Phonics Screening

The phonics screening check is a short, simple assessment to ensure that all pupils have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate standard by the age of 6 years old. All Year 1 pupils in maintained schools, academies and free schools must complete the check. This is undertaken during the summer term.

The phonics check is to support teachers in identifying children who need extra help so they can receive the support they need to improve their reading skills. These pupils will then be able to retake the check in Year 2. 

The phonics screening check comprises a list of 40 words and non-words which the child will read in a one-to-one situation with a teacher.

Standard Assessment Tests (SATs)

SATs tests are given at the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. They are used to track progress and attainment of children in schools from Early Years to Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2. They comprise a mixture of teacher-led and test-based assessments. 

Key Stage 1

On 14 September 2017 the Department for Education announced that Year 2 SATs would be non-statutory, meaning schools will be able to choose whether to administer them or not, from 2023. At Wheatcroft we use these non-statutory tests to assess children's progress and attainment and evaluate their next steps needed. During May, all children in Year 2 will undertake the end of Key Stage 1 SATs. Children will be assessed in reading, writing, grammar, maths and science.

Maths
The children will have two booklets to complete. The first focuses on fluency and the second is reasoning. The only maths resources they have available to use are a ruler and mirror. There may be questions where they have to write an explanation of their ‘working out’ but they will not be judged on their spelling or handwriting. Children can ask the teacher to read the questions to them. The fluency booklet takes approximately 20 minutes and the reasoning booklet takes approximately 35 minutes (both tests are not strictly timed).

Reading
Children will be tested on their written comprehension. The children will undertake two booklets containing a range of texts (usually fiction, non-fiction and poetry) which they will read and answer questions about. The second booklet is more challenging and tests high level comprehension. This will include harder texts and have more complex questions to answer. The teacher can decide if it is not appropriate for a child to sit the test or stop during the test at any time. The two test marks are combined to give an overall result. Booklet one takes approximately 30 minutes and booklet two will take approximately 40 minutes (both tests are not strictly timed).

Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling
Children complete two booklets, one focusing on grammar and punctuation, the other on spelling. Like the reading tests, the results are combined to create a total. Children can ask the teacher to read questions to them. The grammar test is approximately 20 minutes and the spelling test takes approximately 15 minutes (both tests are not strictly timed).

Writing
The class teacher will provide the children with opportunities to write in a range of genres throughout the year. They will then assess their writing to form their teacher assessment.

Science
Throughout the year, the class teacher will provide opportunities for children to access the science curriculum and assess their understanding. This knowledge will be used to produce a teacher assessment.

All Key Stage 1 tests are marked internally. The reading and maths papers are checked by other members of the school for consistency and accuracy. To ensure writing levels are accurate, rigorous moderation is undertaken internally with all teaching staff, other primary schools and the local authority. Periodically, external moderators will visit the school and moderate a sample of the children’s reading, writing and maths levels. 

With each test undertaken, maths, grammar and reading, a standardised score is given from the raw score. A standardised score below 100 identifies the child is working towards the expected standard, 100 to 114 identifies the child is working at the expected standard and a score of 115 or more means the child is exceeding the expected standard. The class teacher then uses this information, alongside work undertaken throughout the year, to produce a teacher assessment.

Once the children’s levels have been validated, parents will be informed of the teacher assessment level. This information is shared with parents at the end of the Summer term. A parent or carer can request their child’s test results including their standardised scores.

Key Stage 2

In Key Stage 2, SATs are undertaken in Year 6 and are more formal. They take place in May in a dedicated week and all tests must be administered on days specified in the statutory test timetable set by the Department for Education and Standards and Testing Agency. Therefore, it is essential that your child is in school during this week to undertake their SATs. A timetable of dates and more details regarding arrangements will be circulated nearer the time of the tests.

Reading
This test consists of a reading booklet and a separate answer booklet. Children will have a total of one hour to read the three texts in the reading booklet and complete the questions.

English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling
The grammar and punctuation paper component consists of a single test paper. Children will have 45 minutes to complete the test, answering the questions in the test paper. The spelling test consists of an answer booklet for children to complete and a test transcript to be read by their teacher or another staff member.  Children will have approximately 15 minutes to complete the test (not strictly timed) by writing the 20 missing words in the answer booklet.

Maths
To assess the children’s maths, three papers are undertaken, one assessing fluency and two assessing reasoning. Children have 30 minutes to complete the fluency test and 40 minutes to complete each reasoning test paper.  The only maths resources they have available to use are a ruler in all tests, and an angle measure or protractor and mirror in the reasoning tests. There may be questions where they have to write an explanation of their ‘working out’ but they will not be judged on their spelling or handwriting. Children can ask the teacher to read the questions to them.

Writing
Writing is not undertaken through a SATs test but assessed through writing in a range of genres over a period of time. Like Key Stage 1, to ensure writing judgements are accurate, rigorous moderation is undertaken by teaching staff, teachers from other local primary schools and the local authority. External moderation by the local authority is undertaken periodically, similar to moderation in Key Stage 1. 

Science
Throughout the year, the class teacher will provide opportunities for children to access the science curriculum and assess their understanding. This knowledge will be used to produce a teacher assessment. 

All the Key Stage 2 tests are kept sealed and locked away until the time of the test.  The test pack is opened in front of the children before the specific test starts. Unlike Key Stage 1, all Key Stage 2 papers are sent away to be marked.

The teachers are also required to submit teacher assessments for each child in writing and science. The results parents receive are test results for reading, grammar, punctuation and spelling and teacher assessments for writing and science. When a test is undertaken, a standardised score is calculated from the raw score. A standardised score below 100 identifies the child is working towards the expected standard, a score of 100 to 114 identifies that they are working at the expected standard and a score of 115 or more means they are exceeding the expected standard. The class teacher then uses this information, alongside work undertaken throughout the year, to produce a teacher assessment.

The children’s results are shared with parents in mid-July before your child leaves Wheatcroft in July. 

The Multiplication Tables Check 

The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a Key Stage 2 assessment to be taken by pupils at the end of Year 4 (in June). The MTC was introduced for the 2019 / 2020 academic year with the purpose of ensuring pupils' times tables knowledge is at the expected level. 

The MTC is an online test where the pupils are asked 25 questions on times tables 2 to 12. For every question you have 6 seconds to answer and in between the questions there is a 3-second rest. Questions about the 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 times table come up more often. The questions are generated randomly based on the rules of the MTC. 

The children regularly undertake times table learning in class and Times Table Rock Stars reinforces this learning at home. Prior to undertaking the screening, the children will have the opportunity to undertake a practice so they are familiar with the organisation. The test format is similar to the Studio game on Times Table Rock Stars if you would like to familiarise yourself.