Make Year 6 Wellbeing & Mental Health a Priority & Preempt SATs Stress

Learn how to emotionally support primary pupils’ wellbeing and positive child mental health for SATs with a whole school approach from Reception to Year 6 – for teachers, SLT, children, parents, carers. 

See also: SATs 2023

It is widely understood that positive health and wellbeing – including mental health – contribute to a child’s ability to flourish, thrive and achieve (Public Health England, 2014).

Indeed some would say it’s our duty to equip children with skills such as resilience, self-awareness and self-belief in order that they can navigate challenges at school and beyond without compromising their performance.

As our Year 6 work through their final year at primary, we need to ensure that a school’s own accountability pressures from SATs and the national assessments don’t place undue stress on these 11-year old children.

It’s not easy.

90% of 6,500 teachers and headteachers surveyed by the NUT in 2016 agreed that SATs preparation at key stage 2 is having a ‘harmful impact on children’s self-confidence and mental health’.

But there are things we can do to improve children’s mental health and self confidence. 

So it’s worth looking at what we can do to ensure positive mental health throughout the school but especially in Year 6 as pupils prepare for transition.

This is the key advice given in the new free Year 6 Wellbeing Guide: An emotionally healthy approach to KS2 SATs.

1. Take a whole school approach to wellbeing and mental health

It starts with a whole school approach to mental and emotional wellbeing, from the foundation years right through to Year 6. This doesn’t mean talking about SATs from Reception, but rather teaching positive coping skills on how to communicate how you feel and how to manage when you encounter something difficult or upsetting.

2. Communication about mental health issues is key

By making space to talk about these things it not only gives children ‘permission’ to express how they feel, but helps them to understand that emotions are global experiences common to everyone, which helps counter worries of being ‘different’ or ‘ashamed’.

3. Involve parents the wider community

It’s also about involving parents and pupils and providing them with the tools and understanding to manage their experiences.

How the Year 6 Wellbeing Guide can help you

• Learn how to set the right culture and tone for your school – starting with the staff team
• Know how to look after yourself and your colleagues
• Emphasise the importance of talking and listening
• Understand what language to use
• Manage children’s environment so the conditions of the statutory national tests don’t come as a complete shock
• Consider creative approaches to learning
• Follow a termly plan for Year 6 wellbeing
• Recognise the signs when children’s mental health is being negatively affected

Year 6 Wellbeing: Your Guide to an Emotionally Healthy KS2 SATs

Downloadable guides for teachers and school leaders with handouts for parents and carers and pupils to support Year 6 before and during SATs

Download Now

Here’s what teachers have said about the free Year 6 Wellbeing Guide so far:

What if we’re worried about a Year 6 pupil for SATs?

SATs should not:

– affect a child’s appetite

– affect a child’s ability to sleep

– alter a child’s personality

– induce panic, tears or disengagement from lessons

– be a reason not to attend school

If any of the above are evident, then SATs may be causing an excessive degree of emotional distress, and the child in question may benefit from some intervention. Year 6 Wellbeing Guide sets out some of the steps you can take including:

• How to involve the family
• When to ask for additional support
• How to confront negative media coverage or external attitudes

At Third Space Learning, our online, one-to-one SATs revision tutors work hard to form a productive bond with students. Students have the same tutor week on week and become more confident asking questions. Tutors also encourage students, giving rewards for work well done. Our tutors are also trained to identify symptoms of distress, ensuring that the learning environment is positive and constructive.

Year 6 will be ready for SATs and transition

As children’s mental health charity, Place2Be states “When children feel supported by peers and grown-ups, they are better able to deal with difficult transitions. Not only that, but scientists have proven that being kind to ourselves and others is good for our brains – and our relationships!” This should be the aspiration for all our children all year round.

To finish on a positive note, for most children the KS2 SATs and Year 6 testing regime are a challenge that they feel prepared and ready for. We just need to be aware of all pupils in our care and the ensure that all are supported.

As a former pupil of Sheringham Primary School in Norfolk said:
‘If I could tell year 6 children one thing it’s this: don’t stress; SATs are not as bad as you think.’

Please let us know what you’re doing to support your pupils’ emotional wellbeing and mental health so we can share ideas, especially in the run up to SATs, using the hashtag #SATswellbeing.

Liked this? Read our blog post on How to Ace Year 6 Revision for SATs, Year 6 SATs Maths Papers

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