Assistive technology in KS2 SATS

[Mendeleev]

Hi,
Does anyone know if assistive technology such as a reading pen, Microsoft learning tools or an app such as office lens can be used in the KS2 Sats reading paper?
My child will get extra time and a reader in every other paper but obviously not in the reading paper.
Thanks.

This is the document that states the access arrangements available in KS2 SATS.

No, electronic aids can not be used to read the questions, passages or a pupil's answers on the reading paper.

Thanks! That exactly what I was looking for.

It’s a shame they won’t allow any assistive technology. Our education system is so short sighted and biased towards any other way of learning.

It's a reading paper. Aids or readers can be used for other papers and the general instructions on the reading papers, but what would be the point of assessing reading if you allowed the paper to be read to the pupil? Pupils with SEND are horrendously let down by our education system, but I'm not sure this is one of it's faults.

If pupils are working at pre-KS2 levels or they are unable to sit the tests even with access arrangements then they should be disapplied. See here.

Yes, but it’s assessing comprehension. If my child has assistance, he performs within age related expectations. He just can’t process the information from page to brain. He is therefore disadvantaged. Dyslexia is classed as a disability and therefore adjustments should be made.
In real life, people can use assistance to manage reading or any other kind of disability.
Yes, our stupid education testing system is not fit for purpose and it’s leading children like my son to feel stupid and at 10 years old, suicidal.

I am well aware that the SEND system isn't fit for purpose. I am also aware of what it is like having a child with MH problems. One of my DS' has complex MH problems, for whom there isn't a suitable school for, and one DS has ASD.

The tests are a test of reading AND comprehension. Reasonable adjustments are made for SATS, that's what access arrangements are. What isn't reasonable, and therefore not allowed, is arrangements that affect the integrity of the assessment or adjust the assessment objectives being tested. Just like a student wouldn't be allowed a practical assistant in DT or Art exams.

See here for the guidance for GCSEs, which explains reasonable adjustments in this sense.

Would the modified papers (perhaps photocopied on coloured paper) be any use OP?

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/710199/STA187968Mle_2018_ks2_English_reading_MLP_Reading_booklet.pdf

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/710197/STA187967Mle_2018_ks2_English_reading_MLP_Reading_answer_booklet.pdf

My son has Irlen’s so he will have coloured paper and enlarged font.

As I said, SATS aren’t fit for purpose and along with a number of primary school teachers, I think the current format should be scrapped.

I’m sorry to hear your son has MH issues. It’s absolutely heart breaking.

Of course art and dt are optional subjects so I would presume that if a student couldn’t cope with what the specification entails, they would be advised not to take it.

Yes, while Art and DT are optional subjects the principle is the same, you could replace the subjects with others. I only used those examples because they were the most obvious.

Science practicals can not be done for a pupil, they can have an assistant but only to act as e.g. a second hand, the assistant can not do any of the bits that are assessed even if the pupil's disability means they can't do it themselves.

For maths a child can not be read mathematical symbols, because that is what the paper is testing, and to read e.g. + as plus, add or in addition etc would alter the objectives being assessed.

Both of those are core subjects.

We could go round and round in circles so will agree to disagree. I goes back to that famous Einstein quote “test a goldfish to climb a tree...” Our education system is broken.

Science practicals are not assessed at GCSE in that way. I am a Science teacher.

Thanks for your previous advice though.

Agreeing to disagree is fine. The world would be a boring place if we were all the same. But I haven't said the education system isn't broken, I specifically said it lets SEND pupils down horrendously.

Science is one of the examples in the JCQ guidance. I am aware the new science GCSEs don't have assessed practicals, but they are part of A level and BTEC sciences.