Year 2 SATs Standard Assessment Tasks How they are administered SATs pre- 2016 to now Expectations for the children to reach the ‘national standard’ What we are doing in school How you can help support your child

What are SATs in KS1? The SATs tests are timetabled in for May 2016. 2 reading papers (Paper 1: 30 minutes (recommended) which every child has to complete. Paper 2: 40 minutes (recommended) which most children are expected to compete) 2 maths papers (paper 1: 20 minutes (recommended)– arithmetic, paper 2: 35 minutes (recommended) – problem solving) 2 SPaG Papers (1 spelling test: 15 minutes (recommended)-20 spellings from year 2 spelling list, 1 Grammar and punctuation test: 20 minutes (recommended) ) Writing task (teacher assessment – moderated by the Local Authority)

How do we administer the tests in Year 2 at St. James? SATs have to take place under exam conditions. The amount of time we are able to give children to complete the tests do not need to be strictly adhered too. They are a guideline from the Government. If we feel as though your child needs extra support we take them out in smaller groups for the tests and/ or give them extra time.

How have SATs changed this year? The assessment framework has changed along with the new curriculum. The bar has been raised by the government, children are expected to achieve much more at a much younger age.

How have SATs changed this year? Previous to this year, schools selected which SATs paper (from a choice of 2) they would use to inform the teacher assessment of a pupil’s level. Teacher assessment was then moderated by the Local Authority. From this year the government sends assessments to the school. These papers cannot be opened until the time of the test and follow broadly the same structure of the year 6 SATs. The writing assessment will be set by the school and a teacher assessment (taking in to account a child’s whole portfolio of work) will be used to determine the end of year grading.

How have SATs changed this year? The assessments are challenging. Schools have only one set of ‘sample papers’ to use to familiarise themselves (and your children) with this new assessment framework. We use these papers in school to benchmark, identify gaps in learning and analyse progress. With this in mind, we must ask you not to download and use the sample papers as a resource at home with your children. We are providing resources for home practice and will follow up homework in school.

What is the national expectation for your child? Writing (& SPaG)

What is the national expectation for your child? Writing (& SPaG)

What is the national expectation for your child? Maths

What is the national expectation for your child? Maths

What are we doing at St. James to prepare your children We have a professional duty to prepare your children for these assessments. We have analysed the gaps in the children’s understanding and the barriers they currently face when completing the SATs sample papers. We have adapted the teaching timetable in year 2 to provide ample opportunity to ensure our pupils meet national expectations.

How can you help your child? We have purchased CPG books for each of your children to go home as their homework once a week. It is important that they complete the activities set and bring them in to school on Wednesday. We will be going over and marking what they have done at home on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays so that any misconceptions that they have can be addressed in school. Your children will only have maths, SPaG, and reading comprehension homework. They will be given a specific page(s) to complete by Wednesday. I would suggest that they spend a maximum of 15 minutes on each.

Thank you! We are taking the SATs seriously but the most important thing for us is to make sure that your children are happy at school. They will still experience the full coverage of the curriculum and there are some fantastic extra curricular activities planned in for them over the next term and a half.

Questions Information about the new assessment framework can be found at the Gov.uk website but please feel free to speak to Ms. O’Brien, Ms. Brady or myself about the SATs in KS1 if you have any questions or concerns. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interim-frameworks-for-teacher-assessment-at-the-end-of-key-stage-1)