading and talking about a book with teachers, playing with current year-6 pupils, a show-and-tell with a familiar item, and group interaction.
What Skills Are Schools Looking For at a 4+ Assessment Day?
While no school expects academic brilliance at age four, they look for signs of school readiness. Common traits they observe include:
Language development: Can your child speak clearly in complete sentences? Can they describe a picture or object, or articulate their thoughts?
Social interaction: In group play, can they share, take turns, and play cooperatively? Do they make eye contact and respond when spoken to?
Independence: Are they happy to separate from a parent? Can they perform simple tasks with minimal prompting and assistance, such as putting on their coat or tidying up?
Listening and attention: Can they sit still for a short story, follow instructions, or complete a task without distraction?
Problem-solving and reasoning: Can they complete a basic puzzle, group items by colour or shape, or spot patterns?
Motor skills: Are they confident using scissors, holding a pencil, or moving around safely and confidently?
How to Practice these key 4+ skills at Home
Many of these skills are already practised daily at nursery or pre-school. However, there is a lot that parents can do at home to build the skills that schools are looking for gently. This practice should not be pressured or stressful for your child. It should be incorporated into their weekly routine as a part of life, not dedicated assessment preparation. You may find you already do a lot of this at home. Proper preparation may include:
Storytime chats: After reading together, ask your child to tell you what happened or describe their favourite character.
Play-based learning: Use puzzles, shape sorters, and games that involve matching, grouping, or sequencing.
Fine motor games: Try colouring, threading beads, or using child-safe scissors to build hand strength and coordination.
Encourage independence: Let them practice small tasks at home, such as dressing, tidying up, or setting the table. These steps help show they're ready for school routines.
Want expert support to reinforce these 4+ skills in a fun and structured way? Our tutors at U2 Tuition work closely with families to personalise practice and ensure your child feels confident and excited about their assessment.
Top Tips for a Successful 4+ Assessment Day
Preparation is key, but on the day itself, little things can make a big difference:
Stick to routines: Keep meals, sleep, and morning rituals consistent so your child feels secure. It may help to introduce the assessment as a play date or something in the style they're familiar with attending.
Prepare for separation: Practise short separations if your child isn't used to being away from you.
Talk about meeting new people: Explain that they'll meet teachers and children like in the nursery.
Practice manners: Simple habits like saying "hello," "please," and "thank you" go a long way.
Arrive on time, not too early: Aim to arrive with a calm five-minute buffer. Arriving too early may heighten nerves.
Keep your tone light and positive: If you're anxious, they might pick up on it. Speak warmly and reassuringly.
Avoid last-minute coaching: This can confuse or stress children. Trust that what you've practised will come naturally.
How U2 Tuition Can Help
At U2 Tuition, early support doesn't mean pressure; it means nurturing confident, curious learners. We design our bespoke 4+ preparation sessions to gently support your child as they prepare for a key milestone without overwhelming them. We are experienced in tailoring plans to various school-specific 4+ assessment days.
We can help with:
Tailored play-based learning: We recreate activities similar to those found in 4+ assessment settings, such as sorting, matching, storytelling, and picture discussion.
Confidence-building exercises: From circle time games to show-and-tell, we help children become comfortable speaking in small groups and expressing ideas clearly.
Listening and following instructions: Fun role-play and storytelling activities help improve attention span and ability to follow multi-step instructions.
Social interaction coaching: We gently encourage your child to share, take turns, and interact respectfully with others.
Parent feedback and coaching: We offer regular updates and practical tips for you to support your child's progress at home further.
Variety of Lesson Formats: We appreciate that younger children may find in-person tuition more engaging than online sessions. However, we also understand that online lessons may align better with your schedule. We offer hybrid learning plans alongside online and in-person London tuition.
Our tutors strongly emphasise play, empathy, and encouragement in our 4+ admissions support, consistently replicating the joyful spirit of early childhood learning. We always tailor our support, appreciating that children learn in their own style and at their own pace. We also involve parents in this process to best understand a child’s temperament and learning needs.
Use U2 Tuition to offer your child the best chance at 4+ admissions success, provide them with the essential foundational skills for a successful education, and instil a lifelong love of learning.
Book a complimentary 15-minute consultation with U2 Tuition to discuss your child's 4+ journey: