The Latest Developments in Primary School Education | News Update

The Homework Debate 2021: Do Primary Schoolers Really Need Homework?

admin — Mon, 31 May 2021 15:57:41 +0000

The homework debate resurfaces every year without fail. It is a popular topic with parents, primary school teachers, online tutors, and politicians alike. Should homework be banned? Is homework at primary school necessary? Do pupils receive enough education in class that homework is nothing but a waste of time? – These are all questions that you have no doubt heard before.

Is the homework debate even relevant in the context of COVID-19? As an online maths tuition service for KS1 and KS2 pupils, we believe so! Sometimes we set our students homework. We believe that this debate is more relevant now than it has ever been. Let’s discover why…

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“Homework should be banned!” – The call to action

Our children are too tired!

Is it the case that we put too much pressure on children these days? At the age of 7, UK primary school pupils are expected to sit their Key Stage 1 SATs test. This continues in primary school up until Year 6 when they are expected to prepare for and sit their Key Stage 2 SATs test.

Some parents argue that this leaves little time for kids to wind down at home. When can they find the time to indulge in sports, hobbies, and creative interests if their time is consumed by homework? Let’s not forget the added stress caused by the UK Coronavirus lockdown.

Primary school homework does more harm than good:

A BBC Newsround report from 2018 consulted education experts on their views of the homework debate. Nansi Ellis, Assistant General Secretary at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers argued that homework gets in the way of all the good things kids enjoy. It does not always boost performance in class.

She also highlighted that it demands a lot of parents, not only their time but also of their own educational understanding. This sometimes backfires as the methods of learning in school twenty or thirty years ago are likely not the same as those taught nowadays. This can risk causing further confusion.

BBC Newsround’s own survey of the homework debate and how much homework primary school pupils receive found that parents thought:

Where is the proof?

The same BBC report saw Ellis claim that while teachers setting homework is in theory supposed to better results, there is no proof of this being the case. Rosamund McNeil from the teacher’s organisation NUT highlighted that cases abroad support this. In Finland, pupils are set minimal homework but it remains one of the most educationally successful countries in the world.

The homework debate is not just about students – it’s about teachers too!

Homework is time-consuming. Teachers must plan it and mark it, in addition to preparing their classroom lessons and reporting on pupils’ progress. Time constraints can force teachers to work late into the night at home which opens an entirely new can of worms. Overworked teachers are less effective in class. Perhaps it would be more efficient for schools to ban homework altogether.

The other side of the homework debate: Why our kids need homework

It has long been the view that homework acts as a supplement to what has been taught in class. It is an opportunity for pupils to review areas of work they might not understand, focusing their learning.

Homework for primary school students is a good thing!

Homework can be fun and imaginative, an opportunity for parents to bond with their children over education. Take the classic example of counting peas on the dinner plate to learn multiplication tables. Homework does not always have to be completed in a book or on a worksheet. It can often reflect the creativity of the teacher who can inspire children to take their learnings and apply them to the real world. Pricing a shopping list is an awesome way to practise maths while acquiring life skills!

In May 2021 we asked our social media community for their thoughts on this debate. More than two-thirds agreed that homework should not be banned.

The UK is falling behind the rest of the world:

Once upon a time the UK may have had the best education system in the world. Now is not that time. Studies suggest that UK literacy and maths rates are falling while in other countries they continue to rise.

As a result, many teachers and parents agree that our children require further encouragement. This is not the time to ban homework in the UK. Especially when we take into consideration the months of lost learning caused by the COVID-19 UK lockdown. This is the time to help primary school children catch up, and homework can support the effort.

The homework debate in the context of COVID-19

We touched on this earlier before considering both sides of the argument in the UK homework debate. However, with home learning more popular than ever, is there still a place for homework in UK primary school education?

The homework debate solution: Online tuition

It’s engaging for children; it reflects what they have been learning in class and saves time for both parents and teachers. Online tuition has soared in popularity through 2020 and 2021, and could be the solution for people on both sides of the homework debate.

In the UK there are tons of tuition services helping to provide kids with a competitive edge using an extracurricular push. You can view a list of the top 15 here: Discover the UK’s best online tutors.

If you have any comments or questions regarding this topic, please feel free to let us know in the comment below or in our Facebook group UK Primary School Maths – Tutoring & Tips, we will reply to you as soon as we can.

The post The Homework Debate 2021: Do Primary Schoolers Really Need Homework? appeared first on Think Academy Blog.

Making Sense of Your Child’s End of Year School Report

Dania Jasem — Thu, 27 May 2021 16:13:43 +0000

We’re approaching the end of yet another academic year, and your child’s end of year school report will soon be on its way to you. And if you’re wondering how you’re supposed to make sense of it, you’re not alone. More than 40% of our students’ parents expressed confusion about such reports, expressing various concerns from vagueness to comment automation and more. This guide breaks down each part of the school report, helping you to understand your child’s progress throughout the year more fully while alleviating any concerns you may have.

What is an end of year school report?

End of year school reports are supposed to summarise your child’s performance at school for the academic year. In it, you’ll typically find a short paragraph explaining their abilities in each subject, but they’re often surface-level comments with no insight into anything specific. There’s also a short section on behaviour and a goal for the year ahead.

The Department for Education requires schools to deliver these reports as an official mode of communication between teachers and parents at least once a year. Each report should highlight the following:

– Brief particulars of achievements in all subjects and activities forming part of the school curriculum.

– Comments on general progress.

– Details of how parents can arrange a discussion about the report with their child’s teacher.

While this sounds like a good idea, some parents question the usefulness of their child’s end of year school report. Often, parents will compare reports and notice that comments are often similar, leading some to suggest that reports are automated. Moreover, some teachers have admitted that they have access to report writing tools to support them in their endeavour, leading to many having no choice but to work overtime.

Many parents are quick to brand this generic and unfair; however, you should note that not all teachers will use these style reports, and many will willingly delve deep into your child’s progress and overall performance. If in doubt, remember that you have the right to ask.

How do teachers measure progress for each Year group?

Teachers measure progress differently depending on the age of their students. Each Year group and, on a broader level, key stages have specific requirements that students are expected to fulfil. For example, by the end of Year 4 maths, children are expected to know all 12 times tables. And so, teachers will refer to such milestones to measure a student’s progress.

This year, the Department for Education has decided to remove the requirement to report definitive outcomes for key stage 1 and 2 tests and teacher assessments. Therefore, if this information is missing from the end of year school report, you should not be concerned.

How to make sense end of year school reports at the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)?

Schools at this stage usually issue school reports for EYFS pupils, but the guidance is not as established as primary school reports. With that, even if your child is in Reception, schools will need to complete an EYFS profile for your child. It’ll help the school assess pupils’ overall progress and support teachers in the next stage (KS1) to understand a student’s overall ability.

This profile will include a summary of your child’s attainment and will state the Early Learning Goals (ELG’s) :

Emerging (1): your child is working below the expected level.
Expected (2): working at the level expected for their age.
Exceeding (3): performing above the desired level.

At the end of the academic year, the school will include an end of year school report that will explain:

Your child’s attainment against the ELG’s with summaries included.

Progress made during the year. This consists of the three characteristics of effective learning (playing and exploring, active learning and creative thinking critically.)

Standard end of year school reports

During the academic year that does not consist of a national exam, i.e. year 1,3,4 and 5, there are no specific formats that schools have to follow.

However, guidelines set by the DfE state that “reports should be specific to the child, be concise and informative and help identify appropriate next steps for development”.

How to make sense of a Key Stage 1 end of year school report? (Year 2)

Year 2 marks the end of Key Stage 1 assessments, and your child will have taken the national curriculum tests (SAT’s). The school reports at this stage will differ from others as they will include both statutory teacher assessment judgments for reading, writing, maths and science, and the results of these tests.

However, not all schools will include the Key Stage 1 test results and instead consider Year 1 and 2 performance. The teacher will then decide how to analyse a student’s progress best.

Those schools who choose to add the results will report them through a scaled score, as explained below:

• A scaled score of 100 – The pupil is working at the expected standard.

• A scaled score below 100 – The pupil may need more support to work at the expected standard.

• A scaled score above 100 – The pupil is working above the expected standard.

Please note that at KS1, teachers will try to ensure all pupils score between 100-115, and at KS2, this score extends to 120.

Additionally, parents should be aware that from 2023 the KS1 SATs are being replaced by the Reception Baseline Assessment.

How to make sense of a Key Stage 2 end of year report? (Year 6)

By Year 6 (under normal circumstances), students will have completed the KS2 SATs and finished their time at primary school. Preparing to progress to Year 7, they will make the transition to secondary school. Unlike the KS1 SATs, schools send KS2 SATs papers to external examiners for marking.

These results will help the teacher write the Year 6 end of year school report and include statutory teacher assessment judgments for reading, writing, maths, and science. You should expect to receive a breakdown of these reports with some interpretation by the teacher to help you understand better. It’ll also provide some recommendations for you to help your child make even more progress in the future.

You may also like to know that these results, as well as a separate teacher assessment, are sent to the Year 7 liaison officer of your child’s secondary school and are read by all of your child’s Year 7 teachers.

How should you talk to your child about their end of year school reports?

But how about your little one? They may come skipping out from class across the playground, gladly waving their end of year school report, blissfully unaware of the criticism that may lay within. Many of our students’ parents are unsure how to communicate the report’s content with their child for various reasons. Some are concerned they’re just too young to understand (or care), others don’t want to knock their child’s confidence, and so here are some tips for approaching for the conversation.

Prepare beforehand.

Before having a chat with your child, ensure you fully understand the report. If you don’t understand, that’s ok! Email or call the teacher, perhaps schedule a chat so that you can delve into the report’s content deeper.

Start on a positive.

If there’s positive feedback in the report, absolutely acknowledge it! This is great for your child’s confidence and motivation for learning in the future.

Ask what they think about it.

Don’t just lecture your child; treat them as an equal participant in the conversation. If there are comments about bad behaviour, shouting or venting frustration (even if they are a bit of a rascal) won’t help the situation in the long term. Try asking how they feel the year went, keep the conversation age-appropriate, and explore why they think the teacher made specific comments.

For example, if the comments are about behaviour. Ask why Miss so and so may have said that, and continue from there. If it’s about a subject, let’s say maths, ask if they find it difficult. It will help you understand if they feel less confident using numbers or don’t like maths. Both are ok, and you can come up with a plan of action to help solve this.

Next steps.

Children love planning; they feel comfortable when they know what is to come. It is crucial to come up with a plan for how best you can support them.

End on a positive

Beginning and ending the conversation on a positive note will help your child to feel motivated, whatever their age.

What can you do to help your child?

There are various ways you can help your child if they are not meeting the expected level of achievement. The best way to deal with any issues that may arise is to find the root cause of the problem. For example, if they’re having trouble with maths, perhaps they got an answer wrong, and their peers laughed. This may not mean they struggle but instead have a confidence issue.

But if you’re struggling to figure out how to solve problems such as this, you may find the tips below helpful.

Work with your child’s teacher.

Parents underestimate how much a teacher can help in this; they’ll be able to give a plan to work on to help. If you feel that your child’s teacher is not helping, you can always contact the school.

Communication with the teacher doesn’t end with the report; it’s essential to communicate further where necessary. They can support you with a plan to help your child improve, and remember, if you’re not satisfied with their assistance, in some cases, you can contact the headteacher or subject head.

Try to make learning fun.

Some children respond better to fun activities, such as maths quizzes and games. If it’s the case that your child responds better to this type of mental stimulation, do not shy away from it. For example, try these free virtual maths escape rooms for Key Stage 2 students.

Consider hiring a tutor or making use of online courses for kids.

Online tuition is in no way similar to having a private tutor, whereby your child is expected to turn up at their house and study for an hour alone. Using online courses makes the most of the latest technologies that help students learn in an interactive environment and are becoming popular worldwide, even in the UK. Check out these videos to see how young maths tutors are helping primary school students get ahead in mathematics!

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School Starting age: Scotland vs England

Dania Jasem — Tue, 04 May 2021 11:10:04 +0000

Typically, the school starting age in Scotland vs England is the same, with children entering P1 or Reception when they are 4.5 to 5.5 years old. However, the Scottish Greens are pushing for children in Scotland to enter formal education at the age 7 to emulate the successful policies of Nordic countries.

Scottish education system vs English education system

Educational content for schools across the UK is broadly similar; however, the education system structure differs significantly, and this can create difficulties for parents who may be moving from England to Scotland and vice versa. It can also create problems when searching for online resources. Many parents are unsure if certain websites or free resources are only relevant for English pupils and not Scottish pupils.

In addition to explaining why the Scottish government are considering raising the school starting age to seven, this article also provides some contextual insight into where each system differs most. The English and Welsh curriculum is known as the National Curriculum (or New National Curriculum). In Scotland, the school curriculum is called the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). While the names of classes by year are different (see table below), England and Wales categorise the first learning stage as Key Stage 1, followed by Key Stage 2. In Scotland, this is called First Level and Second Level, and the stages do not precisely align with one another.

School-age calculator in Scotland vs England

Age	England	Scotland
4 - 5	Reception (KS1)	P1 (First Level)
5 - 6	Year 1 (KS1)	P2 (First Level)
6 - 7	Year 2 (KS1)	P3 (First Level)
7 - 8	Year 3 (KS2)	P4 (First Level)
8 - 9	Year 4 (KS2)	P5 (Second Level)
9 - 10	Year 5 (KS2)	P6 (Second Level)
10 - 11	Year 6 (KS2)	P7 (Second Level)

Raising the school starting age in Scotland

Across Britain, children typically begin school aged 4-5, but Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Beatrice Wishart has highlighted that this practice is dated back to the Victorian era and now requires adjustment for the benefit and well being of 21st-century pupils.

Initially introduced in 1870, the current starting age encouraged mothers to get back to work as quickly as possible. Today, politicians and education experts believe that this may be too young and that children should not enter education so early.

Nothing is official as of yet, but we’ll examine how this might affect the education landscape in Scotland and what would happen if the rest of the UK followed suit.

Why is the Scottish government considering raising the school starting age?

The Scottish Green Party first brought the debate to light within its parliament, citing the success of Finland’s education system. Raising the school starting age to 7 years old may support children achieve better results in literacy and numeracy.

The party proposes a kindergarten programme to improve educational outcomes by using “creative play” rather than formal learning, beginning at age 7. The focus beforehand would only be on child development, social skills, outdoor learning, physical and mental health.

This proposal was backed up by “Upstart Scotland” which campaigns for the introduction of kindergarten stages. The chair of the campaign group, Sue Palmer, has stated that:

“Now that Scottish children have fully-funded entitlement to early learning and care from the age of three, it would be fairly easy to raise the starting age for formal schooling to the year children to turn seven and provide developmentally-appropriate education for three to seven-year-olds, as they do in successful Nordic countries.”

However, not everyone agrees with the proposal. Minister for Children and Young People Maree Todd argues her experiences with visiting schools and early learning settings had demonstrated very positive educational outcomes without the need to introduce a formal kindergarten stage.

Is starting school age seven better for children?

The UK has one of the lowest school starting ages in Europe, irrespective of research from 2009 suggesting that an early-start regime dents children’s confidence and risks long-term damage to their learning. Nevertheless, it was rejected by the government at the time for contradicting education policy based on Every Child Matters.

Starting school at age seven is proven to benefit children in other countries such as Finland, with a reputation for a successful education system. The Finnish government focuses on children’s mental health before academia, allowing them to learn how to be children before learning their timetables.

Although it does not mean starting school lower than age seven is necessarily bad. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found evidence of a positive effect on IQ scores from starting school early. According to various sources, children learn how to interact socially at a younger age and learn to adapt to new situations by entering a formal education sooner rather than later.

In the context of a global pandemic, many feel that now is the time to focus on children’s mental health rather than academia. The Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer said:

“The pandemic and home learning have shone a light on the importance of children’s wellbeing. As we turn towards recovery, we should seize the opportunity to leave behind the least effective parts of our education system.”

Could this new system become a reality in Scotland and the rest of the UK?

There is plenty of research that clearly shows that children will benefit significantly from play-based activities and the freedom to explore. This includes the evidence that Upstart has provided. Countries have proven time and time again that this is helpful to children.

However, it all comes down to the politics of the government and their beliefs and policies. Currently, the debate continues in Scotland with a particular focus on mental health during the pandemic. And so, while raising the school starting age to seven may be a reality for Scotland, it may not be a reality in England anytime soon.

You might also be interested in:

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What is Progress 8, and how are Teachers Measuring Progress in 2021?

Dania Jasem — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 13:47:13 +0000

What is Progress 8? It’s a statistic used to measure pupils’ progress between Year 6 and Year 11, effectively measuring their attainment across eight subjects/qualifications. It is relatively new, and many parents do not fully understand it. However, most people know that it’s an important metric for analysing a pupil’s progress over time. As part of the Department for Education’s (DfE) response to the Coronavirus (Covid 19) pandemic, the Key Stage 2 SAT’s exams were cancelled for a second year. Parents and teachers are now questioning how the Progress 8 score is applied when measuring performance at school and how they can effectively track progress in the future.

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What is a Progress 8 score?

Progress 8 is a new value-added measure that compares pupils’ progress made between their Key Stage 2 tests and GCSE results. Progress 8 is combined with Attainment 8, which measures a pupil’s achievement across eight different subjects. These two come together as part of the new system based on students’ attainment in their best eight subjects at GCSE and the progress made from the end of Year 6 when the Key Stage 2 SAT’s in reading and maths are taken.

Covid 19’s impact on measuring Progress 8

The official cancellation of this year’s Sats will make it very difficult to calculate Progress 8 in the usual way in 2025. There will be missing data for pupils who have missed the SAT’s exam and may lead to unfair future possibilities.

The school minister Nick Gibb has already stated that the government is still deciding how pupil performance will measure the Progress 8 score. Some sources suggest that schools reinstate the CAT tests (cognitive abilities tests) at the start of Year 7. Or they may look at the KS1 SAT’s results as a way to possibly assess pupils.

Tes reported that Gibb has stated during a meeting of the Commons Education Select Committee on the GCSE and A-level grading plans for 2021 that they will be making decisions regarding this issue in due course and addressing the consequences for Progress 8.

The government has also stated that any qualification grades achieved using alternative assessment arrangements in 2020 and 2021 will not be used to produce the usual suite of institution-level performance measures.

The news of the cancellation of SAT’s exams may have given many a breather. However, it has also put a strain and uncertainty on the new system. Many are unsure if and how the Progress 8 system can survive this pandemic.

Primary school assessments in 2020 and 2021

The government has set out clear guidelines and has said that they will not publish institution-level data based on 2021; this includes

● Key stage 1 and 2 assessments

● GCSEs

● AS levels, A levels

● Other regulated general qualifications or vocational and technical qualifications.

This means that any data collected will not be available for anyone, including Ofsted, Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) or local authorities, to hold schools and colleges to account.

How will this impact primary school education?

To better inform parents about student progress, schools will continue to report students’ qualification results to their parents.

The government has also stated that they intend to temporarily change the performance tables for 2021 to provide a transparent information set. This is on schedule for publication in Autumn 2021.

Furthermore, many see the SAT’s cancellation as a blessing in disguise as it relieves many from the pressure of exams and focuses on helping make up for missed learning due to lockdowns.

Teachers can concentrate on assessing their pupils through a more subtle, stress-free assessment and can view where progress is being made and what the next steps should be.

There have been so many gaps in the last year, and many have fallen behind, the cancellation can help your child progress.

It should also be stated that there were no SATs in 2020, and so far, everything seems to be running ok. Secondary schools catered for their new students and the Year 7s soon found their feet in their new schools. These assessments will come along, and so far, the government has decided not to let them affect any future possibilities or affect your child’s future education.

Unfortunately, there is no way right now of knowing how the future will plan out with Progress 8 and the SAT’s but, the steps that have been taken so far might have been a necessity and may help your child progress better than before.

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Returning to School Parents’ Guide | March 2021 Update

Kristina Murkett — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 18:53:24 +0000

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On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown, with a four-step programme that could see normality return by the 21st of June. Part of this roadmap is about returning to school, confirming that all schools will reopen on Monday the 8th of March. So parents, teachers and pupils have just under two weeks to prepare for the return of face-to-face teaching. However, understandably many parents still have questions about what the return to school will look like in practice and how they can best prepare their children for the 8th of March.

Will my child have to have a COVID test before returning to school?

If they are at a primary school, then no. Primary school teachers and staff members will be given home testing kits to test themselves twice a week. However, there will be no testing of primary pupils.

If they are at a secondary school, then yes. Returning secondary school pupils will be tested three times on-site and once again at home in the first two weeks of returning to school. After that, they will be given home kits for twice-weekly testing. While the logistics of testing are not yet finalised, secondary school pupils will not be allowed to return to school until they have had a negative test result. So it is likely that the return to will be staggered over a few days.

Will my child have to wear a face-covering upon returning to school?

If they are at a primary school, then no. Primary school teachers and staff members have been advised to wear a face-covering in situations where social distancing between adults is not possible. For example, when moving through corridors or in small communal areas. Although primary school pupils will not have to wear one.

If they are at a secondary school, then yes. The government has changed its recommendation to include wearing face coverings in all indoor environments (including classrooms). They have said that this is likely to be a short-term recommendation and that the advice could change after the Easter holidays.

Will there be changes to the school day after returning to school?

This depends on the school. The government has encouraged schools to consider staggered start and end times to stop large groups of pupils congregating (as well as stop parents gathering at the school gates). The school could communicate any changes to you directly. However, if parents are still unsure, then they should contact the school themselves.

What happens if my child cannot return to school on the 8th of March?

If a child cannot return due to a medical reason, schools will be legally required to provide remote education. The exact format this will take will vary from school to school – some may upload work online, live-stream lessons, or record classes for students to watch later.

Once children return to school, what support will be provided to help them catch up?

Many parents are understandably anxious about potential gaps in their child’s learning due to the long-term disruption. While schools may set up their own individual intervention and catch-up programmes, two national schemes are worth being aware of.

Firstly, the government has allocated £1billion worth of funding to a catch-up programme, including a national tutoring scheme. The scheme offers tutoring and mentoring to pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. The downside is that it can only be accessed by schools, not parents. However, as all state primary and secondary schools are eligible, it is worth contacting the school to determine what provision they have been given.

Secondly, the government has also recently announced plans for secondary schools to deliver face-to-face summer schools to help pupils catch up. It will be up to schools to decide how to use the allocated funds and all logistics. For example, how and if they run the summer schools, how long they will be, and which pupils will be invited to attend.

How can I support my child’s welfare around returning to school?

Many students will feel excited about going back to school, but many may also feel anxious, or both! Young Minds has some excellent resources for helping children make the transition. There is also the Mental Health Foundation, NSPCC Learning and Barnado’s Back To School Hub.

One of the best things parents can do is simply have regular check-ins with their child. Encourage honesty, open conversation about their thoughts, feelings and concerns. Parents must acknowledge how confusing and turbulent the past year has been for their child. The pandemic has had an enormous impact on all of our lives, so it may take some time to adjust.

How can I support my child academically with the return to school?

The first thing that families should do is make sure they re-establish good routines. Some students may have lacked structure with their remote learning and may need some support with readjusting to more significant boundaries and expectations. Parents should help ensure their children wake up and go to bed at reasonable times. Eating a healthy breakfast is crucial; take regular breaks from screen time, exercise once a day, and set time for working and relaxing. All of which will help pupils adopt a healthy and productive mindset.

If parents are worried about specific aspects of their child’s progress, then small group tutoring is an effective, safe and cost-effective way to help students to catch up. Our maths classes are designed for a range of ages and abilities and cover all aspects of the national curriculum for maths. Therefore, parents can find a class best-suited to their child. It’s less intimidating (or expensive) than a one-to-one tutorial, and it also allows students to develop key social skills and make friends.

About the author:
Kristina is an Oxford English graduate and qualified English teacher. She trained through the Teach First programme before working at one of the top independent schools in London. She is now a private tutor and freelance writer.

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Returning to School after Lockdown, a Parent’s Perspective

Dania Jasem — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 09:37:38 +0000

The pandemic has been challenging for everyone, but particularly parents. Parents have had to face impossible choices across the UK, looking after their children or keeping up to date with their livelihood. Other parents have had to deal with several children at a time whilst keeping their sanity in check. But now, we must prepare our children for returning to school after lockdown.

In this article, mother-of-two Dania discusses her feelings regarding the planned reopening of schools this spring.

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Are we ready for returning to school after lockdown?

It is fair to say that many parents, myself included, are counting down the days or perhaps minutes for when it will be safe for children to return to school. Describing the past few months as a “struggle” is an understatement.

However, it is easier said than done. Are children prepared for yet another change? How has this lockdown impacted them? The biggest question is, will we have to repeat this all over again down the line?

When schools initially closed

When Prime Minister Boris Johson announced that schools would be closed back in March 2020, none of us could have predicted that we would be in the same position a year later. We were all shocked and worried but still hopeful for normality to kick back in. The world had come to a sudden stop as we baked banana bread and enjoyed our family’s company. Children adapted to this new way of life quickly and most likely enjoyed the idea of not going to school.

As September approached, some were wary of the return, and some embraced it with open arms. However, we couldn’t have expected to do it all over again in January.

This time around, the pressure was felt more widely, with fewer employers willing to furlough their workforce. A recent poll surveying over 2000 women highlighted that they had either resigned or had to leave their day jobs after Christmas 2020.

As a result, families have been negatively affected and continue to be challenged both financially and emotionally.

Readjusting to normality after lockdown

After lockdown, returning to school will be a period of change and uncertainty yet again for children and young people. We so lovingly assured them that they would be just fine back in September, and it is unlikely for children who contract that virus to have dangerous effects on them. But yet again, they had to stay at home. Preparing them for the return this time around may be more challenging than last time, as we have already broken that trust.

As adults have already found this to be a challenging time, and our anxieties have hit the roof. However, children are experiencing anxiety too. Depending on their age, your child might be feeling nervous about leaving home all-day and spending time apart from you. They’re no doubt excited to see their friends, but if your child is a victim of bullying, the return to school may not come as welcome news. Therefore, it may take time to readjust to life back at school and a new daily routine. Each family will need to find their new normal slowly.

Free Maths Worksheets for Years 1 - 6

Download and print our teacher-approved study packs, for free!

Tips to prepare your child for returning to school after lockdown:

There are some ways you can help your child to deal with what is about to come and support them in returning to school this spring.

Be transparent with your child about the return to school.

It’s a parental instinct to hide and protect our children from the worst. However, on this particular occasion, we honestly need to tell them the truth of what is happening.

Be transparent; the unpredictability of the times we live in means that there may be another lockdown. There is a possibility they may contract the virus. Answer any questions as honestly as you can, or you may lose their trust completely. If you haven’t got all of the answers, that’s ok too. Explain that you don’t know right now.

However, this can also depend on your child’s age; you may need to be broader with your younger children. You can also rely on age-appropriate tools such as books to help understand what is going on. I would highly recommend the book “When the world went inside.”

Acknowledge possible anxieties and be aware of mental health

Many children can be anxious about returning to school, especially when we have told them there is a scary virus going around. They may have also overheard how serious it can be. As previously pointed out, always be truthful. Let them communicate why they are anxious.

It would be a good idea to tackle this from an early stage, maybe bring the idea up of going back to school and monitor their reaction. If you feel they have become anxious about the idea, ask what makes them feel so nervous.

Some children may benefit from writing up a worry list, which can help you tackle each worry calmly and slowly. However, some children may be more reserved and may take time to open up about their anxieties. Allow them to have that space but don’t avoid it.

Academic pressure

Many children have found it challenging to keep up with school work remotely.

According to the Oxford Language report, 92% of teachers believe the will be a “word gap”. What this means is that children’s vocabulary may be below age-related expectations. This has widened following school closures.

Some children may be excited to get back into learning and need our enthusiasm, but some are just not ready. And that is ok. Academic pressure may result in the child feeling anxious and will result in them falling further behind. All they need from us right now is love and support the rest will gradually come.

About the author:

Dania is a mother of two and has been writing for almost five years. She has recently created her motherhood community, “Mom Thinks”. Dania is an expert in writing articles about Education, Lifestyle and Parenthood.

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2021 KS2 SATs Cancelled – Primary School Closures

admin — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 21:02:31 +0000

On Monday 4^th January, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, made the decision to close primary schools across the country, disrupting education for millions of children. On Wednesday 6^th January, Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson announced that all primary school KS2 SATs are cancelled for 2021.

This has left many parents feeling overwhelmed and concerned. With so many unanswered questions, parents across Britain are now wondering how their child’s education will be affected. In response to this, the entire team at Think Academy UK has been working tirelessly to create free home learning study packs for primary school children. We’ve made packs available for each year group, and we invite you to download them using the links below.

Why are the KS2 Year 6 SATs cancelled?

It is now the opinion of the Government that if schools were to hold exams this summer, students would be underprepared. A consequence of school closures due to repeated national lockdowns, students sitting exams in 2021 would experience an unfair disadvantage. Put simply, their results would likely not reflect their true ability.

While there are some advantages to online learning, the academic year 2020-2021 has already seen multiple periods of students forced to make the transition to full-time remote learning. This is not an adequate substitute for the learning that takes place in the classroom. It has likely been a significant mitigating factor in the decision to cancel the KS2 SATs for 2021.

Are the KS2 Year 6 SATs important?

Students usually sit the KS2 SATs in Year 6, with the tests held by primary schools around May. The tests are important in allowing schools to benchmark a student’s progress. The KS2 SATs are used to analyse whether a student is at the expected level of education when compared to the national average of their peers. Likewise, it is a good indicator as to whether students are underperforming.

Ofsted also refers to a school’s KS2 SATs results in their reports when conducting an Ofsted inspection.

How will your child’s education be affected by the cancellation of the KS2 Year 6 SATs?

Measuring a child’s progress in core subjects such as English and maths will now become more challenging. The Department for Education has suggested that individual teacher assessments will suffice in place of the KS2 SATs tests.

This is unlikely to reassure parents who are all too aware that repeated school closures will increase the likelihood of their child falling behind, especially if they struggle in subjects such as maths.

That’s why an increasing number of parents have taken the decision to further invest in their child’s education.

Online Tuition

Using online tuition is an effective way to ensure that children can catch up and progress in core subjects such as English and maths. Remote though it is, it remains accessible for many children; allowing them to continue learning in a safe environment, albeit remotely. At Think Academy UK, we’ve extended enrolment to our online maths courses for children in Years 1 – 6, offering affordable group tuition at £6.00 per class for KS1 and £8.00 per class for KS2. Moreover, as learning takes place within a group setting, children will learn alongside other students to provide the peer-learning environment that they have been deprived of due to school closures. You can learn more about our courses here.

Home Learning Study Packs
Our team have been busy preparing study packs to support your child’s home learning routine. We’ve put together our very own maths booklets, and we are offering a free study pack for each Year group. As well as questions, we have also included answers so that you can check your child’s work.

Simply click the links below to access each pack. We invite you to download and print them out so that your child can do them at home:

CBBC Primary School Programming

The BBC has also announced that from January 11th it will broadcast 3 hours of primary school programming per day starting at 9am, in an effort to make digital learning available to everybody. Viewers will be able to watch this on CBBC.

How will your child be assessed if the KS2 Year 6 SATs are cancelled?

As explained, schools are putting procedures in place to carry out teacher-led assessments. Not much is known about how these will assess pupils and when they will take place. Please be sure to check this article for regular updates.

It is also not known how this will affect Year 6 pupils’ transition to secondary schools, however it likely that the Department for Education will clarify this in the coming weeks.

Read more:

Key Stage 1 SATs – Cancelled

Help with Maths – Top 5 Reasons to Choose Group Tuition in 2021

Year 6 Maths – Resources to Help Your Child in 2021

The post 2021 KS2 SATs Cancelled – Primary School Closures appeared first on Think Academy Blog.

Key Stage 1 SATs – Cancelled

Dania Jasem — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 17:46:46 +0000

Key Stage 1 SATs have been officially cancelled according to the Department for Education, who cited difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

What this means is that all Year 2 assessments will be cancelled including the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test. This is also to include science assessments. However, teachers have been told that assessment in reading, writing and maths will go ahead.

This has all come as a bit of a shock for many parents and teachers who have prepared themselves for the upcoming SAT’s. The assessments have previously been cancelled in 2020 and it has already been put out that the Key Stage 1 Sats will become non-statutory from 2023. However, this shows that 2021 will not go ahead due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

What does this mean for your child? Is there a concern? These questions are on most parents’ minds. Nothing about this year has been normal for children so this is no different. We are here to help you get those answers.

What are the Year 2 SAT’s tests and why are they cancelled?

The Year 2 SAT’s was first founded back in 2016, children were assessed on what they had been taught during the Key Stage 1 curriculum. At the end of year 2, pupils were required to sit tests on:

Reading

This assessment is split into two papers:

Paper one will include a selection of texts totalling 400-700 words
Paper two will include a reading booklet with 800-1100 words

English grammar, punctuation and spelling

This assessment is split into two papers:

Paper one will include a 20-word spelling test
Paper 2 will include a grammar, punctuation and vocabulary test, in two sections of around 10 minutes each.

Maths

This assessment is split into two papers:

Paper 1 will include arithmetic. This usually takes 15 minutes.
Paper 2 will include mathematical fluency, problem-solving and reasoning

For more information, please visit the Government website

These were cancelled for the 2020 year 2 students and have now been officially scrapped in 2021. These assessments will no longer take place from 2023, this was due to ongoing dispute that SAT’s are not beneficial for the child

Please note: If your child was born before 31 August 2015 they will still be tested at the end of Year 2.

Consequences for cancelling the Key Stage 1 SATs

There are various opinions on this subject. Some have applauded this as teachers and schools have struggled with keeping up with the curriculum. There is also the idea that SAT’s will be causing unnecessary stress to children. Children like adults have had to come to terms with a new normal. Some have had difficult experiences during the lockdown.

Many have missed months of learning. There is no right answer here of concern. Some parents or teachers believe that the SAT’s should actually go ahead as it included some sort of normality.

We thought it would be a good idea to list the positives and negatives for you and you as a parent can make up your mind on whether this is a concern or not.

Positives

Let’s start with the positives. How can this be beneficial for your child?

Less stress: implementing this will be less stressful for your child, and even for you. This means you can focus on getting through this pandemic safely and not worry about how much your child will be assessed

Preparation: This year has not been an ideal year for preparation, and it is still an ongoing fight. We are still looking at the possibilities of future lockdown, future outbreaks. Which means more time away from preparing. Having this assessment eliminated may help more on focus on what is necessary

Digital Poverty: This is a crucial one; many families in the country do not have equal amounts of resources. When the country went on lockdown, many children went without education as they were not able to use remote learning. This assessment would highly unfair to those who live in digital poverty

What impact will the cancellation of the Key Stage 1 SATs have on your child?

Progress: Parents and teachers alike use SAT’s as a way to understand how pupils are progressing in school and what additional support they need. Hence, the cancellation of this would probably mean you won’t know your child’s progress or what they need help with.

School Improvement: These assessments also affect the schools themselves as they are an opportunity to do what they need to focus on to improve their teaching styles. Cancelling this may affect them.

Normality- If you agree with SAT’s or not, cancelling may not be the best idea as it still has that sense of normality which children at this moment are probably craving.

What should do you do as their parent?

If you do find this a concern and believe that your child will miss out on these assessments. You could write to your MP describing your concern for your child.

How can you help your child in light of the Key Stage 1 SATs being cancelled?

There are past previous SAT’s papers included on the government websites that you can do with your child. This may help you with tracking their progress. If you do still feel concerned about your child do not hesitate to contact Think Academy.

The Reception Baseline Assessment Explained

Key Stage 1 Maths: What you Need to Know for 2021

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The Reception Baseline Assessment Explained

Dania Jasem — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 13:44:59 +0000

The Reception Baseline Assessment will be a new national assessment in place to administrate all primary, infant and first schools around England. This has been introduced to help measure progress in how primary schools assist their pupils.

When is the Reception Baseline Assessment?

This will however not be implemented into school till Autumn 2021 as the current challenging circumstances of Covid 19 has put a strain on schools. However, some schools may implement an alternative assessment RBA Early Adopter year, this is optional.

This assessment will be completely new to schools and maybe unpopular as it was back in 2015. Parents and teachers alike have protested that this assessment will be daunting to many children who already are dealing with the anxiety of starting school.

As this will be introduced next year, it is good for parents and teachers to start looking into what this assessment will be including and how to prepare your child for this.

What will be included in the Reception Baseline Assessment?

The Reception Baseline Assessment will only become mandatory when the current Key Stage 1 assessment (SAT’s) becomes non-statutory. This means that it will become optional, it is not part of the curriculum. Please note only children who will start reception in 2021 will be required to sit this

This assessment will be including an activity-based assessment on the following topics. Answering questions on these topics will be inclusive to verbally or pointing or moving objects

Mathematics Tasks:

Early number
Early calculation (early addition/subtraction)
Mathematical language
Early understanding of shape

Early Literacy, Communication and Language Tasks

Early vocabulary
Phonological awareness
Early reading
Early comprehension

The assessment will be on the first 6 weeks of children starting school and will last around 20 minutes and will be age-appropriate for your child. The teacher’s themselves will be administering the test and will record all results online. These results are later used to inform teachers at the beginning of their primary school journey. Results will not be shared and used only at the end of year 6 to measure the school level progress.

More information shared here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFtcBdknyCI

Is the Reception Baseline Assessment important?

The Department of Education has stated that this assessment will enable the department to create school-level progress measures for primary schools. This is important as it will give schools credit that they create during their time in reception, year 1 and year 2.

It is also important to point out that this assessment should not be considered as a test. The Reception Baseline Assessment has been designed as a one to one with a teacher that they are familiar with. It will also cover material that pupils are already familiar with. This has not been created to catch them out.

Reception Baseline Assessment: What schools need to know

Schools will need to prepare that this assessment is not a “pass” or “fail” assessment but is just a guide to show at what level the children are at reception.

The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) will be developing and delivering this assessment from start to finish.

As this assessment was previously trialled in a nationally representative sample of schools between September and November 2018 and in September 2019. Schools had the opportunity to choose to participate in the RBA Early Adopter year in Autumn 2020.

How will the Reception Baseline Assessment measure progress at Key Stage 1?

Several schools usually have a form of baseline assessment, so it may not differ as much. The reason for this is to understand each child’s academic level and how their needs may be fitted.

The new Reception Baseline Assessment will be measuring the progress that is made for each child during their time at primary school. This is however not only for the child but it will give the government a snapshot of how the school is progressing with their pupils

It will be showing progress in Mathematics and Literacy, Communication and Language (as seen in Reception classes at the start of the year).

The government has reported that this is assessment will not:

Provide any on-going formative information for practitioners
Be used in any way to measure performance in the early years, evaluate preschool settings or hold early years practitioners to account
Provide detailed diagnostic information about pupils’ areas for development

Reception Baseline Assessment: Example questions

The Reception Baseline Assessment will be a task-based assessment. This will be delivered in English. Pupils will be required to use physical materials that they can handle including plastic shapes and picture sequencing cards. The Assessment itself will be accessible to all needs and child friendly. What this means is that children will not necessarily answer questions using their words but can alternatively point or move objects as needed.

The assessment will be including routing, this is to not overwhelm the child with too many activities. This is also to help reduce the required assessment time. Scores will all be recorded online by the practitioner, with routing rules automatically applied.

This will be a one-to-one comfortable situation between a child and their familiar practitioner. It will be the practitioner responding to the child’s needs and reflecting familiar classroom practice.

There will be a resource box provided for the practitioner with all materials that will be required. There will additionally be guidance documents to support the administration. Furthermore, there will be an administration guide provided to all users in hard copy and an online guide.

Watch the video below for more information:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7CMu_Ef1Zs

Help with Maths: Top 5 Reasons to Choose Group Tuition for Your Child in 2021

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The post The Reception Baseline Assessment Explained appeared first on Think Academy Blog.

Year 4 Times Tables Test: What You Need to Know for 2021

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 16:58:25 +0000

The Year 4 times tables test, also known as the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a new assessment introduced by the government in 2017 that was scheduled to be rolled out across England and Wales in 2020. According to the UK government website, the test is designed to determine each child’s ability to learn and remember their times tables fluently.

The Department for Education integrated this into the KS2 national curriculum because it believes knowledge of the times tables is fundamental for future success in mathematics. It also enables schools to identify which students are struggling in maths so that they can receive further support.

Online Maths Courses for Primary Schoolers

Register today! Courses are running from April 19th – July 17th, 2021.

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When is the Year 4 times tables test?

The Year 4 times tables test is usually taken by pupils toward the end of Year 4. However, do be aware that there is no set date for the test. While the 2020 Multiplication Tables Check was cancelled due to primary school closures. While it was scheduled for 2021, it’s now going to be optional for schools.

Free Maths Worksheets for Years 1 - 6

Download and print our teacher-approved study packs, for free!

What times tables should Year 4 know?

Each pupil will be tested on their times tables up to 12×12. The test consists of 25 questions and each child has precisely 6 seconds to submit their answer. Below you can see how the questions are presented.

The test is an online digital assessment that pupils will take at school. Therefore, they will not be expected to bring in their own device. Schools will provide computers or tablets for pupils to complete the test.

The Multiplication Tables Check is supposed to take 5 minutes. At the beginning, your child will be introduced to some simple practice questions. Once they fully understand how to input their answers into the system, the test will begin.

Is it possible to know which questions will appear in the Year 4 times tables test?

All the questions are selected at random from 2 x 2 to 12 x 12. You may be interested to know that the test’s algorithm is designed to show students harder multiplication questions from the 6 times table and above. The table below displays the upper and lower limits for the number of items of each multiplication table that may be used in each check form.

What is the pass mark for the Year 4 times tables test?

Good news for teachers and examiners, the marking process is entirely computerised and automatic! Results will be available after students have completed their test. Each student will be given a score out of 25. It is important that each child submits their answer by pressing ‘enter’ before time runs out, otherwise the answer will not be recorded.

There is currently no standard by which a pupil either passes or fails, the objective is to give teachers an idea of whetherTab pupils require further support. The Department for Education will publish a report for each school on their overall results, but these results will not be passed on to parents or pupils.

What resources are available to prepare for the Year 4 times tables test?

It’s important not to forget that the 2020 Multiplication Tables Check was scheduled to be the first of its kind. However, as it’s now optional for 2021 many schools will be too busy to do the assessment. Nevertheless, we’ve identified some useful resources to help your child practise their times tables.

Build the times tables into your daily routine

We advise setting aside 10-15 minutes per day to run through the times tables with your child. You might think about doing this while you drive them to school to prepare them for the day ahead. You could also do it as a warm-up to their homework as a means of helping them to refocus. Short but consistent practice is an excellent way to help keep your child’s mind sharp.

Try using pasta to visualise multiplication. Numbers just don’t do it for some kids. Grouping pieces of penne from your kitchen cupboard is a great way to make multiplication more tangible by grouping numbers.

Take the time to use online resources

Maths Frame has a version of the Year 4 times tables test which is available for free. The website also has many other free online maths games for kids. As it is styled as a game, it could help if your child is resistant to revision. Incorporating this at the beginning or end of your homework routine is a highly effective way to prepare for the assessment. This website also has a number of multiplication practice papers that can be downloaded for free here.

Consider using BBC Bitesize as a supplement to what your child is learning at school. BBC Bitesize is working with White Rose Maths to create a series of catch up lessons for Year 4 students. Use this term planner to view the entire curriculum, which will cover a number of times tables in addition to other multiplication problems.

What can parents do to help prepare for the Year 4 times tables test?

Supporting your child in mastering their times tables is the best way to supplement what they’re already learning at school.

Every child is different, they learn at different speeds and understand multiplication differently to each of their peers.

Our online maths tutors understand this better than anyone. That’s why they prioritise your child’s learning by tailoring elements of each course to their specific learning needs. Our online maths courses will challenge your child where needed while providing additional support in areas they find harder to grasp. At the heart of Think Academy UK’s philosophy is the willpower to ensure that every child gets the results they deserve – so you can be sure that with our help they will ace their Year 4 times tables test.

If this article hasn’t answered all your questions about the Year 4 times tables test, please get in touch using the comments section below or in our Facebook group UK Primary School Maths – Tutoring & Tips, where we can quickly respond to you.

You might also like to read:

Do I Need a Tutor to Pass the 11 Plus Exam? Meet the Online Maths Tutors Who Deliver Results

Why is Online Tutoring Important? Online Vs In-Person Tuition in 2021: How Primary School Pupils are Bouncing Back From COVID-19

The Homework Debate 2021: Should Homework be Banned in the UK?

How to Tell if Your Child Struggles with Maths at Primary School and What You Can Do to Help

The post Year 4 Times Tables Test: What You Need to Know for 2021 appeared first on Think Academy Blog.

The Latest Developments in Primary School Education | News Update

The Homework Debate 2021: Do Primary Schoolers Really Need Homework?

Helping Kids 'do' Mental Maths

What would you like to know about?

Our children are too tired!

Primary school homework does more harm than good:

Where is the proof?

The homework debate is not just about students – it’s about teachers too!

The other side of the homework debate: Why our kids need homework

Homework for primary school students is a good thing!

The UK is falling behind the rest of the world:

The homework debate in the context of COVID-19

The homework debate solution: Online tuition

Making Sense of Your Child’s End of Year School Report

What would you like to know?

What is an end of year school report?

How do teachers measure progress for each Year group?

How to make sense end of year school reports at the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)?

Standard end of year school reports

How to make sense of a Key Stage 1 end of year school report? (Year 2)

How to make sense of a Key Stage 2 end of year report? (Year 6)

How should you talk to your child about their end of year school reports?

What can you do to help your child?

School Starting age: Scotland vs England

What would you like to learn about?

Scottish education system vs English education system

School-age calculator in Scotland vs England

Raising the school starting age in Scotland

Why is the Scottish government considering raising the school starting age?

Is starting school age seven better for children?

Could this new system become a reality in Scotland and the rest of the UK?

Free Maths Worksheets for Years 1 - 6 & P2 - P7

What is Progress 8, and how are Teachers Measuring Progress in 2021?

Online Maths Courses for Primary Schoolers

What would you like to know about?

What is a Progress 8 score?

Covid 19’s impact on measuring Progress 8

Primary school assessments in 2020 and 2021

How will this impact primary school education?

Free Maths Worksheets for Years 1 - 6

Returning to School Parents’ Guide | March 2021 Update

Online Maths Courses for Primary Schoolers

Will my child have to have a COVID test before returning to school?

Will my child have to wear a face-covering upon returning to school?

Will there be changes to the school day after returning to school?

What happens if my child cannot return to school on the 8th of March?

Once children return to school, what support will be provided to help them catch up?

How can I support my child’s welfare around returning to school?

How can I support my child academically with the return to school?

Free Maths Worksheets for Years 1 - 6

Returning to School after Lockdown, a Parent’s Perspective

Online Maths Courses for Primary Schoolers

What would you like to know about?

Are we ready for returning to school after lockdown?

When schools initially closed

Readjusting to normality after lockdown

Free Maths Worksheets for Years 1 - 6

Tips to prepare your child for returning to school after lockdown:

Be transparent with your child about the return to school.

Acknowledge possible anxieties and be aware of mental health

Academic pressure

2021 KS2 SATs Cancelled – Primary School Closures

Why are the KS2 Year 6 SATs cancelled?

Are the KS2 Year 6 SATs important?

How will your child’s education be affected by the cancellation of the KS2 Year 6 SATs?

How will your child be assessed if the KS2 Year 6 SATs are cancelled?

Key Stage 1 SATs – Cancelled

What are the Year 2 SAT’s tests and why are they cancelled?

Consequences for cancelling the Key Stage 1 SATs

What impact will the cancellation of the Key Stage 1 SATs have on your child?

How can you help your child in light of the Key Stage 1 SATs being cancelled?

The Reception Baseline Assessment Explained

When is the Reception Baseline Assessment?

What will be included in the Reception Baseline Assessment?

Is the Reception Baseline Assessment important?

Reception Baseline Assessment: What schools need to know

How will the Reception Baseline Assessment measure progress at Key Stage 1?

Reception Baseline Assessment: Example questions

Year 4 Times Tables Test: What You Need to Know for 2021

Online Maths Courses for Primary Schoolers