A confident, calm start to your child’s school journey
The 4+ entrance assessment is often a child’s very first experience of being observed, assessed and separated from a parent. For many families, it can feel early, unfamiliar and overwhelming.
At Academic Success, we believe 4+ preparation should never be about pressure or pushing children ahead. Instead, it should focus on confidence, curiosity, listening skills and emotional readiness — the qualities schools are truly looking for.
Our 4+ programmes are designed to help children feel comfortable, capable and confident in a school-style setting, while giving parents clarity, reassurance and expert guidance throughout the process.
What is the 4+ entrance assessment?
The 4+ assessment is used by many selective independent schools to understand how ready a child is for formal learning.
Assessments are typically play-based and observation-led, but they are carefully designed to assess key early skills.
Schools are usually looking for evidence of:
- Listening and following instructions
- Clear communication and early language
- Fine motor control (pencil grip, mark-making)
- Early number and letter awareness
- Social confidence and independence
- Calmness and resilience in a new environment
Preparation at this age is not about worksheets or academic acceleration.
It’s about habits, confidence and familiarity with adult-led expectations.
Start with clarity: 4+ Mock Assessments
For many families, a mock assessment is the most helpful first step in the 4+ journey.
Our 4+ mock assessments are designed to give children calm, age-appropriate exposure to the type of environment and expectations they will experience during a real school entrance assessment.
They also give parents clear, expert insight into their child’s readiness without pressure or over-preparation.
Inside Our 4+ Mock Assessments
At 4+, group-based observation is widely recognised as best practice by leading independent schools.
Schools are not looking for children to perform in isolation. They want to understand how a child listens, interacts, transitions and responds within a small group setting.
For this reason, our mock assessments are delivered primarily in carefully structured group environments, supported by gentle individual interactions where appropriate.
How our mocks are structured
Skills we observe during the mock
- Listening and following instructions
- Expressive and receptive language
- Confidence and independence
- Fine motor control and pencil grip
- Early number and letter awareness
- Transitions between activities
- Emotional regulation and resilience
When do mock assessments run?
Our 4+ mock assessments run throughout the year.
This allows families to:
- Access support at different stages of development
- Build confidence gradually
- Prepare thoughtfully for final school entrance assessments, which typically take place towards the end of the calendar year
There is no “one-size-fits-all” timing at 4+. Mocks are offered in line with developmental readiness rather than a fixed exam window.
What parents receive after the mock
Clear, structured feedback, including:
- Key strengths and emerging skills
- Areas to gently nurture next
- Practical, age-appropriate guidance
- Whether readiness classes or further support may be beneficial
Parents consistently tell us this feedback provides clarity, reassurance and confidence at a very early stage.
Download our guide: “Inside Our 4+ Mock Assessments” to understand exactly how the process works.
Who are the 4+ mocks most suitable for?
Our mock assessments are ideal for families who:
Mock Assessment – Next Steps
Places for our 4+ mock assessments are limited and released in small groups throughout the year.
We will contact you when suitable dates become available and advise on the most appropriate timing for your child.
Free Parent Resource: Is My Child Ready for 4+?
One of the most common questions we hear from parents is:
“Is my child actually ready for 4+?”
To support families, we’ve created a free 4+ Readiness Checklist that helps you reflect on your child’s development across the key areas assessed by leading independent schools.
The checklist covers:
- Cognitive and early academic readiness
- Fine motor and physical skills
- Social and emotional development
- Independence, confidence and communication
This is not a test. It’s a gentle, reassuring guide to help you understand where your child is now and what skills can be nurtured next.
Download the free “Is My Child Ready for 4+?” checklist
4+ Readiness Classes (Barnet) – Small Groups, Expert-Led
For families who would benefit from ongoing support, we offer 4+ Readiness Classes in Barnet, designed to gently build confidence and familiarity over time.
To make the programme more flexible for families, classes are offered in two separate blocks: Spring and Summer, allowing parents to commit one term at a time.
Sessions remain playful, structured and age-appropriate, helping children feel comfortable in a school-style environment while gradually building key 4+ readiness skills.
Classes are led by experienced EYFS and KS1 teachers, supported by skilled early years practitioners, in a calm and nurturing setting.
Spring Term 2026 (4+ Readiness Programme)
Saturday mornings, 9:00–10:00am
- Saturday 7 March 2026
- Saturday 21 March 2026
- Saturday 11 April 2026
- Saturday 25 April 2026
Location: Barnet
Places: Very Limited
Summer Term 2026 (4+ Readiness Programme)
Saturday mornings, 9:00–10:00am
- Saturday 9 May 2026
- Saturday 23 May 2026
- Saturday 6 June 2026
- Saturday 20 June 2026
- Saturday 4 July 2026
Location: Barnet
Places: Very Limited
What your child (and you) will gain
Through a combination of expert-led group sessions and clear guidance for home, children develop confidence, readiness and familiarity at a pace that feels natural and supportive.
Your child will gain:
- Confidence working independently and in small groups, supported through carefully structured, play-based activities
- Improved listening, focus and attention, built through consistent routines and adult-led tasks
- Strong early literacy and numeracy foundations, introduced in age-appropriate, engaging ways
- Fine motor control and pre-writing skills, developed through practical, hands-on activities
- Familiarity with adult-led tasks and transitions, helping children feel secure in school-style environments
- Calm exposure to school expectations, reducing anxiety and building emotional readiness
Alongside the sessions, parents are equipped with simple, practical activities to use at home, linked directly to what is being covered in class.
Clear milestone guidance helps parents understand what is typically developing at this stage and how best to support next steps without pressure or over-preparation.
Sessions remain structured yet playful, allowing children to feel safe, confident and supported as key skills develop gradually over time.
Our teaching approach
Led by Reena Damani, Founder and Lead Educator at Academic Success, the programme draws on over 20 years of early years and assessment experience.
Our approach is:
- Nurturing, not pressured
- Structured, yet playful
- Focused on long-term confidence, not short-term performance
Parents receive regular guidance on how to support learning at home, creating a strong parent–child–teacher partnership.
Proven outcomes: 2025/26 4+ Cohort
⭐ 2025/26 Results
- 100% success rate at Haberdashers’ Boys’ and Girls’ Schools
- 100% success rate across all top school choices
These outcomes were achieved through a calm, confidence-building programme focused on readiness rather than pressure.
We are incredibly proud of the children from our 2025/26 Bright Little Stars Nursery 4+ cohort and deeply grateful to the parents who trusted us at such an important stage.
Every child in this cohort went on to secure their school place, supported through a programme centred on confidence, calm and age-appropriate preparation.
What Parents Said
We’ve seen a real boost in our child’s confidence and ability to focus.
The guidance helped us clearly understand how to support our child at home — incredibly helpful as first-time parents.
Reena’s tailored feedback gave us the right tools, and our child’s confidence and resilience grew week by week.
The sessions have been excellent. The progress was clear, and if we could continue, we absolutely would.
These reflections capture exactly what Academic Success aims to provide every family: clarity, reassurance and confident children, delivered through a calm, expert partnership with parents.
Is this programme right for my child?
Our 4+ programmes are suitable for children who:
- Are approaching the 4+ assessment stage
- Would benefit from increased confidence and focus
- Are developing early literacy and numeracy skills
- Need gentle exposure to school-style expectations
No prior preparation is required, children are supported at their individual level.
Register your interest
Places for our 4+ Readiness Programme in Barnet are limited to ensure high-quality, individual attention.
If you would like to:
- ● Register interest for the readiness classes
- ● Learn more about upcoming mock assessments
- ● Ask whether the programme is suitable for your child
Please contact us to discuss next steps. It’s not about being perfect, just being prepared.