· 4+ Readiness Classes · Saturday 9am · Barnet
4+ mock assessments in Barnet — done right.
A realistic, gentle 4+ assessment experience in Barnet, mirroring the exact format used by London’s top independent schools. Detailed written feedback for every child. Confidence built with every sitting.
★★★★★ Trusted by 200+ North London families
- Max 8 per slot · Jan & Feb dates fill first
- Ages 3–4
- In person · Barnet
- 5+ EYFS/KS1 teachers · 1:2 ratio
- Written report within 48hrs
- All families welcome
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- Preparing children for 16 top London independents
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- Detailed written report within 48 hours
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- 5+ EYFS/KS1 teachers per mock · 1:2 child-teacher ratio
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- Led by Reena Damani — 4+ specialist
- Google rating from verified parents
What you really need to know
What 4+ schools are actually looking for
Most children don't struggle in 4+ assessments because they lack ability. They struggle because the environment feels completely unfamiliar. Over 20+ years we distilled what assessors look for into a single named framework: CLIMB. Our mock replicates the format, and our written report scores your child against all five pillars.
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C · Communication & Language
Can your child express themselves clearly? Speak in full sentences, describe what they see, ask and answer questions? This is the pillar assessors notice first, and the one that signals school-ready most clearly.
Storytelling
Group talk
Vocabulary
Description
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L · Listening & Following Instructions
Can your child hear a two-step instruction and carry it out without reminders? Sustain focus during a story or task for five to ten minutes? Listening is the pillar most often confused with comprehension.
Two-step instructions
Story focus
Active listening
Memory games
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I · Independence & Social Confidence
Can your child separate calmly, manage their coat and shoes, take turns, share, and work alongside peers they have just met? This is the pillar most parents under-prepare for, and the one assessors weight most heavily.
Drop-off
Turn-taking
Sharing
Self-regulation
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M · Motor Skills & Mark-Making
Pencil control, drawing a recognisable person, scissor work, threading, puzzles, building with LEGO or Duplo. Schools assess this directly. It is built through deliberate, age-appropriate practice.
Pencil control
Cutting
Drawing
Building
Threading
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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.
Curiosity
Engagement
Open-ended play
Imagination
Our mock covers all five CLIMB pillars in the same setting, with the same pacing, and with the same type of adults your child will meet on the real day. Every report you receive scores your child across all five.
- The most overlooked differentiator
Why independent
drop-off changes everything
Every one of our sessions — readiness classes and mock assessments — runs with parents waiting away from the room. This is not just policy. It is one of the most important forms of preparation we provide.
"Schools do not just assess what a child knows. They assess how a child is. And they start watching the moment a child steps through the door — without their parent."
— Reena Damani, Founder & 4+ Specialist
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Real assessment days are drop-off only
At every 4+ school in our list, parents wait in a separate area or leave entirely. A child who has never separated before may become distressed — and assessors observe this immediately. Our mock replicates this exactly, so your child practises what matters most.
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Confidence built in gradual stages
The first drop-off can be hard. The second is easier. By the third, children walk in confidently, say goodbye naturally, and settle within minutes. This progression is transformative — and it happens only through real practice, never through reassurance.
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Assessors are watching from the start
The assessment does not begin when activities start — it begins when your child walks through the door. How they say goodbye to a parent, how they approach a new adult, how they settle into a group of children they have never met. All of this is observed and noted.
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A skill that transfers everywhere
Children who learn to separate confidently carry that skill into Reception, into their first day at school, and beyond. Parents consistently tell us this is one of the most valuable outcomes — far beyond the mock itself.
What does a 4+ Mock
Assessment look like?
Watch Reena explain the day · 90 seconds
On the day, remember
- Arrive 5 minutes early — calm children settle better
- Keep your goodbye short and confident — children follow your lead
- Don't quiz your child afterwards — let them tell you in their own time
- Your written report will answer everything — it arrives within 48 hours
- Step by step
What happens on mock assessment day
Every detail is designed to mirror the real experience — so nothing on the actual day feels new or surprising.
2 - 3
Recommended sittings
48 hr
Written report turnaround
16
Schools we prepare for
8
Children max per slot
Why one is never enough
The 3-mock journey
Every sitting is different — because your child is different after each one. We strongly recommend at least two, ideally three, mock assessments before the real day.
First sitting
Familiarization
1
Your child experiences what assessment day actually feels like — the drop-off, the unfamiliar adults, the group activities. The report that follows tells you exactly where they are.
- Baseline across all six assessed areas
- Separation comfort level measured
- Specific areas to develop before next sitting
- Parent report delivered within 48 hours
Second sitting
Progress
2
Your child knows what to expect. Anxiety is replaced by familiarity. The report shows measurable progress and identifies any remaining gaps to address before the real day.
- Side-by-side comparison with Mock 1
- Confidence visibly improved — always
- Communication and social skills reassessed
- Final preparation recommendations
Third sitting
Ready to shine
3
By now, the format is completely familiar. Your child walks in calmly, separates confidently, and engages freely. Parents consistently describe the transformation between Mock 1 and Mock 3 as remarkable.
- Full readiness assessment across all areas
- Drop-off confidence: calm and independent
- Readiness summary for real assessment day
- Recommended final home preparation steps
- Places per slot are limited to 8 — dates fill quickly, especially Jan–Feb
Free download · PDF
See exactly what you receive after a 4+ mock
Get a real sample feedback report sent to your inbox. The same format your child's report will follow, with all names and personal details fictionalised.
- CLIMB pillar scoring across all 5 assessed areas
- Real assessor observations and language
- Recommended home activities by pillar
- Progress comparison example (Mock 2 vs Mock 1)
- What you receive
The feedback report
Within 48 hours of every mock, you receive a detailed written report. Not a generic tick-box sheet, a specific, actionable account of how your child performed against the five CLIMB pillars 4+ assessors look for.
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Scored against all five CLIMB pillars
Communication, Listening, Independence, Motor skills and Brightness. Each pillar rated and explained in plain English, not jargon. The same framework that anchors every Saturday readiness class.
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Specific teacher observations
Written by the assessor who worked with your child on the day. What did they notice? What stood out, positively, and where development is needed?
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Recommended home activities
Targeted, practical suggestions for what to do at home before the next mock or the real assessment. No worksheets, activities that feel like play, mapped directly to the pillars your child needs to strengthen.
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Progress comparison (Mock 2 onwards)
From the second mock, your report includes a side-by-side comparison across all five CLIMB pillars with the previous sitting, so you can see exactly how far your child has come.
Our expertise
Schools we prepare children for
Our mock assessments replicate the format, pacing and assessed areas of each school's real 4+ process. We know what every school looks for — because we've prepared hundreds of children for them.
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
Don't see your school? Get in touch — we may still be able to help.
What parents say
Real results. Real families.
4+ · Haberdashers' Boys'
"The mock assessment was the single best thing we did to prepare. Our son arrived at the real Habs assessment knowing exactly what to expect. He was calm, engaged, and they could tell. He got in."
SP
Sarah P.
BLS Stanmore · 4+ cohort 2025
4+ · NLCS
"The written feedback was exceptional — specific, detailed and genuinely useful. We knew exactly what to work on between Mock 1 and Mock 2. After the second sitting, Reena told us she was ready. She was right."
AM
Aisha M.
Edgware · 4+ cohort 2025
4+ · Highgate
"We did three mocks. The transformation between the first and third was remarkable — completely different child walking through the door. The goodbye on Mock 3 took 10 seconds. On Mock 1 it was a very different story."
RK
Raj & Priya K.
Finchley · 4+ cohort 2024
Questions answered
Frequently asked questions
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 baseline report. The second shows measurable progress and identifies remaining gaps. By the third, most children arrive completely settled and confident. Each mock produces a fresh written report — so you always know exactly where your child is.
My child has never been to a nursery. Can they still do a mock?
Absolutely. In fact, this makes the mock even more important. Children who haven't experienced drop-off with an unfamiliar adult need more practice, not less. We are experienced at welcoming and settling children who are new to independent environments — our team knows exactly how to make a child feel safe so they can show their best.
What does the written feedback report cover?
Every report covers all six assessed areas: communication & language, early numeracy, early literacy, social skills, creative & practical ability, and independence. Each area is scored and described in plain, specific language. The report also includes teacher observations from the day, recommended home preparation activities, and — from Mock 2 onwards — a comparison with the previous sitting.
What age should my child be?
Our 4+ mock assessments are designed for children aged 3–4 preparing for September Reception entry at independent schools. If your child will sit their real assessment between October and February, they will typically be in this age range. If you're unsure, just get in touch — we're happy to advise on timing and readiness.
Do parents stay during the mock assessment?
No — and that's deliberate. Parents wait away from the room, exactly as 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 and naturally, so your child does it calmly. This is one of the most valuable forms of preparation we provide.
Are your mocks open to non-BLS families?
Absolutely. Our mock assessments are open to all families — BLS and non-BLS alike. Non-BLS children consistently achieve the same excellent outcomes. We welcome any child aged 3–4 preparing for 4+ entry at London's independent schools.
How far in advance should we book?
As early as possible. Mock dates from January through March fill quickly — many families book for multiple sittings at once to secure their preferred dates. If your child's real assessments are in January or February, we recommend completing at least one mock in October or November, and a second in December or early January.
Should we also do the Saturday readiness classes?
They work brilliantly together. Readiness classes (Saturday mornings in Barnet, max 6 children) build skills progressively week by week. Mock assessments test those skills under realistic assessment conditions. Many families do both — using classes to build foundations and mocks to test and benchmark readiness. Ask us about our combined booking options.
Book your mock
Available dates — 2026
Each session runs as two time slots. Choose the one that suits you. In-person, Barnet. Max 8 per slot.
1 Mock Assessment
£ 120
£150
per mock · introductory rate
- One mock assessment
- One detailed written report (48 hrs)
- Full CLIMB pillar scoring
- Recommended next steps
2 Mock Pack
£ 220
£240
£110 per mock
✦ Save £20 vs booking singly
- Two mock assessments
- Two detailed written reports
- Progress comparison on second report
- We confirm both dates with you
Most popular · best value
3 Mock Pack
£ 300
£360
£100 per mock
✦ Save £60 vs booking singly
- Three mock assessments
- Three detailed written reports
- Full progress tracking across all five CLIMB pillars
- The pack we recommend for full preparation
After booking, Reena confirms your specific date and time slot from the available 2026 sittings below. Each mock comes with a written feedback report within 48 hours. The more mocks you book, the more your child saves and the more confident they arrive on assessment day.
- Earliest date
3 July 2026
Thursday
- Slot A · 9:00–10:15am
- Slot B · 10:30–11:45am
12 September 2026
Saturday
- Slot A · 9:00–10:15am
- Slot B · 10:30–11:45am
3 October 2026
Saturday
- Slot A · 9:00–10:15am
- Slot B · 10:30–11:45am
- Half-term
31 October 2026
Saturday · Half-term
- Slot A · 9:00–10:15am
- Slot B · 10:30–11:45am
28 November 2026
Saturday
- Slot A · 9:00–10:15am
- Slot B · 10:30–11:45am
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More dates coming
2027 entry dates will be added shortly. Join the waitlist to be notified first — slots go fast.
- Max 8 per slot · January and February dates fill first