SATS ?

[iggly2]

Hi my son is year 2 and the school says they give all the children a test in this year. Are these likely to be the SATS I have heard mentioned on this board? I can not really see him sitting still/concentrating for a test IYKWIM. How long are they meant to take. What can I do to help him (I would prefer not to mention anything to him or prepare him for them if that will worry him).

Yes, they will be KS1 SATs. They don't have a time limit but will be similar length to work they are used to doing in class. Most schools don't make a big deal of them (and tell parents not to worry their children).

There is nothing you can do to particularly help him prepare- normal stuff like reading at home, board games, cooking etc etc is great.

Also worth noting that although the school has to give you a NC level at the end of Y2, this is not just the test mark - but is mainly based on teacher assessment over the year.

If the school is doing its job properly there is no need for your Ds to know anything about these ones. My Dcs now Y5 and Y3 are still completely unaware that they sat SATs.

Thanks .

Hi iggly2

Agree with all posted above. There is really very little preparation you should be doing at home.

However - and this is just a general thing anyway that is useful for Y2 - BBC Bitesize KS1 is useful for all sorts of aspects of the curriculum and offers good practice which is tailored to children ages 5/6: www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/

I've found this useful in determining if my DDs (Y2 & Y4) have any gaps in understanding/ knowledge. If they struggle with these games - then these are weak areas where either they don't understand the concept, haven't been taught it or can do it but only slowly, so need practice.

Sorry that should be tailored ages 6/7 (Y2 ability).

Isn't your DS G&t iggly2? I'm sure he'll be fine.

Yes most schools try to not make a big deal of ks1 SATS. They don't have definite time limits so allow for some flexibility. The tests actually only contribute towards the teachers evidence to give a teacher assessed level at the end of the term. Hths!

Hi iggly2

Look ignore Iamnotinterested

These national tests sound very serious - but most Y2 kids rarely even realise they are being tested. And they won't be made to sit at a desk for hours on end. The tests will be given out in small increments across quite a long period of time.

I just posted someone else who was anxious on another feed - but thougt I'd say it here too - we didnt' hear for DD1 (now Y4) about her KS1 Y2 sats until the end of year report card. So relax. Keep in touch with what learning is going on - but also enjoy this time. They're only 6/7 this once!

Actually, PastSellByDate, my comment was genuine, as we both regularly post on the G&T board.

seeline: "If the school is doing its job properly there is no need for your Ds to know anything about these ones. My Dcs now Y5 and Y3 are still completely unaware that they sat SATs."

That's great I hope his school handle it like that! I won't be doing any preparation. I must admit I hated tests at school.

Ds's(also yr2) school don't tell them when they are sitting the SATs.

Sorry Iamnotmintrested

your post read a bit odd - I didn't understand that you know iggly2.

Glad you weren't being cynical.

When my 2 did their Y2 SATs, they were made a game of, and the kids enjoyed doing them, and they didnt even know they were being assessed. They had no preperation, and this is how it should be. Any school who makes a Big Deal out of these early SATs is doing it wrong.
How I wish it was this way with the upcoming y6 SATs!!