SATS Key stage 1

[Strix]

I'm just wondering how many people help their 6/7 year old prepare for Key Stage 1 SATs or if you just leave it to the school.

If you do prepare, what do you do?

I won't be preparing when DS is in Y2 next year.

Ds1's school has specifically told us not to try to prepare them, but just to continue the normal reading, spelling and maths homework they are doing anyway.

The school don't talk about tests or assessments to the children - they don't even know they'll be doing them.

I'd echo the previous posts - our school don't mention yr 2 SATs to the children at all. The style of papers used just gradually appears among other worksheets throughout the year. The children have no idea that they are being tested in any way.

You can't prepare - you don't know exactly when they are going to happen. And anyway,Ks1 sats are just part of ongoing teacher assessment - it would be counter productive to try to prepare specifically for them.

People have said that the kids don't know they're taking the SATs so how does it work? Are they given the SATs paper to do like any other piece of school work, and do they all do it at the same time? Or do the teachers give them bits at a time and just observe?

I teach year 2 and give the children the papers during the end of the spring term, beginning of the summer term as I think they are ready, for example my more able children will probably do some after half term. there's no need to prepare children as it's just a snapshot to see if my teacher assessments are accurate. They might know that the paper they are doing is a SATs paper as it has it written clearly on the front! but there's no pressure, no sitting in rows in silence with a timer, it will be a group working with me while they complete it.

I think children know they are doing SATS (they would have to be asleep not to) They are given a booklet that says KS1 English/Maths test on the front so that might be a bit of a clue, unless some schools regularly give them test booklets? Then they sit and work in silence in a room where things like word banks and number squares they would normally use have been removed or covered. The teacher won't help if you get stuck (because they aren't allowed to) so rather different from a normal lesson. The don't know they are going to do them (in advance) but I can't see how they don't know are doing them once faced with the booklet.

"a booklet that says KS1 English/Maths test on the front"

No, it doesn't, mrz.

""Then they sit and work in silence in a room"

No, they don't - I taught Y2 for 5 years, until recently, and I used to do mine as my guided group in Maths/Literacy. Perfectly legal and much more like an everyday classroom situation. I thought everyone did that nowadays?

"number squares they would normally use have been removed"

They are allowed number squares in the level 2 test.

None of my classes knew they were doing tests - apart from one child, whose Mum told him!

I've just been handed a pack of reading tests that say Key Stage 1 English test 2010 feenie aren't they the SATs?

That is brand new then, either for 2009 or 2010 - they used to say English/Maths booklet.

Are you sure? The swines!

the teacher's guide says
Administering the test fairly

therefore you must

-ensure that the children can work undisturbed, individually and without access to materials that could give them an unfair advantage. Changes to the usual classroom layout may be necessary.

• ensure that the children work on their own and that they do not discuss questions or copy answers
• ensure that wall displays etc in the classroom do not give the children unfair advantage

DO NOT

• prompt the children to confirm or change answers by pointing, frowning, smiling, head shaking or nodding, offering rubbers or asking leading questions.

there are also bits in there about providing paper to cover work - observing to ensure no copying and encouraging children to stay on task /check work ......

Just checked 2009 it says test too

It's my first year back in Y2 (after 12 year absence ) so I'm checking everything carefully ...

"ensure that the children can work undisturbed, individually and without access to materials that could give them an unfair advantage. Changes to the usual classroom layout may be necessary."

Yes, necessary if you administer them to a whole class at the same time. Which is why most people don't. Why freak 6 year olds out with tables in rows? And number squares are DEFINITELY allowed in the level 2 test. Check the Maths bit.

"ensure that the children work on their own and that they do not discuss questions or copy answers"

If you are sat with 6 children, they can't.

"DO NOT

• prompt the children to confirm or change answers by pointing, frowning, smiling, head shaking or nodding, offering rubbers or asking leading questions."

As if!!!!

I am still shocked they've seen fit to include the word test on the front. Why change it?

I haven't got the maths pack yet

I won't be mentioning the tests or saying they are important (because they aren't)

Earliest version I can find online - 2004

Better link

Thanks, Verity

Nice one, mrz, never thought you would for a second!

Last time I delivered the SATs was 1996 so I'm relearning

They are loads more relaxed now, mrz, it's much better.

I was in the middle of a 6 year stint delivering KS2 tests in 1997!

Just in case anyone may have the wrong impression on this thread, I know you can rely on Mrz to do the absolute best for her children aswell, make no mistake. She was an excellent Foundation teacher, and will make sure she is just as brilliant in y2

Thanks Feenie it has been a steep learning curve to get back up to speed.
I'm now wondering if the pack I've got (includes the teacher's guide) may have a different cover on the booklets? and the main packs of books may not include the word test do you know?
I'll check on Monday in school but it could be a possibility...

Let me know!