KS2 Tests - support

[Minx179]

I attended a parents evening with a friend last night. Her DD (YR6) loses concentration frequently in class, since Christmas she has been getting additional help with her reading. Probably focusing on comprehension rather than decoding/reading.

The teacher told my friend that they have applied for extra time. Her dd doesn't need a reader.

During the actual tests the school have said they will place a member of staff near her in order to prompt her eg. If she gets distracted they will try to get her back on task, by pointing at the question that needs doing, reading out the question for her, or telling her to go onto the next question. In Maths the TA will read out the questions for her if necessary. Are the school able to do this?

In case it helps:
On recent mocks her DS scored a level 3 for reading
level 3 for writing
spelling: 3/20 = 1 pt
Handwriting: 2 pts

Maths: an N (9pts) teacher assessment end of KS1 2

The teacher stated the results are representative of her ability

From the KS2 ARA - which is a statutory document:

Schools may use prompters in all tests to help children with severe attention problems. Prompters should only be used to draw a child?s attention back to the task. They should not advise the child on which questions to do, when to move on to the next question or the order in which to attempt questions

The TA can read the questions for her in Maths - if that is normal classroom practice for her.

Thanks Feenie, much appreciated

Feenie - I'd like to say thanks again for this link.

The parents have just found out that she requires significant support with this aspect of maths in class
They should not advise the child on which questions to do, when to move on to the next question or the order in which to attempt questions

The child's school have decided 'to take the hit' [on SATS results] and not put her in for the Maths test. She is deemed unlikely to score a 3 in maths.

I think that's the right decision - the tests are only designed to test levels 3-5, so if she isn't working at level 3 then they aren't suitable.

Glad I could help

TA's can read any question to any child, bar the reading test.

We are also allowed to read back their written work on the writing tests. We actively encourage children to ask for questions to be read if they are struggling, as it can help them to calm down and enable them to answer the question.

What we can't do is explain what questions mean, or cahnge the wording in any way.

TA's can read any question to any child, bar the reading test.

Only if that's normal classroom practice, Hooker.

Feenie, that's the way we've always handled Y6 sats. We were moderated last year and it is perfectly acceptable practice. That's why we have 4 TAs in the room.

Read the ARA 2012 - that's a statutory document which all schools have to adhere to:

Page 23:

Use of a reader: Who is it for? If a child already has reading support in the classroom.

Whilst I would agree that the wording is much tighter this year, 'we've always done it like that' will not go down well!

Have just read it Feenie. Will flag it to our Head as discussions are still saying to run as previous years, and that is not as it states AT ALL!!

Indeed!

I have 4 on IEPs for attention who will qualify for a prompter, and 3 as EAL who will qualify for a reader... How do I put myself in 7 different rooms?? :o

Oh to be a scribe again, that was so much easier...

Hooker, it's not the reading of the question the child has problems with.

As I understand it from what the teachers have said the child's first response is often 'I can't do it' whether it is something she can or can't do. They have to put significant emotional support in place for her to attempt the questions.

If she comes across something she cannot do, she does not have the skills to move onto the next question.

The school recently gave the class a KS1 test she managed to score a 2a (with support), however the teacher also said that if they gave her a KS2 test, she would be unlikely to score so highly as the harder questions would probably come earlier in the paper rather than later.

That's not right - the questions on the Maths paper are in order of ascending difficulty. But starting at level 3 - so not at all suitable for this child.

Minx, we have, as standard read questions to any child who was stuck to either confirm to themselves they can't do it so they move on or hopefully spark something that then helps them attempt it. It's not that they can't read them themselves, it is more emotional support and knowing they aren't on their own.

I worked with a child who would sit at a question and not move on. I worked as standard practise as a scribe from the beginning of Y5, so by Y6 SATs he was able to move on, knowing he could go back later. Having a moderator stood behind him in the tests threw all of the work we had put in and I had to ask her to move away.

It sounds as though she needs a prompt, which is allowable in the rules. Her school will know how to do this for her.