4+ specialists
BLS
Official nursery partner
Schools we prepare for
Habs Boys'
Habs Girls'
NLCS
Highgate
UCS
Wetherby
Westminster Under
Holland House
Devonshire House
Merchant Taylors' Prep
St Helen's
Orley Farm
North Bridge House
Reddiford
4+ Assessment Preparation · Ages 3–4 · Barnet
Calm, playful preparation for
4+ school entry
We prepare young children for 4+ assessments at London’s most sought-after independent schools — gently, playfully, and in person in Barnet. Official preparation partner of Bright Little Stars nurseries.
- Saturday readiness classes — in-person, Barnet · small groups · specialist teachers
- Realistic mock 4+ assessments with detailed written feedback for parents
- 1:1 Diagnostic Assessment & personalised preparation plan
- Official preparation partner of Bright Little Stars nurseries
Why this matters
The one-and-done route to senior school
For many of London's top independent schools, 4+, 7+ and 11+ are different doors into the same building. The 4+ door opens earliest, and once your child walks through it, the others close behind them.
Age 4
One assessment, one offer
A 4+ offer at Habs, NLCS, UCS, Highgate, The Hall, Channing, South Hampstead, Merchant Taylors' Prep or St Helen's secures a Reception place that runs all the way through to age 18.
0
No further entrance exams
No 7+. No 11+. No 13+. The senior school journey is settled when your child is four, and they skip two or three further exam seasons entirely.
6 Yrs
A head start that compounds
By the time their 11+ peers are sitting October mocks in Year 6, your child has already been at their senior school for six years.
An honest note from Reena. At a small number of schools the through-school journey isn't fully automatic, and progress is reviewed at internal transition points. The vast majority of children who join at 4+ continue without difficulty, but it is worth asking each school about their progression policy. We can talk you through this on a discovery call.
Understanding the process
What is the 4+ assessment?
The 4+ entry process assesses children aged 3–4 across six key areas. Here is what every parent needs to understand.
When it happens
Most 4+ assessments take place between October and February for September entry the following year. Children are typically assessed at age 3 turning 4, or 4 turning 5. Registration deadlines can be 12–18 months before the assessment itself — always check individual school timelines well in advance.
What it looks like
Assessment days are designed to feel like a pleasant morning — activities, games, stories and group tasks. Children are not formally tested. But throughout the morning, trained assessors observe everything: how a child communicates, engages, settles, and interacts with peers and unfamiliar adults.
What schools look for
After 20+ years preparing children for 4+ entry, we distilled what assessors look for into a single named framework: CLIMB — Communication, Listening, Independence, Motor skills, Brightness. Schools are assessing potential, curiosity and confidence, not rote knowledge. A child who separates calmly and engages freely stands out from the very first moment. (See the next section for the full breakdown.)
When to start preparing
Reena's advice: start 6–12 months before assessment day, in a way that feels natural and playful. The goal is not to drill your child — it is to make the assessment environment feel familiar and safe, so they walk in calm and confident rather than anxious and overwhelmed.
Our teaching framework
What every session builds: the CLIMB framework
CLIMB is the five-pillar framework we developed over 20+ years of preparing children for entry to London's top independent schools. Every Saturday readiness class is designed to build these pillars. Every Diagnostic and Mock Assessment report scores your child against them.
C
Communication & Language
Can your child speak in full sentences, describe what they see, ask and answer questions, and engage in conversation with a new adult? This is the pillar assessors notice first, and the one that signals school-ready most clearly.
In session
Structured talk routines, descriptive vocabulary games, and one-to-one conversation with a teacher who is not their parent.
L
Listening & Following Instructions
Can your child hear a two-step instruction and carry it out without reminders? Can they sustain focus during a story or task for five to ten minutes? Listening is built quietly, in small moments, through games and story-time.
In session
Listening games, two- and three-step instruction tasks, and group story sessions calibrated to age-appropriate attention spans.
I
Communication & Language
Can your child separate from you calmly? Manage their coat, shoes and toilet routines without prompts? Take turns, share, and work alongside children they have just met? This is the pillar most parents under-prepare for, and the one assessors weight most heavily.
In session
Independent drop-off from the very first class, peer turn-taking, and shared group tasks with children who become familiar over weeks.
M
Motor Skills & Mark-Making
Can your child hold a pencil with reasonable control, draw a recognisable person, use scissors to follow a line, complete a puzzle, thread beads? Schools assess this directly, and it is built through deliberate practice.
In session
Pencil control work, cutting and threading tasks, construction with LEGO and Duplo, and structured drawing prompts.
B
Brightness
The curiosity, engagement and warmth that makes one child stand out in a room of equally capable peers. The child who asks 'what is that for?' before being invited to. Brightness cannot be drilled, only nurtured.
In session
Open-ended exploration tasks, teacher questioning that invites the child's own thinking, and warm, unhurried space to be themselves.
A common misconception: children need to count to 100, recite phonics, or read simple words. They do not. What assessors notice is whether your child can sit in a group, follow a two-step instruction, use full sentences, and engage warmly with an adult they have just met. School-readiness in the truest sense is not academic knowledge. It is a child who feels safe enough to separate, curious enough to explore, and confident enough to be themselves.
Our expertise
Schools we prepare children for
We have in-depth knowledge of what each school looks for and how their assessment day is structured. Our preparation is always school-specific, never generic.
Haberdashers' Boys'
Elstree · Boys · 4+ entry
Independent
Haberdashers' Girls'
Elstree · Girls · 4+ entry
Independent
NLCS
North London Collegiate · Girls
Independent
Highgate School
Highgate School
Independent
Holland House
Edgware · Co-ed · 4+
Independent
UCS
University College School · Boys
Independent
Wetherby School
Notting Hill · Boys · 4+
Independent
Westminster Under
Westminster · Boys · 4+
Independent
Devonshire House
Hampstead · Co-ed · 3+/4+
Independent
Merchant Taylors' Prep
Moor Park · Boys · 4+
Independent
St Helen's School
Northwood · Girls · 4+
Independent
Orley Farm
Harrow · Co-ed · 4+
Independent
North Bridge House
North London · Co-ed · 4+
Independent
Reddiford School
Pinner · Co-ed · 4+
Independent
South Hampstead High
Hampstead · Girls · 4+
Independent
Channing School
Highgate · Girls · 4+
Independent
The Hall School
Hampstead · Boys · 4+
Independent
FREE PARENT MASTERCLASS · 15 MINUTES
Everything you need to know about 4+ preparation
Reena covers the full journey — what schools actually assess, when to start, how to prepare at home without pressure, and the single most common mistake families make.
Watch the 2-minute preview first — no email required →
Full Masterclass
15 Minutes · Free Access
0:00
3:20
Play-based assessment vs “testing” — how schools really observe children
When to start and what to do at home — gently, without pressure
11:10
The CLIMB framework — five pillars every school assesses
13:30
Next steps — Readiness Classes, Mocks, or Diagnostic
Watch the free masterclass
Enter your details for instant access. We'll also send Reena's free 4+ preparation guide.
- What 4+ schools actually assess across the five CLIMB pillars
- Independent vs through-school routes — different timelines, different prep
- The most common mistake families make (and how to avoid it)
- Why our methods transfer to nursery and Reception — not just exams
150+
Parents have watched. Most say it was the clearest 4+ explanation they’d found.
Official partnership
Assessment Preparation Partner
for Bright Little Stars nurseries
Official partnership
Academic Success is the official 4+ preparation partner of Bright Little Stars nurseries
Bright Little Stars is one of London's most respected nursery groups with settings across Barnet, Harrow, Mill Hill, Stanmore, Stratford and Watford. Their bespoke curriculum builds exceptional early foundations — we take those foundations and prepare children specifically for independent school 4+ assessments in our in-person classes and mock sessions in Barnet.
We strongly recommend all BLS children complete at least three mock assessments before their real assessment day. Children who have done a mock arrive on the real day visibly calmer and more engaged.
Why BLS children do mocks
- BLS's curriculum builds exactly the foundations 4+ schools look for — our mocks channel that into assessment-day performance
- A mock removes the element of surprise — children who've done one are visibly calmer on the real day
- Parents receive a detailed written report identifying any gaps before the real assessment
- For non-BLS families: our Saturday readiness classes in Barnet are open to all children — same expert teaching, same high-quality preparation
4+ courses & services
Three ways we help your child
Ages 3–4 · Sat 9am · Barnet
4+ Readiness Classes
Saturday morning small group sessions in Barnet, built directly around the five CLIMB pillars. Warm, playful, age-appropriate teaching. Independent drop-off from the very first class.
- Every session builds the five CLIMB pillars (Communication, Listening, Independence, Motor skills, Brightness)
- Independent drop-off mirrors real assessment day from week one
- Max 6 children per group, taught by specialist early-years teachers
Ages 3–4 · In-person · Barnet
4+ Mock Assessments
Realistic in-person mock sessions mirroring the real 4+ experience, so children arrive on assessment day familiar, calm, and ready to shine. We recommend at least two, ideally three.
- Mirrors real 4+ assessment format in-person, with small group dynamics
- Written report scored across all five CLIMB pillars within 48 hours
- Every mock makes the next assessment day feel more familiar
Ages 3–4 · 1:1 · Private session
4+ Diagnostic & Plan
A personalised 1:1 assessment with a specialist, giving you a clear written report, a CLIMB readiness rating against your target schools, and a staged preparation roadmap. The ideal starting point.
- 45-minute 1:1 child assessment scored against all five CLIMB pillars
- Detailed written report and school-by-school readiness rating within 48 hours
- 15-minute parent debrief call with Reena to walk through findings
Free · 5 Minutes
Is your child ready for
4+ assessment?
Our free online readiness check takes 5 minutes. Answer 20 questions about your child and receive an instant, personalised readiness score across the five CLIMB pillars 4+ schools assess.
- 💬 C · Communication & language
- 🧩 I · Independence & social confidence
- ✨ B · Brightness (curiosity & engagement)
- 👂 L · Listening & instructions
- ✏️ M · Motor skills & mark-making
📋
4+ CLIMB Readiness Check
20 questions · instant result · no registration required
- 1 Answer 20 quick questions about your child
- 2 Receive an instant readiness score across the 5 CLIMB pillars
- 3 Get personalised recommendations for next steps
⏱ Takes approximately 5 minutes · completely free
For a full in-person assessment with a written report and parent debrief, see our 4+ Diagnostic Assessment (£175).
Free resource
Download Reena's free
4+ Assessment Guide
Everything London parents need to know about the 4+ assessment — what schools look for, when to start, and how to prepare at home without pressure. Written by Reena, based on 20+ years of experience.
Free Download
The Complete 4+ Assessment Guide
For London parents preparing for independent school entry
What schools look for
School-by-school breakdown
Home prep tips from Reena
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
- Everything parents ask us about 4+ preparation, classes and mock assessments.
When should I start preparing my child for a 4+ assessment?
Most assessments take place in January of the year your child starts Reception. We recommend starting our Saturday readiness classes from September or January when your child is 3. Gentle, age-appropriate preparation over several months is far more effective than a last-minute push.
What does a 4+ assessment actually involve?
Each school is different, but assessments typically last 1–3 hours and involve play-based activities, group tasks, individual conversations with a teacher, early literacy and numeracy activities, and observation of how your child interacts with others. Schools are assessing potential, curiosity and communication — not rote knowledge.
What is the 4+ Diagnostic Assessment and who is it for?
The Diagnostic is a private 45-minute 1:1 session with a specialist — the only time your child works one-to-one. It produces a detailed written report, a readiness rating against your target schools, and a staged preparation roadmap. It's the ideal starting point for any family beginning their 4+ journey, especially those new to the process or unsure which schools are realistic.
Are sessions available for children not at BLS nurseries?
Absolutely. Both our readiness classes and mock assessments are open to all families. Our Saturday classes in Barnet welcome any child aged 3–4 preparing for 4+ entry. Non-BLS children consistently achieve the same excellent results as BLS families.
My child is at Bright Little Stars. How many mocks do they need?
We recommend three mocks for BLS children — and we say this from experience, not as a sales line. The first mock gives your child their first taste of independent drop-off and the assessment format, and gives you a detailed CLIMB-pillar feedback report identifying any gaps. The second shows measurable progress after targeted preparation at home and at BLS. By the third, children arrive on the real assessment day visibly settled and confident — exactly the calm, engaged version of themselves that 4+ schools are looking for.
How many mock assessments should my child do?
We recommend at least two, ideally three. The first mock familiarises your child with the format and gives you a detailed feedback report. The second shows measurable progress after targeted preparation. By the third, most children arrive completely settled and confident. Each mock produces a fresh written report.
Do parents stay during readiness classes and mock assessments?
No — and that's deliberate. Children drop off independently, which is exactly what happens on real assessment day. One of the most important things 4+ schools observe is how a child separates from their parent. Our sessions build this confidence gradually, so your child does it calmly and naturally.
How do I book and what is the cancellation policy?
Book online via the forms on each page — or WhatsApp us directly. Payment is required in full at booking to secure your place. Cancellations made more than 7 days before receive a full refund. Cancellations within 7 days are non-refundable but may be transferred to an alternative date subject to availability.
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