SATs week - Advice for Parents of Year 6 Pupils                             

 

 

 

As we know, we are weeks away from the SATs week (12th May - 16th May).  I am sure you want your child to do as well as possible and perhaps a few words of advice from me might help!

 

The main thing is to keep the tests in perspective.  While we all want the children to do well and these tests are important, they are not GCSEs and will pale into insignificance as the children grow through secondary school.

 

Having said that, a few weeks of good preparations could help the children to relax and even to enjoy the experience of taking the tests.  I remember one child telling me: "I enjoyed SATs week - we didn't have to do any real work!"

 

 

Top Tips for SATs Survival!

 

        *        Get lots of rest - 12 hours is the target!

                        Brains do a lot of work while we sleep.  The brain is digesting the

                        information from the day. 

 

                        A good long rest will help the child to remember what they have been

                        learning in school.  It also reduces hyper-activity during the day.

                           

 

        *        Take the TV, mobile phone, Nintendo out of their bedroom.

                        These stimulate the brain at a time when it should be getting ready to

                        rest.

 

 

        *        Eat healthy food and cut back on snacks and treats - drink lots of

                      water.

                        The brain is a muscle so a healthy diet will help the brain to work well.

 

 

        *        Do small amounts of revision followed by a break (eg 15 minutes

                      revision followed by a game)

                        Children often revise better when working with others, so get involved

                        yourself or maybe invite a friend around.

 

                        Ask them to work at the kitchen table and switch off radios and TVs

                        that may be a distraction.

 

                        Ask them at the dinner table what they have been learning today.

 

                        Use the computer - there are lots of good activities.

                        www.bbc.co.uk - search for revisewise

 

 

        *        Get some exercise - children that exercise before revision remember

                        more.

 

 

        *        Get an early night before the tests and eat a good breakfast.

 

 

        *        Walk to School: the exercise will help to get the brain working.

 

 

        *        Reassure your child that they can only try their best and that their

                      best will be good enough.

                        No amount of money or bribery will help at this age (save that for

                        the teenage years!)

 

 

Hope that this advice helps!

 

Mr Scott-Evans