Three years before the 11+, life feels comfortably distant. But each year has its own job to do. Here's a plan that paces the work without dominating childhood.
Year 4: Foundations
Reading habit (20 minutes a day). Number-fact fluency (times tables to 12). Basic curiosity-led puzzles. No mock papers yet.
Year 5: Familiarisation
Introduce the four 11+ subjects through short, low-pressure questions. Practise vocabulary deliberately. Aim for 20 minutes a day. Practice now to gauge where your Year-5 child sits.
Year 6 (first half): Build pace
Start timed mini-sessions. One mock paper a fortnight. Identify weak topics and target them in 15-minute drills.
Year 6 (final months): Polish
One mock paper a week, with full review. Time-management practice. Reduce volume in the final ten days — confidence over cramming.