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Original poster

SATS support thread for parents

271 replies

simpson · 08/05/2016 22:02

As yr6 SATS start tomorrow, I thought it might be a good idea to start a support thread for parents to say how their DC are finding them.

DS has had a very chilled day due to the lovely weather: loads of water fights and he walked to the corner shop with his younger sister for the first time (with no adult) and loads of ice cream etc.

He went to bed very chilled but am sure the nerves will kick in in the morning!!

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validusername · 11/05/2016 22:14

All DD can think about is going swimming and then for a picnic lunch on the beach on Friday! The school have hired a fun pool and are treating them to ice cream.

She says they have done their sats very early, around 9.15am and then have just been left to play for the rest of the day. Most of the parents I have spoken to have said their children haven't been bothered by them.

Original poster
simpson · 11/05/2016 22:18

All of DS's SATS have been done by 11.00.

All he can think about is the film (voted by the kids), pizza and ice cream they are having on Friday Grin

He is also really enjoying the breakfast club (sausage sarnies) and is gutted that tomorrow is the last one Hmm

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 11/05/2016 22:25

In DS's class they have been allowed to bring in DVDs to watch all this week once the test is over, although one child couldn't understand why the 15 rated DVD he brought in hasn't been allowed Hmm

HemanOrSheRa · 11/05/2016 22:26

Blimey! DS's school have opened up at 8.30 to give them a cereal bar and a juice drink and they've had to do revision once they've done the papers. They have had longer breaks. Although that are probably for the staff to rock gently in a corner somewhere.

On Friday they've got an activity day planned in school - archery, mountain biking, cooking and crafts. With an afternoon picnic. I hope the weather is good, else they will be stuffed!

littledrummergirl · 11/05/2016 22:26

Dd said She thinks she only got one or two wrong in the arithmatic paper and finished the reasoning twenty minutes early.
Hmm deceptively easy sounds worrying.

Titsywoo · 11/05/2016 22:28

DD thought they were fine today except for one slightly odd percentage one which I didn't understand myself when she told me (and I am very good at maths).

HemanOrSheRa · 11/05/2016 22:40

DS went through the percentage question that he found confusing and knew he'd got wrong Titsy. It did sound odd!

member · 12/05/2016 10:02

Dd very tired this morning, she is not outwardly moaning or upset and basically tells me nothing about the papers unless asked and I don't want to interrogate her so pretty clueless on the content of all.

In keeping with our school keeping SATs low key, the after-test day has continued pretty much like any normal day though they did do some maths practice after the SPaG paper. No extra breaks/PE etc. Tomorrow's concession is watching the original Star Wars film - watching films at school is not fun a/c to dd because they usually have to sit on the hall floor and it's too uncomfortable for that period of time.

Their class is doing the test before break (some schools doing it after to get more revision in I think) so should be nearly finished and the torrential rain of the last 48 hours has gone - hopefully a sign of things looking up!

member · 12/05/2016 10:03

Oh, except dd1 in Yr 10 has her gcse science papers next week Hmm

Janefromdowntheroad · 12/05/2016 12:46

Is anybody else thinking of getting the teacher a little thank you gift?

One of the other parents mentioned it to me but I hadn't thought of it!

ineedaholidaynow · 12/05/2016 13:36

I have got a box of chocolates to share between the staff and a thank you card. Didn't know whether to get a bottle of wine for DS's teacher. She has been fab, keeping the pressure to a minimum, buying snacks for them all week, letting them participate in recent sports events (unlike other local schools), letting them chill out after the tests rather than doing more revision.

TheDailyMailareabunchofcunts · 12/05/2016 14:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PeaceLoveGonk · 12/05/2016 14:42

Is anybody else thinking of getting the teacher a little thank you gift?

God no. They're just doing they're job. No need to infantilise them by giving them a treat.

Mandzi34 · 12/05/2016 14:47

Nope, no presents for the teacher here either.

TeenAndTween · 12/05/2016 14:56

I sent some home made biscuits into the staffroom earlier this week.

They may be 'just doing their job', but it is stressful for them too, and I very much appreciate the fact that at our school the teachers have not passed the stress to the children.

exLtEveDallas · 12/05/2016 14:58

Yes, I have got something for both DDs teacher and the HT that took care of her when she had her meltdown. It's only a token, but I appreciate all they did to try to keep the kids sane in amongst all this madness, and against the parents that were spewing abuse at them on social media for simply doing their jobs.

I have great respect for them, as I do for anyone that goes above and beyond. I wouldn't be a teacher for double my wage - it is a completely thankless task.

PeaceLoveGonk · 12/05/2016 15:01

They're professionals, dealing with their own stress and any problems their pupils have is part of their job; it's not going above and beyond!

ParadiseCity · 12/05/2016 15:23

I've had a really pressured week in my own job, and someone gave me a little gift yesterday - it really gave me a lift. I know my own boss and board of directors couldn't care less but the fact someone else showed their appreciation was just so lovely. So I don't think there is anything wrong with saying thank you to people!

rainbowstardrops · 12/05/2016 15:41

DD and I made choc chip cookies for her class and the teachers/TA ......... she's bloody come back home with them!
Apparently she thought she was supposed to give them out at the end of the day but didn't get a chance Confused

Errr no, you were supposed to give them out after the tests were all over to cheer everybody up!!!!

I bloody give up! Grin

member · 12/05/2016 15:43

It's over Grin Dd thought today's reasoning paper was easier than yesterday's & declared that overall, they weren't as bad as she'd thought.

The head has decided Yr6 can go in pyjamas/MUFTI to watch the film after appeals from the children.

I would rather save the gift giving till the end of year.

member · 12/05/2016 15:45

Cross post Rainbow, that's exactly the kind of thing my dd would do!

HemanOrSheRa · 12/05/2016 15:49

IT IS OVER! HUZZAH! DS has come home in a sweaty and exhausted state. He's had a bad day Confused. Nothing to do with SATs though - he made a pig of himself first thing and felt sick as the SATs breakfast club cereal bars and drinks had to be used up. One of his teeth fell out and a dinner lady was horrible to him Grin. The SATs paper was 'alright'. He's having a lie down as he wants to be alone Grin.

member · 12/05/2016 15:52

Heman Grin

exLtEveDallas · 12/05/2016 16:01

I still treasure each and every gift I have received over my career from people who thought I'd gone 'above and beyond'. At the time I certainly said "Just doing my job ma'am" but it doesn't mean that the thought didn't touch me.

After a particularly challenging week previously I took the opportunity to contact DDs teacher to express our appreciation of her. I know it made her happy, and I'd do it again if needed. A lot of things that teachers do and have to put up with certainly aren't 'part of the job'. I like to give credit where it's due.

Of course no-one needs to do the same. I'm doing it because I feel it is warranted, others will disagree and that is fine - I don't care what anyone else does Grin

DD had a better day today and said she completed all the paper, she's proud of herself for working out a particularly hard one and I'm going to remind her of that if she falters!. She is much happier and looks like a weight has been lifted.

The kids are all going to the cinema tomorrow (unbeknownst to them). They think they are going to another Primary school to 'talk about SATS' - I've just got to work out how to get sweets in her backpack without her noticing!

ineedaholidaynow · 12/05/2016 16:59

exLt glad your DD had a better day and hope she enjoys the cinema tomorrow Smile

I personally think DS's teacher has gone above and beyond, she has provided snacks every day this week for the class and some extra ones for a party this afternoon. And as exLt has said she has kept them sane amongst the madness of SATS (which is what I have written in the card!)

As a Governor I am probably slightly more aware of the horrendous stress teachers and HTs have been under the last few months with copious missives from on high. And for them the stress is not over yet. Still various assessments to be done.

DH sometimes gets given bottles of wine from clients after a particularly hard project. It is no different.