To feel these parent are not understanding ( WhatsApp and Sats )

The best thing about having a child in y6 is knowing that the class WhatsApp group only has a few weeks left to run 🙌🏼

But the fact schools sometimes wait forever is not a fault of the kids who managed to get additional support, so the parents are barking up the wrong tree. So it is utterlu unfair to be pissed off Henry gets a scribe, they should be bitching about LA and NHS trust that is lagging behind with diagnosis.

Have these people never sat exams of any kind themselves? I’m nearly 40 and remember kids getting extra time, having someone write for them, having someone read the question for them etc. I assumed that they needed help but didn’t pry because it was none of my fucking business. Both of my older children are ND and my eldest has a separate room for exams with only a handful of people in it opposed to the big hall. My son will need some kind of assistance when his time comes- assuming he’s even considered able to do any exams.

Honestly, the attitude of these parents in your WhatsApp group makes my toes curl with embarrassment for their stupidity. Hopefully the kids will grow up to be less thick and ignorant than the parents.

SATS are to test that the teachers are teaching to a standardised level not to test the ability of the children- am I wrong?

As someone in an extremely overtested
academic year (SATS,CATS, Tripple exam 11+, GCSEs,AS and A-Levels) I can confirm that someone’s exams and even their degrees are not necessarily an indication of a child’s academic ability, just a test of their ability to pass the tests. Not one person has ever asked about what my exams were at school. No one has even asked about my degree.

@PinkCentipede
Good idea, but I doubt that the parents in the WhatsApp group have the mental capacity to understand words of more than one syllable 😉

Our experience was that the state secondary school were very keen to make sure that the formal JCQ assessment was completed to allow the extra time for GCSEs.

If the private schools do it to get the best chances of high grades then so will the state schools.

I also have a child who needs adjustments and potentially extra time and I would say something. Who cares? It’s a WhatsApp group with parents you’re probably never going to see again once they hit secondary school. Call out the ignorance.

The problem is that access arrangements are pretty bad and so many kids don’t get what they need. Some kids do. Then at high pressure times many people can feel disgruntled over these arrangements

@bigvig

In terms of the process of assessing need, it has been bloody hard work. It’s completely draining. Yes I have to push, and yes I bet DD’s school see me as that ‘pushy, affluent’ parent. But the school rejected DD’s placement and I had a massive fight to get her in. My experience of school with an EHCP so far has not been pleasant at all, and I do think - my school in particular - need to stop having such a negative view of children with EHCP’s and their ‘pushy’ parents.

Ignore. To be honest I slightly had that opinion dispite being dyslexic and my mum trying to get me assessed. I didn't get assessed until uni. Its possibly different because I passed school exams fine, but learnt to get very statigic with exam technique.

The problem I observe in education is not that some kids have special assessment conditions; it's that so many who need them don't have them. My son has special conditions because I pushed for it on his behalf.

The learning support department staff are great, but they are underfunded and overworked. There are far more children who need help than get it, and kids fall through the cracks. My son benefits from having me in his corner, and I wish that wasn't the case because of the many kids whose parents either don't realise or aren't able to advocate for them.

@Rabhhhdthis thread is what you were concerned about.

My child has extra time and a poster on another thread referred to them as ‘dumb kids’. My child is desperate to get expected. Left to do it without time pressure they’d be a high expected but even with extra time im
worried they won’t get expected ☹️

@Bringmecookies25 I received access arrangements (extra time) in my formal exams at secondary school some 30 years ago.

Obviously WhatsApp wasn't around then so no twat parents gieing it laldy on such groups about me. I do recall other students filtering past me as they left the exam hall making comments about the sexual favours (!) I must have been giving teachers for that arrangement to be in place. And then one invigilator tried to force me to finish early with the immortal words "you don't look like you need the extra time anyway."

In those days, people with access arrangements had to sit in the same hall as everyone else. But having spoken to a much younger relatively more recently, her experience of access arrangements was that she was in a separate room to the main body of students entirely.

On the face of it, that seems more sensible to me. It means that disabled s students are supported away from the prying, shit-stirring eyes of the types who are inclined to see injustice everywhere. Also means the disabled students who get extra time won't be disturbed or distracted by everyone else exiting the exam hall before them.

I understand some children need rest breaks smaller rooms etc. However I also see as a teacher that's it's often the children of more affluent /pushy patents that make sure their children get what they can in terms of access arrangements. I don't blame them for this i blame the process for assessing need. Look for example at the difference between private and state schools. It's not that hard to get extra time etc if you know what to say and do in the 'assessment'..

You should have said that it was a leveller not an advantage Take the example of finishing a jigsaw, everyone who.is able to do it can, just sone need longer. Those that are capable if finishing it in the tine wouldn't benefit from more time because they'd already done it. Those who are unable to do it are still unable to do it even with extra time.

@Bringmecookies25

I made a New Year’s resolution to stand up against bullshit - particularly over my DD’s EHCP. TBH I would stand up to this and completely shut this down. It’s up to you.

It’s so bloody emotionally draining, but I feel better when I fight these days, rather than letting this go.

I would quote the Equality Act to them:

“The Equality Act 2010 mandates that awarding bodies make reasonable adjustments to assessments for disabled students, ensuring they have equal access and opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. These adjustments, known as Exam Access Arrangements, are tailored to individual needs and circumstances, preventing students from being unfairly disadvantaged due to their disability.

“Inclusion in exams refers to making assessments accessible and equitable for all students, regardless of their individual needs or learning styles. This can involve a range of strategies, from providing accommodations for students with disabilities to designing assessments that are universally accessible. The goal is to create a fair and inclusive environment where all students can demonstrate their knowledge and skills without being disadvantaged by the assessment process.”

I’d point out that the Equality Act is supported by international law, so if they disagree with it - they will have to fight their ‘cause’ on a global level as exam adjustments do not just happen in the UK.

Obviously they are wrong, but I don't 100% blame them.

Our education system still hangs on to the idea of competitive testing. It is still structurally present throughout our education, so its hard to blame parents for viewing the whole thing as a competition where any advantage given to one child is an advantage taken form another. A zero sum game etc.

Education research + theory has moved past this, and the ideas around the purpose of standardized testing have shifted far from 'competition'. We now aim to prepare children for future life and to contribute to society - which means preparing them for a world which will usually accommodate their individual needs. This is another backwards thing that you will hear "In the real world, no one will give you special treatment!" Yes, in a lot of situations, they will. And not just because it is required, but because it makes business sense. Why would you place fixed restrictions that limit the talent and ability of your workforce by not ensuring that each can perform to their best? More and more companies are realizing this, thankfully.

Generally life, work, business etc. All center around you being able to find a way to show your best ability. Not whether you can do exactly the same task better or worse than someone else, under exactly identical conditions.

But our education system still holds on to these outdated views, they are parroted by politicians who have no education in education, newspapers, journalists etc. and then filter down to parents who don't know better.

So they are wrong, but I can't 100% blame them, because they are just trying to play a system, and the system is still somewhat wrong.

Share this quote with them:

“Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same. Fairness means everyone gets what they need.” (Rick Riordan)

The other children probably understand this better than their parents.

Tell them that it's also not fair that disabled people get parking slots dedicated. Wtf is that all about 🙄

Ask them if they think people who use wheelchairs are just lazy?

It’s not really the fault of schools that waiting lists for CAMHs and educational psychologists are so long though. Fortunately schools don’t need an official diagnosis in order to add children to their SEN register or offer accommodations for assessments. In my experience primary schools are so desperate to get good SATs scores in order to remain popular with parents and therefore fully subscribed and funded, that they’ll be generous with accommodations for them and certainly won’t ignore the needs of any child they think could benefit.

Those posting might find their own kids have SEN at secondary school, as many, especially girls, have no difficulty until then. Though probably those parents won't acknowledge it or get help if they think SEN are made up. Some might though and your explanations may have been helpful.

No idea of access arrangements in place for any of DSs class this week, not been shared or discussed. We are keeping it low key with the SATs, they don't matter and not important. The teacher though has been telling them these are the most important exams of their lives 🙄.

DS will get greater depth for all except maths, always been his hardest subject.

I’d add this photograph to the WhatsApp group and just put under -

the stacking boxes are the access arrangements in the sats, is this what you want to take away from those kids that need them?