According to our school calender for year 2 children (7), we are asked not to take them out of school from Feb until end of May because of SATS.
I think when they are so young, that the testing is done more on an informal basis rather than the formal sats for 11 year olds. So takes place over a longer time scale.
Are there any teachers out there who know more?
What about buying some of those SAT books testing herself yourself, if you want to know how bright she is! Then go on holiday and have a lovely time. Yes the school league tables will be hit as a result of your child not doing the test, and if she is very bright, then this may bring their results down by a percent or 2 if she doesn't attend.
Hi,
I am a primary school teacher and have taught the dreaded Sats @ Yr2. I would like to make a few points. Teachers are continually assessing children. By assessing what they know, or how they have coped with a certain task we are able to inform our planning to meet your childrens needs.
I have been teaching for over 10 yrs and the majority of my time has been in both Yr1 and Yr2. Sats are different in yr 2 than in Yr6, but they are still important.
In Yr 6 the children are given the Sats from a set timetable ( From the government) which means for example on May 8th all yr 6 children in the country will be sitting the same English paper. There are strict guidelines to adhear to.
In Yr2 ,
in previous years the tests were usually sent out around April and it was upto the school to set its own timetable - the only stipulation was that the results had to be submitted by the beginning of June. This was done so that the children could be assessed in small groups, by the class teacher in their own class. Hopefully making it less stressful. This is why the whole of May is seen as important for Yr2 children. I know that in the classess I taught the children were very familair with the Sats tests and were often oblivious to the fact that they were doing a real test. That was because they had had lots of previous experience of them.
However this year the Sats for Yr2 children have changed somewhat. A lot more focus is now given to Teacher Assessment. Assessments are made from Feb - until end of May. Test papers are used but not to the degree as in previous Years.
It is now not so much how a child performs on a particular day, but more an over view over a peroid of time.
This system is so much better for the children. As a teacher I really did not enjoy having to put 6-7yr olds through the old system, but it was what government wanted.
I hope this makes sense and answers some of your questions. Please feel free to ask anything else if ive not covered something. It is 11pm and I'm tired.
One thing I would say is that if you are considering taking a child out of school in May - discuss this with your childs teacher - if given plenty of notice it is possible to timetable things around your holiday.
As a teacher I would be fine if given plenty of notice. Planning for summer term normally starts mid march. Difficulites arise if a lot of children want to go on holiday!
Hope this helps!
)
Chris.
Very well said, i totally agree with your points raised. 
