8/23/2015 Information for Parents on Key Stage 1 SATs

8/23/2015 What does SATs Stand For? Statutory Assessment Tasks and Tests (also includes Teacher Assessment). Usually taken at the end of Key Stage 1 (at age 7) and at the end of Key Stage 2 (at age 11).

8/23/2015 What level should children be at? Around 75% of children are at Level 2 by the end of Key Stage 1. An average child will achieve a 2B. Some children will still be at Level 1 and some children will achieve Level 3. A small percentage of children may not yet be working at Level 1.

8/23/2015 How are the children assessed? There are three sorts of assessments: teacher assessments, tasks and tests. The role of the tasks and tests is to help inform the final teacher assessment judgement for each child at the end of the year.

8/23/2015 When will all of this happen? We are assessing the children all of the time but………. the tasks and tests can be administered at any time during year 2, these will be used to support ongoing teacher assessment. Tests will be completed at the beginning of April

8/23/2015 What do the tests involve?

8/23/2015 ENGLISH

8/23/2015 Reading A task, which will award levels 1 & 2, will assess the child’s ability to read a book aloud with accuracy & to discuss the text to show their understanding. A test, for level 2, which will consist of a story & 1 or more other texts, with questions for the children to answer on each page of a single booklet. A test, for level 3, which will be based on a story & information text, together with 1 answer booklet.

8/23/2015 Writing This year there are two writing tests. Short Writing Test: 30 minutes including planning time. Long Writing Test: 45 minutes including planning time.

8/23/2015 Writing Need to write in complete sentences, beginning with a capital letter and ending with a full stop Must have spaces between the words Spellings should be accurate or readable Writing must be legible, preferably joined Aim to use speech marks, question marks & exclamation marks Use imaginative and exciting language Follow set structures ~ stories, instructions etc.

8/23/2015 Spelling This is a short dictated passage with 20 words to be spelled. Marks from the spelling test will be aggregated with the writing tests and contribute to the overall level recorded.

8/23/2015 Helping children to spell Encourage your child to listen to the sounds in words Break down words into syllables Practice key words by writing them with eyes closed, making up a mnemonic etc.

8/23/2015 because Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants

8/23/2015 Handwriting Handwriting will be assessed in the longer writing test, rather than in a separate test. Marks for handwriting will be aggregated with the spelling and writing marks to give an overall level.

8/23/2015 MATHS

8/23/2015 Maths A task for level 1 Separate tests for levels 2 and 3 The 1 st 5 questions will be administered orally for the children to write their answers. A balance of marks within the tests will reflect the structure of the national curriculum (Number, algebra shape, space and measures.)

8/23/2015 What does teacher assessment involve, and is it different from testing? Teacher assessment draws together everything the teacher or teachers know about a child, including observations, marked work and school assessments. Teacher assessment is not a ‘snapshot’ like tests and is therefore more reliable. There may sometimes be a difference between teacher assessment results and test levels.

8/23/2015 What help can children have? In the reading test, children must read the text and questions by themselves, but MAY have help recording their answers, if this is done in a normal classroom situation. In maths, teachers can read questions to any child who asks. Teachers can encourage, but not guide or say that an answer is correct or incorrect. Words on a test paper can be transcribed where a marker may not be able to read a child’s answer.

8/23/2015 How can parents help? The best help is interest taken in learning and progress. Not putting children under too much pressure by over-emphasising revision work. Accept who they are and where they are ~ don’t push them or expect more than they can give Ensuring children arrive at school: -in good time -having had breakfast -having gone to bed at a reasonable time

8/23/2015 How can we prepare our children? Give them plenty of good food to eat Listen when they want to speak to you Make sure they get plenty of sleep Give lots of love Make sure they are as happy as they can be! In other words ~ keep things as normal as possible!

8/23/2015 What information do parents get and when? Test papers are marked internally. (These may be moderated by an LEA official.) The results are sent electronically to the LEA. Schools must inform parents of their final teacher assessment by the end of the school year in July. This takes into account the SATs results. Results are usually included with the school report. Parents are given the overall school results as a percentage. These are compared to the previous year’s national figures.