How to prioritise assessment preparation (part 2)

If supporting your child to have the best education possible for them is one of your most important priorities right now, say no to everything else.

Say no to people telling you that what you are doing is wrong.

Say no to the noise.

You’re not doing anything wrong. You are supporting your child to have the best possible education. It is quite frankly one of the most important decisions that you will ever make as a parent.

I don’t take this lightly. I take it very seriously actually.

Many of you want to have ‘balance’. And sure, you can have balance of course. Of course your child needs to continue doing the things that they love to do.

If you give everything in your life equal attention however, guess what? It will most likely be mediocre at best. If you want to have amazing success in your child’s assessment, you need to make it a priority. It is very simple.

You will always have people who will tell you that they did absolutely nothing to support their children to be wildly successful at top schools like Westminster, St Pauls etc. They are liars. And also why would you boast about that? ‘I did nothing to support my child!’ Ok then.

If you want to gain momentum in the area of assessment preparation, you need to focus your attention on it for a specified period of time.

4+ = One year of focused attention

7+ - Two years of focused attention

11+ - Four years of focused attention

Give your full attention towards preparing your child to go into any assessment and have the highest possible chances for success.

If you want results, put in the work.

If you don’t want results, don’t. But then don’t complain about it. Please.

If it is your top priority to be very successful in any assessment, we would be delighted to speak with you. If not, carry on.

How to prioritise assessment preparation (part 1)

Is supporting your child to have the best education possible the most important thing to you right now?

If it is, I would be delighted to speak with you.

If it isn’t, I have no interest in speaking with you.

You see, I am passionate about ensuring that all children receive the highest possible quality of education because I know how important it will be for their futures. I know that what we do here at CMT is completely and drastically life changing. I know that if I had had a far better education than the one I was presented with that I could have had a much smoother experience of life to the one I have currently experienced. I am of course making the changes that I want to make but let’s be completely crystal clear here.

What we do here at CMT is not just prepare children for schools.

We support and prepare our children to have the highest quality lives possible in the future.

Is preparing your child to pass their assessment the most important thing to you right now?

Prioritise it.

The meaning of the word priority is what is most important in your life - this should therefore be your number one thing. The thing you dedicate the majority of your time to.

It is a top priority to you. But often, many of you are simply not giving this illusive priority much time and dedication at all.

So often many of you tell me what a priority it is to support your child to get into this school or the other yet you’ve not given it much time or any time at all.

Get your priorities straight.

Make sure that you’re dedicating the right amount of time on the things you want to be spending the majority of your time on.

Look at your top 5 priorities in life right now and then prioritise each one further.

You will have different priorities in different stages of your life. Having clear priorities will make your decision making so much easier. If your current life priority is to support your child to have the best possible education, make that one of your top priorities.

Work with the best teachers out there. Book your Sample Lesson today and see how incredibly effective 30 minutes of your child’s time will be. See how effective our sample weeks are and see how much progress your child will make.

Lessons learnt from the Falkner House (Boys) 4+ Assessment (2026 entry)

We prepared 3 beautiful boys for their 4+ assessment at Falkner House.

My clients spoke very highly of Falkner House (Boys). They loved the family vibe at this school and many of them commented on how it felt very warm, welcoming and nurturing.

Lovely to hear.

This is exactly what I want all of my students to experience in their school environment.

After the assessment at Falkner House, my clients spoke so highly about the teachers and the staff that they had engaged with. I didn’t hear a negative word said about this school.

The 4+ assessment was calm, well thought out and the boys seemed to have genuinely had a lovely time.

Having a lovely time doesn’t equate to passing this 4+ assessment however.

And if you think that you will just send your son into this assessment with no prep, you are so wrong.

Sending them to a great pre-prep or nursery is not 4+ assessment preparation either - by the way.

You must prepare your sons thoroughly to be able to go in and be offered a place to study at Falkner House.

They say that they are ‘looking for potential rather than attainment’. In my vast years of experience preparing many boys for this assessment, they are looking for both. I believe potential goes hand in hand with attainment, I do not see them as separate entities. So don’t fixate on this statement on their website. The boys who have historically passed this 4+ assessment have demonstrated potential and incredible attainment too.

It is important to note that FH do have a strong sibling policy but this sibling still needs to pass the 4+ assessment and meet the standards. It is not just a guaranteed place!

Here are my three lessons for you:

1. Prepare your son for this 4+ assessment at least 12 months before the assessment- and if you’ve not left enough time - just start.

2. Boys need to have exceptional communication and language skills to stand a chance at passing this 4+ assessment.

3. Boys need to demonstrate maturity to pass this 4+ assessment.

Preparing for Falkner House for 2027 entry and beyond?

Book your Sample Lesson Today.

'I only want the BEST for my child!'

I’ve been using this word a lot this week whilst having countless conversations with my amazing clients.

‘Logical’

‘It’s logical.’

But I guess that what is logical to me isn’t logical to some of you.

The meaning of the word ‘logic’ is rather complex but I define it as my way of thinking based on my good judgement. Is it the right judgement? Who is to decide if my judgement is right or wrong? Only I can decide that.

Everyone will have their own opinions and judgements.

But when it comes to our children, it is all about us. No one else. We are the ones who have to use our logic to make the ‘best’ decisions for our children.

Wow, that’s a lot of pressure we put upon ourselves isn’t it?

Because ultimately it comes down to this.

What we think is the best decision today, may be the worst decision tomorrow. Or perhaps we make what we think is the best decision today and it doesn’t turn out the way we thought or imagined it would have.

And guess what?

That’s ok.

Remove that pressure from yourselves.

Take a breath.

And stay calm.

We all want the best for our children.

Make a decision and go all in with that decision.

Decide the school you want to send your child to.

Decide how you want them to continue with their learning journey.

And please drown out the noise.

No one else will ever care as much for your child as you do.

Preparing for an assessment for 2027 entry or beyond? Book your Sample lesson today and experience the best of the best learning support for children out there with our team of exceptional teachers.

The CMT 4+ Half Term Bootcamp (for parents) has just launched!

Stop Dreaming of your child passing their 4+ assessments at your Target Schools.

The CMT 4+ Half Term Bootcamp (for parents) helps you create the results your child deserves - real systems, real support, inevitable success!

This Boot Camp is for you if you want to see accelerated progress in your child’s learning in just 5 days. This Boot Camp is not for you if you are not willing to dedicate at least 30 minutes a day learning with your child.

Preparing your child for a 4+ assessment can be overwhelming.

It can be really hard to know where to even start. Plus, you will have the whispers of many people telling you to do this and telling you to do that. When really, you just have to do ONE thing.

Focused, targeted learning with your child consistently and frequently over the course of whatever period of time you decide to dedicate to preparing your child (my recommendation is at least 12 months).

Perhaps you are not seeing your child make the progress you would like them to be making with their phonics/maths/communication and language or holding their pencil and writing. Whatever it is, the CMT 4+ Half Term Boot Camp (for parents) will support you to navigate whatever challenges you might be having and to support your child to develop their skills in whatever area of learning you would like to focus on.

You shouldn’t have to feel anxious and overwhelmed whilst preparing your child for their 4+ assessments.

This very exclusive Bootcamp is open to only 5 parents who want to take their 4+ assessment preparation to the next level.

Here’s how it will work.

We begin Monday 16th February - Friday 20th February.

Each day, you will receive a teaching video from me teaching you a specific concept.

Each day, you will receive a pack of learning resources to simply print off and complete with your child.

Each day, you will have access to our Company Director, Maria Mazarese to ask her any questions that you might have relating to your child’s learning and the schools that you are applying to.

Monday 16th February 2026 - Choosing your target schools.

Tuesday 17th February 2026 - Who were the children who passed and who were the children who did not pass the 4+ assessments at your target schools - truly understanding this will give you a huge edge over those parents who simply don’t understand or don’t even know about this!

Wednesday 18th February 2026 - The curriculum you need to cover to prepare your children for your target schools.

Thursday 19th February 2026 - 4+ Phonics Masterclass

Friday 20th February 2026 - 4+ Maths Masterclass

Join by 11am on Friday 13th February 2026.

How to solve the problem of 4+ assessment preparation.

There is a huge problem with 4+ assessment preparation.

Let’s get to the business of it.

The biggest problem with 4+ assessment preparation is that most parents simply do not even begin to understand what 4+ assessment preparation even is.

Most parents do not even scratch the surface when it comes to preparing their children for their 4+ assessments. And most parents don’t know this until after the fact.

Until after they’ve received the letters or emails telling them that their child has not been offered a place to study at their desired school. By then it is too late (obviously).

That’s why it is important (so important) to understand this problem now.

Once we understand this problem, we can focus on the solutions. Solutions will drive you forwards. This problem will keep you stuck and stagnant.

The powerful thing is this. You are the ones who decide what the problem is when it comes to preparing your child for their 4+ assessments.

Is your problem that you don’t have a clue what the benchmark standard is?

Is your problem that you’re not sure how to support your child to learn their next four sounds?

Choose the problem you want to have when it comes to 4+ assessment preparation.

Also, figure our what you really want for your child.

Most of us really struggle with this! And I get it. It’s not easy. We all want the best of the best for our children. So once you’ve decided what this ‘best of the best is’, get to work. Do not stall yourselves. Work only with the best teachers and not with those who are not experienced or do not truly know the standard expected.

Solve the problem of 4+ assessment preparation by getting to work NOW. By taking action NOW.

How do you truly feel about your 4+ assessment preparation problem?

Are you taking action?

Is your child making progress?

Do you know how your child ‘compares’ to other children preparing for the same schools as you?

We are taking MASSIVE ACTION every single day. Out students are making outrageous PROGRESS and we actually do not compare children but if we did, the comparison would be next level.

Solve your 4+ preparation problem today.

Join my exceptional Emerald Curriculum Programme today.

I expect the exact same behaviour from my son.

As a teacher working full time in schools across London I used to hear this comment all the time and I didn’t think much of it until I became a mother.

Parents would often say this to me…

‘He/she is completely different with you than she is at home!’

Then would come the long list of things their child didn’t do at home that they would do with me:

They don’t listen to me!

They shout!

They are disrespectful/rude/unkind etc

I would often simply reply something like …

‘Oh, that’s odd!’

Now when my clients or other parents tell me this, my answer is very different.

I will say something like…

‘Why do you accept that?’

And often this answer stops them in their tracks.

Why would you accept this?

I do not.

I see my son’s behaviour the minute he steps into nursery.

He becomes quieter, a little more reserved and timid and he listens to every single instruction (and follows it)!

Obviously with me and at home in general, he is more comfortable and he tests the boundaries more but my expectations of him are very clear.

He knows that I expect the exact same high level of focus, concentration and excellent behaviour that he demonstrates at nursery

Why should I expect any less?

Any why would some of you?

If your child doesn’t ‘behave’ the way you deem appropriate, that’s work for you to do.

To me it is unacceptable for my child to choose how he behaves with one human being compared to another.

The Highgate 4+ Assessment Report (2026 entry)

The most controversial 4+ report yet.

We prepared 8 children for their 4+ at Highgate. They all had between 1-12 months of 4+ Assessment preparation. 3 children have been offered a place to study at Highgate (1 girl and 2 boys). 1 child (a boy) has been waitlisted.

My recommendation is at least 12 months of 4+ assessment preparation for Highgate. However, this year the Highgate 4+ assessment was rather different. Several of my very gifted and highly intelligent and articulate students were not offered a place after round 1. Many of those children who didn’t pass round 1 were offered places at the likes of Westminster, South Hampstead and Habs.

Only two of my students who passed didn’t have siblings at Highgate.

My other student who passed has siblings already at Highgate.

My student who is Waitlisted does not have siblings at Highgate.

I will not be giving reasons for successes and failures because for the first time ever, I cannot tell you with certainty and clarity what these are. I know that my students who passed and were offered a place are both highly intelligent, had covered the EYFS curriculum to a very high standard and are simply a delight to teach and just generally to be with. But I can also say that about my students who were not offered a place following their round 1 assessment at Highgate.

If you are preparing for Highgate for 2027 entry and beyond, it is important that you have a selection of schools that you are targeting at 4+ and not just this one. Several of our clients were preparing for this school alone. And this is something that I have never encouraged anyone to do (with any school).

Preparing for 2027 entry and beyond? Book your Sample Lesson Today.

The UCS 4+ Assessment Report (2026 entry)

We prepared 9 boys for their 4+ at UCSs. They all had between 3 -12 months of 4+ Assessment preparation. I didn’t hear back from 2 clients that I personally supported so I will not count them in these results. 6 boys have been offered a place to study at UCS.

My recommendation is at least 12 months of 4+ assessment preparation for UCS.

3 Key Reasons for Success

Boys who perform highly across the board (in all 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum) and thorough prep for both rounds.

Regular communication between parents and teacher during the week between the lessons, parents taking on board feedback and putting it into place during the weeks.

Consistent daily activity - Boys completing all of the home learning sent every single day in preparation for this assessment (or as close to this as possible!).

3 Key Reasons for Not Being Successful

All of our boys have passed so far (that I have heard from!) but do not take this to mean that passing the 4+ assessment at UCS is ‘easy’. Far from it. it is really not an ‘easy’ assessment to pass. So do get that thought out of your heads. If you think that all boys are just offered a place to study at UCS, you are wrong.

The boys who have not passed were:

Not thoroughly prepared in the 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum.

Not able to answer questions at the level expected from the school

Boys who needed to further develop their communication and language skills.

It is important to note that all of our boys’ parents put in hours of dedicated focused learning with their sons over the course of their time preparing them for this assessment. They worked hard. They dedicated their time and attention to their sons. They persevered when it got hard (It got hard countless times!). They trusted in the learning process and despite a lot of negativity from their nurseries/friends/families, they continued. I admire their dedication. They are my ideal clients. They are the clients we want to be working with.

UCS is a highly competitive school at 4+ and we are delighted to have supported 9 gorgeous boys this year to be more than ready for this school. Will all 5 go to UCS? Let’s wait and see shall we?

Preparing for 2027 entry and beyond? Book your Sample Lesson Today.

Unpopular opinion - Your child will not make accelerated progress based on the schools you choose to send them to. Your child will make accelerated progress based on what YOU do with them.

Unpopular opinion

Your child will not make accelerated progress based on the schools you choose to send them to.

Your child will make accelerated progress based on what YOU do with them.

Parents are so fixated on choosing the ‘best’ schools for their children - as they should be.

But do not get it twisted.

Your child will not make accelerated progress based on the schools you choose to send them to.

Having worked in both the state and private sector in many, many primary schools let me tell you this with certainty and clarity. The quality of teaching will not be superior in a private school compared to a state school.

You will have exceptional teachers in both state and private schools.

You will also have teachers who are not exceptional in both state and private schools.

Sorry if that offends anyone. It is my belief.

I’ve worked with amazing teachers in both state and private schools. I’ve also worked with those who are not exceptional in both state and private schools. Sorry if that offends anyone. It is my experience.

We teach children who go to schools such as Haberdashers, NLCS, City, Forest and Glendower, to name a very few.

Out clients fully understand that it is up to them and them alone to support their children to make accelerated progress. And if they take the foot off the gas, guess what? What will happen?

It’s obvious to me.

It’s not so obvious to so many of you.

And it’s so easy isn’t it to place blame on the school?

‘Well, I’m paying them 25k/30k/40k/50k a year - what is my child doing all day?’

Do you know how many times I hear that ridiculous sentence!

Your child’s teacher has 16/20/24/30/32/34+ students to look after.

Why place all of that responsibility on that one human being?

That is far too much to ask.

They have their own life and problems (and most likely their own children!) to also think about!

So if you would like your child to make accelerated progress (whatever that means to you), it is on you. And only you.

And if you don’t like that, continue to give all the responsibility to the school. See how that goes for you. And see how that feels. It feels pretty powerless.

Take back your power. Only YOU are in control of the accelerated progress your child will ever make with their learning whichever school you send them to or however your choose to educate them.

Your child's behaviour is YOUR responsibility!

I’ve worked with thousands of children over the last 20 years.

I’ve seen children who know how to behave beautifully.

I’ve seen children who really do not.

And I truly believe that there is no point in teaching your children to be super academic if they don’t even have the basic manners down.

And I would like to see this improving over the next 20 years and not deteriorating (which I firmly believe is what will happen).

The first piece when teaching your child good manners is that you have good manners yourself. If your child observes you not having good manners, it’s kind of obvious that they will copy that behaviour. Don’t act all surprised about it.

If you are rude to people because you have some sense of entitlement or whatever your problem with life is, guess what? Your child will be rude to people too.

Model the behaviour that you would like your child to demonstrate to their peers.

The second piece is explaining the behaviours that you would like to see your child demonstrating. If you don’t explain it to them, how will they ever know.

And do not have double standards about this. If you expect these behaviours from your child, you must expect the same from yourself too.

Basic manners to me personally consist of the following:

Being kind to everyone and not just to who you feel like being kind to.

Being polite to everyone and not just to who you like being polite to.

Treating everyone with respect regardless of who they are.

Not believing that you are somehow better than someone - you are not.

Being gentle and calm when speaking to others and not speaking aggressively under any circumstances.

If someone is rude to you, you don’t need to match their energies. I know this is really hard.

It’s something that I’ve really worked on for years and I’m still not perfect at it but I’m certainly much better.

I want my son to show all of these basic manners to others. It is very important to me. And I teach him everyday how he can show up in his daily life.

Everyday, he makes me so proud.

We all have times in our lives where we go through something or whatever. Still show manners otherwise just be quiet.

The Habs' Girls' 4+ Assessment results (2026 entry)

We prepared 8 girls for their 4+ at Habs. (2026 entry).

They all had between 1 -18 months of 4+ Assessment preparation. 5 girls have been offered a place to study at Habs.

My recommendation is at least 12 months of 4+ assessment preparation for Habs’ Girls’ School.

3 Key Reasons for Success

• Girls who perform highly across the board (in all 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum) and thorough prep for both rounds.

• Regular communication between parents and teacher during the week between the lessons, parents taking on board feedback and putting it into place during the weeks.

• Consistent daily activity - Girls completing all of the home learning sent every single day in preparation for this assessment (or as close to this as possible!).

3 Key Reasons for Not Being Successful

Not thoroughly prepared in the 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum.

• Not able to answer questions at the level expected from the school

• Girls who needed to further develop their communication and language skills.

• Behavioural expectations not being met.

It is important to note that all of our girls’ parents put in hours of dedicated focused learning with their daughters over the course of their time preparing them for this assessment. They worked hard. They dedicated their time and attention to their daughters. They persevered when it got hard (It got hard countless times!). They trusted in the learning process and despite a lot of negativity from their nurseries/friends/families, they continued. I admire their dedication. They are my ideal clients. They are the clients we want to be working with.

Habs’ Girls’ is a highly competitive school at 4+ and we are delighted to have supported 8 beautiful girls this year to be more than ready for this school.

Will all 5 go to Habs’ Girls’ School?

Preparing for 2027 entry and beyond? Book your Sample Lesson Today.

The Westminster 4+ assessment report (2026 entry)

Over the course of 12-18 months we prepared 14 boys and girls for their 4+ assessment at Westminster.

It was the most misunderstood school by parents.

Because it was new, most parents chose to be blinded by confusion and most parents did not take the prep very seriously at all. Out of the 14 boys and girls, many started and stopped tuition, many cancelled lessons, many just simply did not put in the work required to actually be in with a chance of passing this 4+ assessment.

Remember.

500 applicants.

100 pass round 1.

32 pass round 2 (16 in each class).

Take it seriously for 2027 entry and beyond or please just do not bother. Do not bother myself or my teachers and do not bother your children with going into a 4+ at the likes of this school.

Out of the 14 parents that we supported, I’ve heard back from 7!

I will not be chasing the others.

Out of the 7 students 2 girls were prepared consistently by either myself or Emily and PASSED, 1 of the girls attended my one month success programme and PASSED. Out of the remaining 4, 3 children stopped and started tuition and had less than 3 months of 4+ assessment preparation. Those children did not pass the Westminster 4+ assessment. After writing this report, I heard back from one more client and her son was initially waitlisted and was then offered a place. So 4 of our students have been offered a place to study at Westminster for 2026 entry. This is incredible.

Obviously, I cannot count the 7 I’ve not heard back from! But I will assume they’ve not passed. Maybe I’m wrong. Let’s see - maybe they’ll respond back here!

My recommendation is at least 12 months of 4+ assessment preparation for The Westminster 4+ assessment.

3 Key Reasons for Success

Children who perform highly across the board (in all 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum) and thorough prep for both rounds.

Regular communication between parents and teacher during the week between the lessons, parents taking on board feedback and putting it into place during the weeks.

Consistent daily activity - Children completing all of the home learning sent every single day in preparation for this assessment (or as close to this as possible!).

3 Key Reasons for Not Being Successful

Not thoroughly prepared in the 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum.

Not able to answer questions at the level expected from the school

Boys and girls who needed to further develop their communication and language skills.

It is important to note that all of our clients and students put in hours of dedicated focused learning with their sons over the course of their time preparing them for this assessment. They worked hard. They dedicated their time and attention to their sons. They persevered when it got hard (It got hard countless times!). They trusted in the learning process and despite a lot of negativity from their nurseries/friends/families, they continued. I admire their dedication. They are my ideal clients. They are the clients we want to be working with.

Westminster is a highly competitive school at 4+ and we are delighted to have supported so many children this year to be more than ready for this school. Will all 3 go to Westminster? I actually think only one of them will. Let’s wait and see.

Preparing for 2027 entry and beyond? Book your Sample Lesson Today.

The Habs' Boys' 4+ Assessment Report (2026 entry)

We prepared 9 boys for their 4+ at Habs. I’m still waiting to hear from one of my clients so I won’t count them in my results for now. (2026 entry). They all had between 1 -18 months of 4+ Assessment preparation.

My recommendation is at least 12 months of 4+ assessment preparation for Habs’ Boys’ School.

3 Key Reasons for Success

Boys who perform highly across the board (in all 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum) and thorough prep for both rounds.

Regular communication between parents and teacher during the week between the lessons, parents taking on board feedback and putting it into place during the weeks.

Consistent daily activity - Boys completing all of the home learning sent every single day in preparation for this assessment (or as close to this as possible!).

3 Key Reasons for Not Being Successful

All of our boys have passed so far (that I have heard from!) but do not take this to mean that passing the 4+ assessment at Habs’ Boys’ School is ‘easy’. Far from it. it is really not an ‘easy’ assessment to pass. So do get that thought out of your heads. I have already spoken to a handful of parents whose sons have not passed this 4+ assessment. The boys who have not passed were:

Not thoroughly prepared in the 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum.

Not able to answer questions at the level expected from the school

Boys who needed to further develop their communication and language skills.

It is important to note that all of our boys’ parents put in hours of dedicated focused learning with their sons over the course of their time preparing them for this assessment. They worked hard. They dedicated their time and attention to their sons. They persevered when it got hard (It got hard countless times!). They trusted in the learning process and despite a lot of negativity from their nurseries/friends/families, they continued. I admire their dedication. They are my ideal clients. They are the clients we want to be working with.

Habs’ Boys’ is a highly competitive school at 4+ and we are delighted to have supported 9 gorgeous boys this year to be more than ready for this school. Will all 9 go to Habs’ Boys’ School? Let’s wait and see shall we?

Preparing for 2027 entry and beyond? Book your Sample Lesson Today.

Who are the boys who have passed their Habs’ Boys’ 7+ assessments?

They are the boys who met with their teachers every single week for at least 12 months (my recommendation is 24 months for the 7+ in general).

They are the boys who focused so well in the lessons and absorbed everything that was taught to them.

They are the boys who persevered when things got tough (they did get tough - often!)

They are the boys who understood exactly what was expected from them in both rounds.

They are the boys who were resilient and determined. They did not take the summer break off nor the Christmas break off!

Was it easy?

No, of course not.

Did we have huge ups and downs?

Yes, we did.

Did we give up?

No, we did not.

We kept going and we got the results!

We prepared 4 boys for their 7+ at Habs’ Boys’ School (2026 entry).

1 boy started assessment preparations exactly 2 years before the round 1 assessment in 2025. He passed and will be studying at Habs from September 2026.

1 boy started with us 1 year before the round 1 assessment in 2025. He passed and will be studying at Habs from September 2026.

2 boys started 3 months before the assessment. They did not pass.

Whether you like it or not, time matters when it comes to the 7+.

There is far too much to cover and it would be impossible for any child to cover all of the curriculum in just 3 months. In fact, I will not longer be offering this for the 7+ from this year. If parents want to start preparing their child correctly for the 7+, they can start with us 2 years before which is what I always recommend.

Even starting in Year 1 is far too late.

Why waste the whole of the Reception year? Why? Think carefully about your reason for doing this. Circumstances beyond our control can happen of course but usually it’s a case of not planning early enough. Usually it’s the case of ‘going with the flow’ and ‘seeing what will happen’ and then deciding far too late.

I’ll be publishing our 7+ report for Habs’ Boys’ and Habs’ Girls’ (2026 entry) this week.

Congratulations to our boys who will be studying at Haberdashers from September 2026.

Is it ‘abusive’ to prepare a child for a 4+ assessment?

The definition of abuse is someone causing us harm or distress.

So you answer the question I just asked you for yourself.

Is it ‘abusive’ to prepare a child for a 4+ assessment?

What a ridiculous question to even ask.

But I ask it for a reason.

I ask it to encourage you to really think carefully about other people who will JUDGE you and who will SHAME you when you tell them that you are preparing your child for a 4+ assessment.

I ask it to you to encourage you to really drown out that ridiculous noise (which makes zero sense by the way).

There is far too much arrogance around 4+ assessment success. There are far too many people telling lies to other people. There is far too much ignorance when it comes to the 4+ assessment process.

Basically what people really are telling you is this…

You are abusing your child by learning with them.

I’m not here to defend what we do and of course people are entitled to their opinions.

I have never abused my child and none of my clients ever have either. We adore our children just like all of you adore your children.

My son ADORES learning with me.

So if doing a puzzle, lego, reading, cutting or drawing with my son is abusive, why is it not abusive to send children to school for 6-9 hours a day?

Oh but that’s fine yeh?

Continue doing what you love doing. And if other people want to judge (they’ll judge you either way!) - let them!

Stop being so hard on yourselves.

I’ve been speaking to so many of you lately who are having to make huge decisions for your children’s education. And so many of you are being so hard on yourselves and I’m here to encourage you to not do that.

It’s easy to say.

It’s not easy to do.

I am also so hard on myself when it comes to my boy.

I want to make the ‘best’ decisions - as you all do.

But what is the ‘best’ decision is merely an illusion.

What if there really is not a ‘best’ decision to be made.

What if there is just a choice. A decision based on what we know about our child. Oh and by the way you know your child better than anyone else so do stop listening to your mother, your father, your sister or your brother and your well meaning friends and neighbours.

Just stop.

Drown out the noise.

You are the mother or the father.

You decide. And obviously your child will ultimately decide.

I have personally made the decision to home educate my child from September 2026 so he will essentially not be going to a formal Reception classroom. I have many reasons for this and I love my decisions.

My family and some of my friends do not.

And that is just fine. I’m not here to please them!

My son will have pretty much covered all of the EYFS curriculum by the time September hits so I do feel it’s pretty pointless to send him to a Reception classroom. We will be fully immersed into the Year 1 curriculum and beyond by September 2026. He will need social interactions - yes- I do know! He will be continuing ad hoc to go to his current nursery setting to have social time with his friends. He will also be enrolled onto several activities where he can make new friends and have time for social interaction.

If it the ‘right’ decision?

Only time will tell.

My son has already told me that he wants to ‘go to school!’

So if that’s the case, I will need to have a very open and honest discussion with him.

So if you are choosing the schools or the education paths for your children right now, please be kind, loving and full of compassion for yourselves.

Drown out the noise.

And stay fully focused on yourselves and your child.

Do what you think is best for your child. Not what anyone else tells you is best.

The Glendower 4+ Assessment Report (2026 entry)

We prepared 5 girls for their 4+ at Glendower. I’m still waiting to hear from one of my clients but so far all girls (4) have been offered a firm place to study at Glendower (2026 entry).

They all had between 3 -16 months of 4+ Assessment preparation. My recommendation is 12 months of 4+ assessment preparation.

It is not ‘easy’ to pass the 4+ assessment at Glendower and if you think this, you are so wrong. With a 1:5 chance of passing this 4+ assessment (they assess 200 girls each year), your daughter will need thorough preparation.

Three key reasons for success at Glendower:

• Girls who perform highly across the board (in all 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum)

• Regular communication between parents and teacher during the week between the lessons.

• Consistent daily activity - Girls completing all of the home learning sent every single day in preparation for this assessment.

It is important to note that all of our girls’ parents put in hours of dedicated focused learning with their daughters over the course of their time preparing them for this assessment. They worked hard. They dedicated their time and attention to their daughters. They persevered when it got hard. They trusted in the learning process and despite a lot of negativity from their nurseries/friends/families, they continued. I admire their dedication. They are my ideal clients. They are the clients we want to be working with.

Key reasons for not being successful.

All of our girls have passed so far but do not take this to mean that passing the 4+ assessment at Glendower is ‘easy’. Far from it. With a 1:5 chance of passing, it is really not an ‘easy’ assessment to pass. It is also 100% not an ‘easy’ assessment. So do get that thought out of your heads. I have personally spoken to several parents who have called me to tell me that their daughters have not passed the Glendower 4+ assessments (not my clients) or have called me to tell me that their daughter has been waitlisted.

• Girls not thoroughly prepared in the 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum.

• Girls who were not able to answer questions at the level expected from Glendower.

• Girls who need to further develop their communication and language skills.

It is important to note that all of our girls’ parents put in hours of dedicated focused learning with their daughters over the course of their time preparing them for this assessment. They worked hard. They dedicated their time and attention to their daughters. They persevered when it got hard. They trusted in the learning process and despite a lot of negativity from their nurseries/friends/families, they continued. I admire their dedication. They are my ideal clients. They are the clients we want to be working with.

Glendower is a highly competitive school at 4+ and we are delighted to have supported 5 beautiful girls this year for this school. Will all 5 go to Glendower? Let’s wait and see shall we? We are still completing other assessments currently and patiently awaiting results.

Well done to our beautiful girls who have been offered a place to study at Glendower in September 2026. You are all amazing and we are delighted and thrilled for you all.

Preparing for Glendower for 2027 entry and beyond? Book your Sample Lesson Today.

How to FAIL for 4+ assessment success- part 2

What if you made a conscious decision way before the 4+ assessments take place that even if your child does ‘fail’ an assessment that you will still be fully there for yourself and for your child. That you won’t make it mean a single thing about your child and about yourself.

There is 100% nothing wrong with your child if they do not pass a 4+ assessment.

It’s just that there will be hundreds of children that will NOT pass a 4+ assessment. If you are aware of this ahead of time, you will go into the process with a lot more calm.

What if you made a conscious decision way before the 4+ assessments take place that even if your child does ‘fail’ that you will still be kind, loving and respectful to yourselves. What if you decided that even if your child does ‘fail’ that you will not QUIT. Instead you will keep going?

So many of you (sadly) stop taking action completely because you are so afraid of this presumed ‘failure’.

But it is really important to remember this.

In order to have success, you must have failure.

Failure builds strength and confidence in both yourself and your child.

The more you fail, the more willing you will be to fail.

As a child and a young adult, I was super resistant to failure and it really held me back in more devastating and catastrophic ways than you can ever imagine. As I said, I do not dwell in the past. Rather I learn from it.

When I worked in schools, I saw this trait in many of my colleagues. They did not want to fail. Whatever that meant for them. In turn they did not want their students to fail. They would get cross with me when I would encourage their students to fail more! They simply didn’t like it or understand it!

I was the opposite (not initially however!). I failed fast. I failed often. My students did the same.

My classes were always the top classes with the best results. And do you know why?

Simply because we learnt to embrace failure.

Come out of your fake comfort zones and fail more. It doesn’t feel good in the moment. But your lives will be far more interesting and fulfilling with greater levels of failure.

And if your child ‘fails’, as in if your child is not offered a place at one of your dream schools? Don’t STOP. Keep moving. Keep going. Keep learning. There will be other chances to try again.

But guess what? If you STOP - most likely there won’t be.

Join my FREE Webinar - The 4+ Success Engine on Saturday January 31st at 3pm to learn the TRUTH that could change everything (you think) you know about the 4+ assessments.

As part of joining the FREE Webinar, you will also receive the opportunity to meet with me daily in your very own Private Live Q&A’s which will take place every day from WC 26/1/26.

Do not miss out! I rarely do these - and for FREE.

Learn how to FAIL for 4+ assessment success- PART 1

Most parents don’t achieve their 4+ dreams because they don’t want their child to ‘fail’.

Most parents don’t achieve their 4+ dreams because they have too much ego to admit to others that their child was ‘unsuccessful’.

Most of us do not like to fail.

I do not like to fail!

But…

I’ve learnt over the years to embrace failure. To become friends with failure. To sit with failure daily.

Failure simply means that something did not turn out as you expected it to.

Many parents lower their 4+ expectations because they want to avoid failure. And that’s up to them of course! No judgement at all. I didn’t send my son to one single 4+ assessment either (not because I was afraid of him failing however). Many parents do not want to feel the feelings that they will have to feel if their child ‘fails’.

One of my clients put it very well in a conversation we had last week.

She very wisely said this.

‘If she didn’t pass it is simply because the school is not right for her.’

So true. Their loss. 100%.

We are in charge of how we feel. If you go into this process knowing this, you are golden.

‘If you want success, you need to double your rate of failure’ - Thomas Watson.

The better you become at failure the better you’ll become at meeting your expectations.

And what an amazing life skill to teach your children.

Failing.

I guarantee they will be far more successful than the children who are taught to get things right all the time.

That’s what I was taught and guess what?

I only started being successful when I let go of that ridiculous notion.

I don’t look back. I look forwards. And I know that at the rate I fail, I will be incredibly successful. Just as my students who ‘fail’ every single day will be.

Book your FREE Assessment Consultation Discovery Call today