Primrose Kitten
Preparing for SATs involves understanding the key dates and timelines to ensure your child is ready for the assessments. Here's an overview of the important milestones leading up to and following the SATs.
Key Dates
Initial Preparation: Schools begin to prepare Year 6 students for SATs by revising the Key Stage 2 curriculum and starting focused practice sessions.
Parent-Teacher Meetings: Early in the term, schools typically hold meetings to inform parents about SATs preparation, expectations, and how they can support their children at home.
Discuss SATs: Begin conversations with your child about SATs to build awareness and set expectations without causing anxiety.
Review Homework: Stay engaged with your child's homework and class activities to support their learning.
Early Practice: This should cover all the skills needed, such as spelling, long division, etc., but only spend a short time on each: intensive preparation is too much at this stage.
Use Resources: Utilise past papers, online resources, and revision guides to aid studying.
Mock SATs: Many schools conduct mock SATs in January or February. These practice tests help familiarise students with the test format and identify areas needing improvement.
Focused Revision: Teachers intensify revision sessions, often targeting specific areas where students need additional support.
Parent-Teacher Meetings: Additional meetings may be scheduled to discuss your child's progress and any concerns.
Encourage Practice: Support your child in taking mock exams seriously, as these will highlight strengths and areas for improvement.
Respond to Feedback: Look at the results of your child's test and see which areas they need to focus on: you can set these as repeat tests for them.
Create a Study Schedule: Develop a balanced study plan that includes regular breaks and time for relaxation.
Stay Positive: Encourage a positive mindset and reassure your child that effort and improvement are more important than perfection.
Final Preparation: The weeks leading up to the SATs involve intense revision, with teachers focusing on consolidating knowledge and boosting students' confidence.
SATs Week
Maintain Routine: Ensure your child has a consistent routine, plenty of sleep and a healthy diet.
Stay Calm: Keep stress levels low by maintaining a calm and supportive environment at home.
Offer Encouragement: Provide plenty of encouragement and reassurance each day. Some reflection on the test is fine, but do not dwell—a quick debrief after school is fine, but it is better to use that time to prepare for the next than worry about what has already happened.
SATs usually take place in mid-May. The exact dates can vary slightly each year, but the tests are typically scheduled as follows:
Monday: English Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling (GPS)
Tuesday: English Reading
Wednesday: Mathematics Paper 1 (Arithmetic) and Mathematics Paper 2 (Reasoning)
Thursday: Mathematics Paper 3 (Reasoning)
Post-SATs
Marking and Results: Once the SATs are completed, the papers are sent away for marking. Results are usually returned to schools in July.
Results Distribution: Schools will inform parents and students of the SATs results. This can be done through individual reports sent home or during end-of-year meetings.
Transition Preparation: Following the SATs, schools often focus on preparing students for the transition to secondary school, including visits to new schools and orientation activities.
Celebrate Effort: Regardless of the results, celebrate your child's effort and hard work throughout the year.
Plan Ahead: Begin preparations for secondary school, focusing on making the transition smooth and positive.
