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KS2 SATs Preparation The Pro’s Way: 5 Step Easter Plan

KS2 SATs preparation getting you down? If you’re a Year 6 SATs teacher this Easter, you’re already on the “how to prepare for KS2 SATs” train.

So naturally, you don’t need me to wax lyrical about the pressure you’re feeling right now.

Teachers up and down the country are, in their own way, stepping up their preparations for that one week in May that so much of their year seems to have been geared towards. Instead, I’d like to offer some advice from my own practice.

With that in mind, as we draw nearer to the Easter holidays and ultimately to the KS2 SATs, what SATs preparation should you be doing for your pupils and yourself?

Of course, good SATs preparation starts with good research. So start with the KS2 SATs results including headline statistics, schools’ responses and next steps.

1. Don’t be caught out by SATs week!

Preparedness is the ultimate strategy for successfully dealing with a stressful period, such as the run up to SATs 2024 week and the National Assessments.

In many ways, Year 6 teachers have been doing SATs preparation since September. Your carefully planned and delivered curriculum, the constant assessment and intervention, the practice tests (have you tried these year 6 maths SATs papers?), not to mention the development of children’s stamina and resilience – the impending arrival of SATs is not going to come as a surprise to you!

However, there are other things to be considered to keep you SATs ready without panic come May:

  • Read the Access and Reporting Arrangements (ARA) document carefully.
  • Plan your timetables for each of the test days.
  • Plan how you will train the staff who will take part in test administration.
  • Ensure you have applied for additional time for eligible children – the deadline for this is Monday 22nd April 2024.
  • Gather the evidence you need to support applicants for the above, should you be moderated during test week.

Making these kinds of preparations will ease your mind, causing less stress during the holidays and in the weeks before SATs hit.

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

Includes downloadable guides for teachers & school leaders, with colourful handouts for parents and carers

2. Have confidence in yourself and your Year 6

Now may not be the time to rest on your laurels, but it is the time to admit to yourself that the next few weeks, although important, are nothing when compared to all the time you’ve spent preparing your pupils since September. And these coming weeks are a drop in the ocean when compared to all the time your Year 6 children have spent in school.

It is also hugely important to remember that these aren’t Year 6 tests, they are Key Stage 2 tests. The success of your pupils does not rest entirely on your shoulders.

Teachers can run themselves into the group in the run-up to the SATs, but please don’t take this approach. You will have worked diligently throughout the year and taught to the best of your ability. So, be pragmatic! You’re not superhuman, you can’t change anything that’s gone before: what’s done is done. This is not defeatism but an acknowledgement born of experience that we need to accept the state we’re at by now.


Are you considering our 1-to-1 maths interventions for your school?

If you’re looking for a way to make a drastic improvement in maths attainment this year, particularly for SATs, you can take advantage of our KS2 SATs Intervention Programme now. See an example of a SATs revision lesson slide: 

SATs revision

Book your no commitment 10 minute demo to discover the impact our 1-to-1 interventions can have for your pupils – it’s never been easier or more affordable. Call us on 0203 771 0095 or contact us here to learn more about how we can help turbocharge maths in your school, even for low prior attainers!


3. Don’t neglect your pupils’ mental wellbeing for their KS2 SATs

So you’ve taught your socks off all year, and every second of every day has been filled with learning opportunities for the children. Their brains are almost visibly overflowing with facts about relative clauses and multiplying fractions and you’re probably thinking ‘enough is enough’.

While you will use these remaining weeks for revision and reminders of test skills, it’s also hugely important that you consider the mental well-being of your pupils too. Third Space Learning’s Year 6 SATs Well-being Guide includes excellent resources for teachers, children and parents packed full of great advice on how to do this, including what pupils should do to prepare during the holidays (clue: lots of fun and outdoor activities!). I won’t reinvent the wheel here but recommend you download the guide and give it to your colleagues, children and their parents – even @TeacherToolkit considers it a ‘very valuable’ resource.

There’s a great list of  SATs revision resources.

Children need to be confident and positive in the run-up to the test week, not to mention during it. If we can reassure them that they are well-prepared and that they do know all they need to know then they will feel ready to take the tests come May. This can be a huge weight off both your shoulders.


Read more


4. Seek support from SLT

None of the above should be left solely to class teachers or even phase leaders. The Headteacher of your school is ultimately responsible for all of the preparation – so make sure they are involved. Hopefully, this support is already present in your school but if you feel like it isn’t enough, be proactive: call a meeting, prepare an agenda of what you feel needs discussing, and approach it positively.

For peace of mind, you should also check in with your school’s leaders. Reassure yourself by checking that they think you have been doing a good job this year, or ask if they think anything needs to be done during the remaining weeks leading up to the tests.

Don’t underestimate the power of community in schools, knowing you’re not alone in the next few weeks before SATs and that you have the backing of your bosses will preserve your sanity no end!

5. Enjoy a relaxing and SATs-free Easter holiday

Easter has the potential to be the best of all the school holidays: not too long, not too short, no rushing around seeing family and a bit of weather good enough to enjoy. It’s a dream.

But worrying about SATs can put paid to all of that, so don’t let it.

Plan plenty of things you enjoy to keep your mind off the impending test week. Spend time with people who won’t let you dwell on what you could have done differently or what the children might face when SATs week begins.

To help you do this it’ll also be worth spending the last few days of this term before the Easter holidays getting all your planning and marking wrapped up so that you can totally take your mind off the job altogether.

Everyone has different ways of dealing with stress and, hopefully, you will know exactly how you can approach the National Assessment period with optimism and serenity. However, following the steps above will certainly help ensure your – and your pupils – better well-being over the SATs period. They should also go some way to answering the question of what is and isn’t a good level of SATs preparation to be doing with your pupils.

Remember, SATs should be a time to show off the incredible teaching and learning that has been conducted in your classes throughout since September, so be prepared, be calm, but most of all – be proud!


P.s. It is worth noting that whilst these tips are tailored towards KS2 SATs, you can also use them if you are taking part in SATs preparation for KS1!

Do you have pupils who need extra support in maths?
Every week Third Space Learning’s maths specialist tutors support thousands of pupils across hundreds of schools with weekly online 1-to-1 lessons and maths interventions designed to address learning gaps and boost progress.

Since 2013 we’ve helped over 162,000 primary and secondary school pupils become more confident, able mathematicians. Learn more or request a personalised quote for your school to speak to us about your school’s needs and how we can help.

Personalised one to one maths tutoring to help Year 6 pupils build confidence and familiarity with SATs-style questions.

Aidan Severs
Aidan Severs
Assistant Vice Principal
Maths Leader
Aidan Severs is a passionate wellbeing enthusiast and Primary Lead Practitioner. He writes for the Third Space blog on KS2 SATs, with a focus on teacher/pupil wellbeing.
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Year 6 Wellbeing: Your Guide to an Emotionally Healthy KS2 SATs

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

Includes downloadable guides for teachers & school leaders, with colourful handouts for parents and carers

Download Now

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

Downloadable resource

Includes downloadable guides for teachers & school leaders, with colourful handouts for parents and carers

Download Now
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FREE KS2 Maths SATs Practice Papers (Set of 6)

Get ready for KS2 SATs tests with this set of 6 maths SATs practice papers.

Includes 2 Arithmetic and 4 Reasoning Papers, with mark schemes and answer booklets, that follow the National Curriculum Assessments.

Download free