More Than A Score

What are SATs and other government exams like for children with SEND? Margot tells her story. Write to your MP 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend

What does your MP think of SATs? Write today 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend @sianberry

The SATs system "has no consideration for SEND kids" says headteacher Daniel. Do you agree? Write to your MP 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend @dkerbel1

‘I’m a little bit scared because you can’t get help.’ No child should be scared because of government tests. Write to your MP 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend

It's time to listen to those who know SEND children best. Write to your MP 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend

‘Parents continually raise SATs with us as something that’s too stressful for children with SEND. We should look at different ways of assessing pupils.’ Do you agree with Olivia Blake MP? Write to your MP 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend @_OliviaBlake

Parents children with SEND know that SATs are pointless and meaningless. Do you agree? Write to your MP 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend

Anxiety, pressure, fear of failure: SATs do nothing to support SEND children's learning. Write to your MP 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend

Do you agree with Sarah? SATs "cause stress and anxiety, expecially for children with SEND" Write to your MP 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend

What are SATs like for children with SEND? Margot tells us her story. Write to your MP 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend

SEND parents know the long-term damage SATs can cause. Write to your MP 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend

Children like Hollie are failed by the SATs system - that's not putting inclusion at the heart of every school. Let's tell MPs it's time for change 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend

🚨BREAKING NEWS 🚨 Campaign group @MoreThanScore criticises the Schools White Paper as a ‘missed opportunity’ for failing to address the negative impact KS2 SATs have, particularly on children with SEND READ MORE 👇 twinkl.co.uk/l/1e7y15

"SATs really affected my son. He would go into panic mode." The government says it wants to put inclusion at the heart of every school but what do SATs mean for children with SEND? Write to your MP 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend

Parent campaigner Kirsti Hadley give her response to the Schools White Paper, published yesterday.

Here's our response to the government's Schools White Paper, published today. The White Paper represents another missed opportunity by the government to make a significant change which would improve the school experience for all children but most especially those with SEND. That change is substantial reform to primary statutory assessment - something that could be implemented with no financial cost to schools. The government asked parents for their input to this white paper and, in November, 24 SEND parent groups wrote to Bridget Phillipson describing the devastating impact of SATs and other government tests on their children. They were fobbed off with a perfunctory response from the DfE. The government says it wants to put inclusion at the heart of every school but throughout primary school, and particularly in year 6, there is too much focus on SATs and other government exams. The high-stakes nature of these assessments leads to teaching to the test, a narrowed curriculum and unnecessary stress and anxiety. For pupils with SEND, this is particularly acute: for many it causes school avoidance and a loss of love of learning at a critical point in their education. And for what? 76% of children with SEND don’t reach the expected standard in their SATs and start secondary with a badge of failure. Meanwhile, a new target for five- and six- year-olds in the phonics check will only result in more time spent drilling our youngest children for an unnecessary test rather than learning to love reading. It should be noted that currently 80% of all year 1 children pass the phonics test, but that figure is only 43% for those with SEND. SEND children are the canaries in the coal mine in primary exams, experiencing the worst of the negative effects of these unnecessary assessments. There are fairer, more inclusive ways to assess children’s progress and achievements in primary. Heads, teachers and parents agree: SATs fail all children but they fail SEND children the most.

It's time to change the system for ALL children. Write to your MP 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend

‘The big tests like SATs, I get nervous inside. Sometimes it gets too overcrowded.’ SEND children are telling us how they feel. Write to your MP 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend

"As a parent, all you want is for your child to be happy." Do you agree with Sarah? Let's tell MPs it's time for change 👉 tinyurl.com/satsfailsend

Very interesting overview of the challenges involved in SEND reform. Talking about the curriculum, assessment and accountability, the report says: "Given that the majority of the rise in SEND relates to social, emotional, learning difficulties and mental health conditions it seems reasonable to assume that simply making schools happier places to be in should be a core pillar of mainstream inclusion."