From the desk of Mrs. Sonya Toet Principal Summerhill Nursery School
Summerhill Nursery has done it again!
The Grade 0 classes of Summerhill Nursery School have once again achieved outstanding results in their OPTIMA School Readiness Assessments. This year, the results have surpassed all other years,
producing an average score of 83%. This is the highest average score in ten years.
The OPTIMA School Readiness Assessment is a unique and specially designed booklet that is used to gauge the readiness of children for Grade One. Unlike other
assessments, which usually focuses on the children’s ability to memorise and recall information, the OPTIMA Assessment focuses on areas that are sometimes overlooked in a young child’s development. The assessment was designed by an Educational Psychologist, Dr. Susan Le Roux. The test was designed to be taken by children even if they have no prior school attendance, however, above average marks are often achieved by children who attend nursery school before Grade 0.
The OPTIMA Assessment focuses on whole child development by looking at the six key areas that lay a solid foundation for children. These areas are visual perception, auditory perception, spatial and number recognition, social and emotional development and fine and gross motor development.
Sonya Toet, the principal of Summerhill Nursery explained, “We have noticed in the past that children sometimes have developmental delays or a lack of exposure in one or more of these areas because they have no experience in the learning through play setting which Summerhill promotes strongly.” She further explained that there was significant benefit to starting school at a young age and allowing these skills to
develop in the correct environment. As Grade 0 is a compulsory year, children are well prepared for this by starting school early.
The Grade 0 students took on the challenge with confidence and excitement and breezed through the assessment. The staff are extremely proud of their budding geniuses who are all ready for Grade One.
