Are 4+ Entrance Exam Tutors Worth It in the UK?
Parents ask me this often, sometimes guiltily. Should we get a tutor for the 4+? My honest answer is:
usually no, sometimes yes, and the difference is in what you mean by tutor.
Here is how I think about it.
What "tutoring" usually means at four
When parents say “4+ tutor”, they usually mean one of three different things.
- Option 1: a private one to one tutor who comes to your home for an hour a week.
- Option 2: a small group readiness class of four to eight children, with a qualified early years
teacher. - Option 3: an online 4+ programme the parent works through with the child.
These are very different in cost, format and effectiveness. The first is rarely the right answer at four.
The second often is. The third can supplement but rarely replaces in-person experience.
Why one to one tutoring at four is usually wrong
I have worked with many private tutors over the years. The ones who are good with three and four
year olds are rare and expensive. Most tutors trained for older children apply the wrong techniques:
desk based work, written exercises, drilling.
Beyond technique, there is a deeper problem. The 4+ is fundamentally a small group format. Children
are assessed in groups of four to eight. Their group dynamics, sharing, listening to peers, taking turns,
are all observed. A child prepared one to one with an adult often struggles in the group setting
because they have not practised it.
Worse, a child who has had intensive one to one preparation often presents as rehearsed, anxious or
perfectionist. Schools see through this and consider it a flag.
Why small group readiness is usually right
A good 4+ readiness class does what one to one tutoring cannot. It mirrors the actual assessment
format. Eight children. Qualified teacher. Activities like those they will encounter. Group dynamics
observed and gently coached. Familiarity with separation from parent, settling with unfamiliar peers,
listening to a teacher who is not Mum or Dad.
For most children, weekly small group classes for two to three terms before assessment, paired with
two to three mock assessments in the run up, is the right model. It builds skills in the right format, in
the right setting, with the right peers.
What you should look for in a small group readiness class:
- Qualified teachers, not just enthusiastic graduates. Early years teaching is its own specialism.
- Group sizes capped at eight, ideally six. Larger groups dilute the individual attention.
- Format mirrors the real thing. Activities like those used in actual assessments.
- Written feedback to parents after key sessions, especially mocks.
- Limited duration. A child does not need year long preparation. Six to nine months of weekly
classes is plenty.
When private tutoring genuinely helps
There are situations where targeted one to one support is genuinely useful. Specifically:
- Significant fine motor delay. A child whose pencil grip is weak benefits from focused one to
one work with someone trained in fine motor development. - Speech and language delay. A child whose spoken language is significantly behind age
expectations should be working with a speech and language therapist, not a 4+ tutor. - Severe shyness or social anxiety. Sometimes a child needs gentle one to one experience before
they can cope with a group. - Specific learning needs. A child with identified additional needs may need specialist input,
again, often not best provided by a generalist 4+ tutor.
In these cases, the right answer is usually a specialist (occupational therapist, speech therapist,
educational psychologist) rather than a 4+ tutor. The exception is where a small group programme is
contraindicated for that specific child.
What to be wary of in 4+ tutoring
Some things that should make you cautious:
- Heavy desk based work. Workbooks, worksheets, pen and paper exercises. Wrong format for
four year olds. - Drilling answers to specific likely questions. Children present as rehearsed.
- Schools claiming guaranteed places. No tutor or programme can guarantee a 4+ offer. Schools
do not work that way. - Open ended cost commitments. Reputable programmes have clear durations. Avoid signing up
for indefinite weekly tutoring. - Tutors with no early years training. Early years is a specialism. Secondary school teachers,
however excellent, are not always well suited to this age group.
What good preparation costs
Approximate ranges, in current London market:
- Drop in mock assessment: £100 to £150 per sitting
- Term of small group readiness classes: £400 to £900 per term
- One to one private tutoring: £80 to £150 per hour
- Diagnostic assessment: £100 to £200
A typical effective preparation programme totals around £1,500 to £3,000 across two to three terms.
More than this rarely adds value. Less than this is workable for children whose underlying skills are
already strong.
Bright Little Stars families
What I tell parents
When parents ask me whether they should get a tutor, my response is usually: not in the way you are
imagining. What helps your child is small group readiness work, mock assessments, and great
parenting at home. Reading aloud, real conversation, fine motor activity, group experience,
independence.
Skip the £150 per hour one to one tutor for your three year old. That money is better spent on a term
of small group classes, two or three mocks, and a diagnostic assessment. The total is comparable, the
impact is bigger, and the format is right for the age.
If you would like an honest conversation about whether your child needs preparation and what would
help most, please book a free 15 minute call. We will tell you straight.
Frequently asked questions
Can I prepare my child entirely myself?
For most of the underlying skills, yes. The harder thing to replicate at home is the assessment format itself: the unfamiliar group, the unfamiliar teacher, the structured activities. This is where small group classes and mocks add real value.
When should I start tutoring or readiness classes?
Six to nine months before assessment is the sweet spot for most children. Earlier than that, the child is often too young for structured preparation to be meaningful.
Is online 4+ tutoring effective?
Limited. The 4+ is fundamentally an in-person, small group, observation based assessment. Online programmes can supplement (a few short videos, ideas for activities) but rarely replace in-person preparation.
What if my child has additional needs?
Talk to your nursery key worker, GP, or educational psychologist first. Specialist input matters more than generic 4+ tutoring for children with specific needs.
Will tutoring guarantee a place?
No tutor or programme can guarantee an offer. Schools assess each child individually against a developmental framework. Good preparation makes your child more comfortable and capable on the day. It does not buy a place.
