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Pre-Prep Advisory

Keystone’s advisory team are experienced in providing school-specific support in preparation for school selection and entry from nursery up to 16+. We maintain positive and close relationships with schools both in London and across the UK to make sure that any school recommendations are based off our own knowledge of what different schools can offer.

Pre-Prep schools are private schools for children aged three or four. Children who attend these schools tend to move on to a Prep School at the age of seven or eight, although many Pre-Prep Schools are attached to a Prep School and therefore do not require a change of school.

Pre-Prep selection can be challenging, particularly when families are trying to map out the Prep School/Primary School options that might follow. Amongst other things, parents need to consider whether they want to send their child(ren) to an all through Pre-Prep to Prep, or a standalone Pre-Prep. We consider this key factor alongside all other considerations – including preferred location, co-ed, or single sex environment, SEN, facilities and results and destinations.

At Keystone, our consultants work alongside early years specialist tutors to ensure that we are providing the right advice and preparation for every child we work with. We understand that competition for places can be high, particularly in London, and are on-hand to make the process of finding the right school as trouble-free as possible.

Find out more about our 7 Plus Tutors and 8 Plus Tutors.

Prep School Advisory

Our consultancy team has worked with hundreds of families over the years to help secure the best fit of Prep School for their children. The services we offer range from forward-planning well in advance of entry point, to last-minute Occasional Places. Our Schools Shortlisting service provides a sensible, evidence-led list of appropriate schools based off academic ability and the family’s specific requirements. Our full advisory service builds on this by managing the whole process and, where required, liaising with the school on a family’s behalf.

We have successfully placed children in Prep Schools both in London and outside of London – working with families to ensure that the school they choose provides their offspring with the best educational environment for them.

Find out more about our 11 Plus and 13 Plus Common Entrance tutors.

Prep School and Pre-Prep Consultancy – Key Services

Initial consultation (in person or online) - Our initial consultations enable us to understand the specific needs of your family, your objectives and key prep school criteria. An initial consultation with a school specialist will either act as a starting point for our Shortlisting or Full Schools Advisory service or will be offered through our Hourly Consultancy service.

Assessments – Keystone's assessments, alongside reviewing school feedback and reports, are a useful tool in determining the schools children should be aiming at. We can provide an initial academic assessment as a standalone service to gain a picture of your child’s academic profile, or as part of a more comprehensive consultancy package. Our custom-made assessments indicate a child’s level in relation to their peers, and identify the areas to work on so as to reach their academic goals.

Prep School Shortlisting Service - Following your initial consultations, your school specialist will assemble a shortlist of suitable prep schools that meet your requirements. This shortlist will outline recommended school options, will provide a background on each school and will give a clear sense of the next steps you need to take along with any other key information.

Full Prep School Advice – If you are looking for a specialist consultant to oversee your school search and subsequent applications then we can support this through our Full School Advisory service. Within this we will shortlist your prep school options, and following discussion and confirmation of your preferred schools, we will complete registrations, arrange school visits, and undertake any other necessary clerical work.

Ongoing support - For families looking to source the right prep school for their child, and then to look further ahead to senior schools, we can provide a clear educational timeline and strategy.

Ad Hoc Advice (Hourly Consultancy) – If you are looking for an unbiased perspective on schools, or for an experienced education consultant who can give some insight into a specific topic (such as day versus boarding; single sex versus co-ed), we are able to help on an hourly basis. Before a consultation we will collect relevant information, and if applicable, you will receive a summary email with further recommendations following the meeting.

To book a free initial Pre-Prep or Prep School consultation complete our online enquiry form.