When Should Parents Begin 4+ Exam Prep?
If your child is around two and a half to three, and you are wondering when to start 4+ preparation, here is my honest answer. The school choices begin at two. The skills work begins at three. The formal preparation begins six to nine months before the assessment.
Here is what each phase looks like in practice.
Two and a half: school research and registration
This is when the actual 4+ journey begins, even though it feels too early. The most competitive central London preps cap their lists, and many close registration before your child turns three.
What to do at two and a half:
- Research schools. Visit, read prospectuses, talk to other parents. Build a list of six to ten schools spanning your top choices, sensible matches, and a couple of safety options.
- Register early. Many schools open lists from age two. A few open from birth. If a school you love has an early list, register on the day you can.
- Pay the registration fee. It is not refundable but it is the cost of being on the list. For schools you are seriously interested in, it is worth it.
- Tour schools with your child where possible. Some schools offer toddler taster sessions. These can be informative for you and useful for the school.
Three years old: building the foundations
By three, the underlying skills work begins. Not formal lessons. Embedded in good play, conversation, reading, outings.
What to focus on at three:
- Daily reading. Twenty minutes minimum, more if you can.
- Real conversation, not just instructions. Ask open questions, build vocabulary, encourage your child to describe what they see.
- Fine motor activities. Drawing, threading, building, scissors. The hand muscles take time to develop.
- Group experience. Nursery, playgroups, music classes, swimming. Practice in unfamiliar group settings is invaluable.
- Independence. Self care, problem solving, separation from parents. All build the confidence assessors look for.
If your child attends Bright Little Stars Nursery, this stage is largely covered by the brilliant work happening there. Through our partnership, we layer in 4+ specific preparation as the assessment year approaches.
Three and a half: focused preparation begins
About six to nine months before assessments, formal preparation begins. This looks nothing like tutoring an older child. It is structured small group play, designed to build the specific skills the assessment looks for, in a format that mirrors the assessment day itself.
What focused preparation includes:
- 4+ Readiness Classes. Small group sessions (eight maximum), weekly, run by qualified early years teachers. Activities mirror what schools assess.
- Diagnostic assessment. A one hour observed session that gives you and us a clear picture of your child’s strengths and gaps.
- Mock assessments. One to three sittings in the months before the real thing, with feedback to parents.
- At home practice. Specific activities aligned to the gaps identified in the diagnostic.
Four to six weeks before: final calibration
In the run up, the focus shifts to comfort and calibration. Your child should already have most of the underlying skills. What helps now is:
- A final mock assessment to confirm readiness and identify any last gaps
- Familiarity with schools. Drive past the building, talk about it warmly, mention the teachers by name where you know them.
- Consistent routines. Sleep, food, play. A four year old who is well slept and well fed performs significantly better than one who is not.
- Calm parenting. Children pick up parental anxiety. Your steadiness in the days before assessments matters more than any preparation activity.
What if you are starting late?
Sometimes parents come to me three or four months before assessment, having only just decided which schools to apply for. Is this too late?
Honestly, it depends on the child. If the underlying skills are already developing well (good language, focused listening, social ease, decent fine motor), three months of focused preparation is plenty. If the underlying skills have significant gaps, three months is tight and you may want to consider deferred entry or adjusting the school list.
A 4+ Diagnostic Assessment in your first session with us tells us, and you, exactly where you are starting from.
What if you are starting very early?
Some parents come to me when their child is two, asking about preparation. My honest answer: at two, the best preparation is great parenting and a good nursery. Read aloud daily, talk constantly, build with blocks, take them to the library.
Formal 4+ specific preparation before three is rarely useful. The skills the assessment tests are still developing too rapidly to drill. By three to three and a half, the picture stabilises and structured preparation can build on what is there.
The Bright Little Stars route
If your child is at Bright Little Stars Nursery, the timing question is largely handled for you. BLS works on the underlying foundations through their early years programme, and the partnership with us means you have a structured 4+ preparation pathway available from the autumn before assessment.
BLS families have priority access to our 4+ Readiness Classes and Mock Assessments. Speak to your BLS keyworker or contact us directly to plan your child’s 4+ preparation.
What I would do
If I were starting today with a two and a half year old aiming at the most competitive London preps, here is what I would plan:
- Today: research schools, register at six to eight schools, pay deposits where required.
- Two and a half to three: focus on great early years experience. Read, play, talk, build. No 4+ specific preparation yet.
- Three: nursery if not already, ideally Bright Little Stars or similar. Continue building all underlying skills daily.
- Three to three and a half: book a 4+ Diagnostic Assessment to identify any gaps.
- Three and a half: enrol in 4+ Readiness Classes through autumn term.
- Four months before assessment: book first mock assessment.
- Two months before: book second mock assessment, address feedback.
- Six weeks before: third mock assessment if helpful.
- Day of assessment: rested, fed, calm parents.
That is the realistic timeline. Earlier panic does not help. Later starts can still work, with honest assessment and focused effort.
Frequently asked questions
When is too early to start 4+ prep?
Before three. At two and a half, focus on school research and registration, not preparation activities. Formal preparation under three is rarely effective and can build resistance to learning.
When is too late?
Less than three months before assessment is tight. Two months or less is genuinely difficult unless the underlying skills are already strong. A diagnostic assessment can tell you whether the child is in good shape to make late preparation work.
Should I prepare for every school on my list?
The underlying skills are common across schools. Some schools have specific preferences (academic emphasis, social emphasis) which may shift focus slightly. We can advise on the specific schools on your list.
What about during the holidays?
Light, playful continuation. Reading, drawing, conversation, family outings. Avoid heavy formal preparation that risks burnout. Children at this age need play and rest.
Do BLS children need preparation?
BLS provides exceptional foundations. We add format familiarity, mock assessments and targeted skill polish as the assessment year approaches. Most BLS families find the combination effective and not over-burdening.
