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Post by serrakunda on May 1, 2015 0:51:49 GMT
So they don't do SATs at special school, so Simba didn't do them at age 7, but he is now at mainstream school so this is my first experience of them as a parent. I'm aware that he has done some practice papers in school. He brought some practice ones home over Easter, he was very keen to do them. He worked his way through them, I didn't bother timing him and just let him do them in his own time, which I would guess was probably longer than the time which will be allowed. I gave him a little bit of help, but not much and from what I checked he was ok. We mostly had a discussion around presentation. When he makes the effort he has very good writing but some of the stuff he produced was very difficult to read. We had a very 'active ' debate about if the marker couldn't read his answers he wouldn't get any points. He couldn't see that his writing was hard to understand.
there is a teacher training day on 8 May but I have received a letter today inviting all year 6 children to an extra 3 hour revision session on 8 May.
my instinct is not to make a fuss over this, not send him in for the revision class, just wish him luck on the days of the tests and remind him to try and write neatly and not to worry if he doesn't finish.
But he will probably be aware that other children are doing the extra lesson, he will want to go and is going to be an absolute nightmare if I say no.
He has only been there full time for half a term, he is doing really well but he does work below the average for his age, I don't want to put pressure on him, but nor do I want him to feel bad
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2015 6:46:10 GMT
If he wants to do it, I'd let him if it were me, otherwise he'll feel he is missing out.
Does he get extra time in exams because of his diagnosis?
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Post by flossie on May 1, 2015 8:47:37 GMT
I think I would let him go if he wants but make it clear there is no pressure...
Had quite enough of sats myself, it seems to be almost all they talk about at school!
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Post by milly on May 1, 2015 10:00:08 GMT
Don't worry re the handwriting. If it is hard to read the staff can ask him to read it back to them after the test has finished and scribe above his writing. They then fill in a form to send off with the paper (or maybe submit it online now - a lot of the administration is now online)
Maybe check school will do this but it is part of the guidance.
Is he able to achieve level 3 or above, by the way? If not he won't have been entered - we have a few kids who can't achieve level 3 but we include them in preparation to an extent to protect their self esteem.
I'd let him go to the revision if he wants to. Crazy idea to have it at all in my view - far too late for children to learn more and guaranteed to make them even more nervous, but there again we will be continuing our 'booster' groups next week too....
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Post by serrakunda on May 1, 2015 10:48:26 GMT
School have said nothing to me about them and to be honest I'm so disinterested in them, perhaps I shouldn't say that as the testing agency sit about 6 feet away from me at work and I hsve several good friends who work on test development.
But as far as Simba is concerned, he didn't do age 7 tests, so there is nothing to compare it to. If the purpose is to show progress, it's patently obvious he's progressed hugely over the last year, I don't need a test to show me that, and as long as he is progressing I don't care too much about percentage points.
He is not quite working at the right levels, but he isnt far off. Again I'm not that bothered because he is is youngest in year and he has made huge strides. My priorities for him are slightly different to straightforward academic progress.
He hasnt mentioned the revision lesson. But he does want to go to the breakfast club before the tests. They don't normally run a breakfast club so not sure why they are doing that either.
Will probably hsve a quick word with the teacher next week
they might all be abolished next Friday anyway!
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Post by milly on May 1, 2015 12:14:52 GMT
Doubt it! (abolition)
We do breakfast club too for year 6 in SATs week. It is to give them a positive start, make sure they've eaten and that they're at school on time. Most of our kids come - it's a nice social event actually as all staff who work with them get involved.
Like them or hate them, schools have no option but to take them seriously. It's not just about progress - also attainment.
No it has no real meaning for the child but it does give parents a sense of how well their child is doing. Anyway it's all changing next year as they have dropped national curriculum levels.
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Post by serrakunda on May 11, 2015 7:38:51 GMT
Well he has trotted off fairly happily this morning. We didn't do the revision lesson, but he was desparate to to breakfast club so took him to that. Confessed to bring a bit nervous but a quick chat about how clever he is and the sight of a box of Cheerios doing the rounds sorted that !
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Post by kstar on May 11, 2015 18:51:13 GMT
I don't honestly believe SATs have any I significance for anyone but Ofsted. Schools whip kids up into a frenzy because they need the kids to do well. And I say this as a teacher - we all know we do it but we also know our jobs depend on us doing it!
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Post by runmum on May 19, 2015 12:02:40 GMT
Totally agree KSTAR. Sats are for school league tables. Secondary schools do their own testing for putting the children in sets anyway in our area so not even any use for that. Loads of stress and pressure for the kids and teachers and David Cameron said he wanted to get kids to re-sit SATS at secondary school if they did not reach the required standard. This will only be remotely useful if schools get funding to support catch up and as my kids are 3 years behind how will that work!!! It made me laugh how much support they gave Jealous Dog - if they had been that supportive since year 1 he might not be so behind "of we must get you a really comfy chair" "what kind of biscuits would you like to keep you going?" LOL!!!!
To rub salt in the wound his year 6 leavers performance has some songs with really awful lyrics - very black humour. I appreciate it's supposed to be funny but how are kids with developmental trauma autism and ADHD supposed to cope with being made to learn words like:
It's nearly time to take your SATS and then big school next term. You don't want them to think you're daft you lazy little worm. You'll languish in the bottom set when all your friends have said. They now don't want to play with you, your ruin their street creed.
And that's just a taster!!! Of course I am just over-reacting, they are all more resilient than you know, I don't have a sense of humour blah blah blah. I am just exhausted with it all.
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Post by cowgirl on May 19, 2015 13:15:31 GMT
What !?!?
Stupid song
It's my eldest who isn't adopted who took SatS
I would not be happy with that song
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Post by esty on May 19, 2015 16:32:17 GMT
What are their teachers thinking. Cringe worthy! The song that is.
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Post by milly on May 19, 2015 20:34:30 GMT
That's appalling. It's just cruel, not funny. Some teachers just don't see things from the child's point of vie. Have you talked to the head? Or werethose comments made by the head?
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Post by pingu on May 19, 2015 22:46:56 GMT
We dont have SATS in Scotland ( my older boy, who moves here from England at age10 , still views escaping SATS as. ThE best reason to move to Scotland !!!)
But we have no shortage of cringeworthy assembly songs. !
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