Your child has been called for an assessment – hurrah! Karen Hollas, Nursery Manager at Child’s Play Nursery, shares an insider’s guide to navigating the process, with top tips for helping your child to shine. About the assessment. Schools commonly assess the readiness of prospective students for FS1 through play-based observation. For children who are applying to Kings’, the teaching staff will observe the child in their nursery environment, following their everyday routine, whether in outdoor play, circle time, snack time or focused activities. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they are testing your child’s knowledge of numbers, shapes and colours – although this is always an added bonus. They are seeking signs, however, that they have the necessary language and communication skills, confidence and independence to start ‘big’ school. Making the grade. The assessment criteria for FS1 can differ from school to school but the signs that Kings particularly look for include: the child's willingness to separate from his or her parent or carer (which demonstrates confidence); the child's desire to explore the range of resources available (independence); the child's ability to listen and respond (attention span and language skills); the child's willingness to interact with others (language skills); and the child's communication with others (confidence and language skills). Curious minds. One of the best ways to help prep your child for assessment is by encouraging curiosity. This simply means having the confidence to do things alone and have their own ideas in play. At Child’s Play Nursery, we conquer this through a balance of child-initiated activities like free play combined with adult-led activities such as arts and crafts, music, dance and sports. At home, you can encourage your child to get involved in activities such as cooking and helping around the house. When out in public, inspire them to take an interest in what's going on around them – when they spot a bird in the park, for instance, offer praise for pointing it out. Encourage your child to try new things but bear in mind you’ll sometimes need to demonstrate first to give them an incentive to go ahead. Time to listen. Don’t panic if your child seems to suffer from selective hearing at times – don’t they all? The FS1 assessment is essentially trying to gauge the child’s ability to listen to others and respond in their own time. To help them develop the necessary skills, make sure you listen to your child and demonstrate your interest in what they are saying with strong eye contact, appropriate body language and positive facial expressions. Ask open questions and make sure you give them enough time to respond. In turn, always encourage them to listen to others and use a calm voice when speaking. Above all, be upbeat and patient. Get social. The FS1 assessment looks for signs of being able to interact, which actually refers to seeking evidence that children have developed good social skills and are happy to talk to their friends, teachers and other people with confidence. We want children to have the confidence to ask “why?”, “how?” and “when?”. You may have to ask them lots of questions to develop their ability to do this. When out and about, involve children in conversations and inspire them to respect others. A simple “good morning” to your neighbours or teachers, for instance, sets a great example. Clear communication. Confirming that a child can communicate well in everyday life can be as simple as being able to ask for basic things they need, to talk about an activity they did at the weekend or what they remember from a holiday or special occasion. At home, you can help by encouraging them to ask for items they want or need instead of simply taking them. This will help develop speech and language and respect for other people’s belongings while encouraging sharing. If at first you don’t succeed… simply try again! If your child is not made an offer doesn’t first time around, please don’t fret, as it may be possible for us to arrange a follow-up. All children are unique, but issues that commonly need attention include a child’s ability to demonstrate appropriate language skills and display a sense of independence. If you child is struggling in these areas, encourage them by explaining they are a big boy or girl now, and that they will need to do more things for themselves. When it comes to developing their speech and language skills, it can help to ask open-ended questions that require answers other than a simple “yes” or “no” so they learn how to apply English into conversation, with more complex sentences rather than one-word answers. Ready, set, FS1. Once an offer has been made and a place has been accepted, there’s plenty you can do in advance to prepare them for the transition. The first is to talk to your child as much as possible about school, highlighting all the positives, and informing them they’ll be going there soon. When the big day arrives, talk to your child about school before you leave home and while on the journey. When you arrive, you will already have had a conversation about the routine of the day, which will help them walk in with confidence, carrying all their belongings on their own and feeling proud and excited about their day ahead.