Newton Prep is academically selective from Reception. The pitch and pace of our curriculum are ambitious, so we need to be sure that the children we offer places to will thrive and not struggle. The assessments are not designed to be intimidating but are rather a process by which we can make a judgement about their suitability for our school.
Nursery playdate
Children are invited to a Nursery playdate in the Autumn Term before the year of their entry so that we can assess whether we believe the children will flourish in our Nursery setting. Places are then offered in December, to start the following September.
Provided children are meeting all of the expected developmental milestones, Newton Prep siblings will be given priority when applying for places in Nursery. Our intention when offering places is to ensure an even balance of boys and girls and an even spread of autumn, spring and summer birthdays. Children will need functioning English; we accept that children who are growing up as bi- or even tri-lingual may have a language deficit at this stage in their lives and we make allowances for this in our assessment. Some priority will be given to local families who will be able to manage the journey to school easily.
We operate a waiting list so that families who do not receive an initial offer might receive one later in the year. Parents are asked to stay in close contact with the Head of Admissions if they still wish to be considered for a Nursery place. If a child does not gain a place in the Nursery, parents are welcome to transfer their application for a place in Reception; parents should let the Head of Admissions know if this is their wish. A child admitted to the Nursery may expect to transfer to Reception the following September unless it becomes clear that such a course is not in the child’s best interests. Our Nursery is not a ‘stand-alone’ school; in other words, entry to Nursery assumes the parents’ interest in their child continuing their education at Newton Prep.
Reception Assessment
The session will last approximately 45 minutes to an hour. It is a play-based session with some one-to-one time with a member of the Early Years teaching staff. We will also ask for references from any Nursery your child is currently attending. We have good relationships with many Nurseries, so their advice and guidance can be invaluable.
Assessment for places in Years 1 & 2
The children will come and spend a day at the school with current Newton Prep children. They will do reading, writing and maths assessments and teachers will watch them at play. Again, we will consider reports from current schools as this will help us to make our decision.
Assessment for places in Years 3 – 8
Children will be invited to an assessment day in February. They will do assessments in Maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. We also ask them to complete a written task. Reports from current schools are helpful.
