SATs HELP FOR BUSY PARENTS

SATs Help:  How can busy parents help their children facing Year 6 SATs?

When and How?
Age 11 early May of Year 6: SATs in English and maths, marked externally, results published nationally. Teacher assessment in science.

Year 6 SATs

These are held early May, the Key Stage 2 tests are a bit more formal: done over a set week, with certain papers on particular days, and marked externally. Papers are typically delivered to the school on the Monday of SATs week. Your child should expect to complete the following papers:

Day 1: Grammar and Punctuation
Spelling Test

Day 2: English Reading Test

Day 3: Maths Arithmetics (Paper 1)

Day 4: Maths Reasoning (Paper 2)
Maths Reasoning (Paper 3)

Obviously, the children will be aware that there is something going on and that they are going to be tested.  During Year 6, your child will undoubtedly get plenty of exam practice and specific work on how to answer particular questions in exams, particularly in regards to the reading comprehension exam.  Some schools will put on more pressure or expect more revision than others, with many offering extra tutoring either before or after school. It may be a motivator for some kids to try and bit harder, however, many find it stressful.

Our Advice:

You can also help your child at home in the following ways:

Chat to the teacher about where your child is at and if there are areas for improvement.

Keep to routine by making sure they are well rested and get plenty of exercise.  Avoid late nights or sleepovers during this time.

Talk to them about why tests are important but also not to worry.  Keep up the communication so that they can tell you how they feel.

Talk about stories, books and characters.  Read them stories and hear them read.  Play story CDs in the car.  It helps children to hear stories before they write them.  Much children’s TV is chopped up into short or fast moving chunks that don’t hold any narrative, so minimise this.

Practice and re-enforce basic maths skills such as timed tables.  It’s an essential skill that will  improve accuracy but also fluency (getting it right but also completing more questions).

Suggested Links:

Here is a link to Past Papers:

KS 2 Year 6 Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling Past Paper

KS 2 Year 6 Reading Assessment Booklet

KS 2 Year 6 Reading Assessment Questions

KS 2 Year 6 Maths Paper 1 (Arithmetic)

KS 2 Year 6 Maths Paper 2 (Reasoning)

KS 2 Year 6 Maths Pape 3 (Reasoning)

We recommend Andrew Brodie books especially for maths.

Also CPG SATs revision books are great for maths and English.

In the end it is better that issues are flagged up now if they need extra support.  SATs should be information for you and the school about your child’s progress rather than their performance.  If you would like to book a free assessment with us to get professional advice then click here…

Common Questions About Our Tuition Services

Ask A Question And We Will Answer

In this article we answer some of the common questions that parents ask.  We hope that you will find it useful.

Is it One to One?

Yes, but each tutor has four or five students at a time.  They are able to give each student one to one attention, even though they may be learning different subjects or be different ages.  Each week, the tutor will plan a individual programme for your child to help them with any areas of weakness.  Because all the planning and resources are prepared in advance, the tutor is able to teach each student something new each session.

Will you Come to Our Home?

No, all of our tutoring is done in our centres so your child has access to all of our learning packages and technology in an optimal learning environment, without any distractions.  Try homeschooltutoring…

Do You Do Online Tuition?

No, we do not have an online offer at the moment.  We feel that we can deliver the best quality lessons in person and we feel that children respond better when teachers are present in the room.

How long will it take to solve my child’s problem?

Every child is different, so it’s important they come in for a FREE Assessment so we can come up with a plan and goals, for them to work towards. We don’t know how long it will take, but we promise to give you honest feedback about progress. Every session that your child attends is individually planned and adapted to suit their particular needs. We aim to unlock areas of difficulty as soon as we can for each child.

How do I know that my child will improve?

We guarantee to work with your child until they feel confident to flourish and no longer feel daunted by the problematic area. Combined with our expert tutoring, their school work and extra homework from us; your child will feel supported, encouraged and will make progress in the areas you are concerned about.

Can you tutor my child with a Special Educational Need?

We are not a SEN centre, but because we tailor our lesson plans to the specific needs of each child we have taught children with diagnosed ADHD, Aspergers, Dyslexia, Autism and others in the past.  If your child falls into one of these categories it’s very important you get in touch and set up an interview with us and an assessment. Then, we can establish whether we can effectively tutor your child.

Our Portsmouth Centre has wheelchair access and the use of a disabled toilet. We want to offer the best for all the children we tutor, so this is a very important process.  We are always willing to go the extra mile regardless of any special need. Please call for more details.

If you have a question or concern why don’t you email us at tutors@ilovetolearn.co.uk

Please find more FAQs here…

New Fareham Tuition Centre Open Party!

New Tuition Centre Opening Party Sat 10th Feb

Come and celebrate the opening of our new tuition centre.  We are giving away cake, I Love to Learn T-shirts and balloons.   Have a look around, play some educational games and chat to the tutors!

Please feel free to drop in and find out more, even if you are not thinking about getting help at the moment.  It is a free event so all are welcome.  Whether it is for now or the future, for reading, writing, spelling or maths; we are happy to talk.  Your child might be getting closer to SATs, GCSEs, or you may be considering 11 plus/common entrance exams.  We are here to help all children from 6-16 and all abilities.

Time: 12.30-1.30pm

Date: Sat 10th February 2018

Place:  4 Delta Business Park, Salterns Lane, Fareham, PO16 0QS.

The latest addition to after-school education in Fareham is now open with the I Love to Learn Professional Tuition Centre now officially in operation.  We have already got lots of students studying with us and are open on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

We will be offering a free assessment to every child who attends the event.  This is a chance for you to get a detailed snap shot of your child’s educational progress.  Please talk to us about how to arrange this.

Parking is free in the business park and we are the very first unit on the right!  We have got lots of signs up now so you can’t miss us!

Click here to find out more…

Meet the Fareham Centre Director

Meet the Centre Director: Howard Jones

Howard is the Centre Director. He is a secondary teacher with over 13 years experience and has now tutored 6 to 16 year olds for 13 years. He loves to teach all topics but especially secondary Maths. He is passionate about education and love seeing children reach their full potential. He enjoys politics, running and reading but not at the same time! He is married to Linda and they have two fantastic children.

Click here to find out more about tuition in Fareham…

Loving to Learn: Activities and tasks that your child Can Do!

After the assessment we use their results to create an individual plan for your child.  It will focus on any areas of weakness and allow us to set work at the right level.  We will give your child work that they can do so their confidence and feeling of success returns. We will ensure that in each lesson they will discover success and also find a challenge. Homework is set to practice and repeat their learning- this helps them to retain it!

Meet Our Fantastic and Friendly Tutors

Two more great tutors who have recently joined the team!

How it works

How It Works

Tutoring children to learn and love the journey!

Enthusiasm-Honesty-Commitment-Professionalism-Patience-Joy-Excitement–Fun-Overcoming-Achieving-Challenge

What we offer

• A FREE Assessment for every child
• A dedicated learning space with bit of ‘Love to Learn’ magic
• Expert tutors who are dedicated to your children
• A professional individual lesson plan
• Fun ways to work through computer activities, structured worksheets, workbooks and audio resources
• Honest, regular feedback and re-assessment of progress

Loving to Learn:

Work your child Can Do!

After the assessment we use the result to make an individual plan for your child.  It will focus on any areas of weakness and allows us to set work at the right level.  We will give your child work that they can do so their confidence and feeling of success returns.

Professional Tutors

Our tutoring consists of one-on-one tuition in a small group with a fully qualified teacher. We will discuss and explain the work to your child (and not just plough through worksheets).  We see the best progress from children who are with us for six to nine months.

As everyone works in different ways so we cannot guarantee progress.  We ask that the homework given is completed so we can check how students are getting on when we are not around.  We also ask that students attend as regularly and punctually as possible.  We want to make every minute count, so it is important the learning process is not disrupted.

Loving the Journey:

We will give honest verbal feedback at the end of every session.  Once the child has reached the goal agreed, we will recommend that the child be re-assessed or graduated from the programme.

If you want to discuss progress or anything else about your child, please do not hesitate to make an appointment with us. We never want to waste anyone’s money so you are not locked in for any period of time.  If for any reason you want to stop you are free to give two weeks notice.

Registered with OFSTED

I Love to Learn is registered with the OFSTED ( No. EY387054), and adhere to strict regulations with regard to the recruitment and vetting of staff. This will provide you with peace of mind when you send your child for tutoring the best possible teaching from experienced, qualified teachers. An additional benefit of choosing us is that you can pay for our services with childcare vouchers.

Tutor Profiles

Tutors at I Love to Learn

Howard Jones:

is the Centre Director. He is a secondary teacher with over 13 years experience and has now tutored 6 to 16 year olds for 12 years. Howard loves to teach all topics but especially senior Maths. He is passionate about education and seeing children reach their full potential. He enjoys politics, running and reading; but not at the same time! He is married to Linda and they have two fantastic children.

Linda Jones:

is the Co-Director with Howard. She has a huge amount of primary experience, having been a Literacy Coordinator in West Sussex, and Literacy Development teacher here in Portsmouth. Linda is now dedicated to perfecting students’ skills through tutoring. She finds working with children energising! She also enjoys cooking and playing Boggle.

Transition to a New School

Blasting Though to the Next Level!

Many of our little superheroes will soon be pushing through to the next level at school.  This may be a transition between Infant to Junior or Junior to Senior.  Even changing year groups can be a lot for younger children.

Do you remember the feeling of excitement and fear of going up to a new class or school?

Now is a good time to talk to your kids about these changes.  Fear of the unknown is the worst thing

especially for imaginative young minds.

It is a good idea to ask your child to write a list of questions themselves.  You never know what their concerns might be.

Talk to the Teacher

Always talk to the new teacher or school about your child’s special needs, personality, strengths and weaknesses.  Understanding a child is usually a great way to help teach that child.

Practical preparations are important also to help the child get ready mentally.  A new uniform or bag might seem a small thing, but it might help your little superhero think themselves into a new role.

If you do have any concerns about your child’s progress in reading, writing, spelling and maths please do not hesitate to call Howard and Linda on 023 93 968 626 or click on the Assessment Request button!

Overcoming Challenges (like SATs)!

YOU CAN DO IT!

You may have noticed but SATs seem to have had a bad press recently.  As parents, tutors and teachers, how should we respond to this?  Are we setting kids up for failure and depression?

I spoke to someone who didn’t pass her 11+ exam many year ago. She said, “I failed when I was at that age, I was a failure because I didn’t pass the 11+.”

She still felt the pain of this many years later.  Should we blame a system for damaging and hurtfully labelling children?

Prof M Seligman in ‘Learned Optimism’ says that we can teach our children to deal with challenges if we help them fight the worst bully of all, themselves.  It’s that little voice that they hear when things go wrong.  “You’re not good enough, you can’t do it, you never will.”

SOME SUGGESTIONS

1. When things go wrong be a good model, don’t say ‘I’m such an idiot’ (which is permanent) but ‘I am having a bad day’(which is temporary).
2.  If, for example, your child gets shouted at by a teacher and feels down, explore with them what that experience makes them believe e.g. he hates me, the class thinks I am stupid.

   

   Help them dispute this by making it less personal e.g. He shouts at everyone, the class knows this.  You may want to go through some practice scenarios to help your child develop these skills.

3.  If they do something well, say something like, ‘because you practised hard you have become much better/faster/stronger.’(personal, they did it)  ‘How do you feel?  I would feel great if I could have done that at your age.’ (feeling good gives them energy)
4.  If they say ‘I hate maths’ (a permanent negative belief), say ‘You’re just finding it difficult right now but you can work at it.’ (temporary and they can change)

We can’t avoid difficult things in life, and the evidence is that responding with a positive optimistic style is the best way to overcome adversity.  So, ‘Onwards and upwards’ as my mother used to say!

Take a look at this great video. https://youtu.be/2hHNq45rEnU

Find out more about SATS and get SATS resources….

SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMME 2016

Summer School- 22nd -26th August

Maths and English Tuition

Every year we have put on a fun and popular summer school for children aged 6-16.  Everyone gets a full 10 hours of expert tuition during the week.  We are able to concentrate on any areas of weakness, and really boost each child’s confidence.

Tuition takes place for 2 hours a day for 5 days, 9-11am or 12-2pm and costs £195.  Individual plans and all abilities catered for.

1. Primary Maths and English Catch-up.

A great way to reinforce learning during the long holiday.

2. Getting Ready for Secondary School.

Make sure your child enters secondary school with the most skills and confidence possible.

3. GCSE Revision Programme
   

Excellent for GCSE Maths & English students to focus on key skills and areas or weakness.

Sport and Tuition All Day Programme

We also have a joint programme with Portsmouth Schools Trampolining to provide trampolining, tennis and gymnastics every afternoon until 3pm.   This takes place at Priory Tennis, the children will learn new skills, and achieve a badge and certificate in Gymnastics at the end of the week.

You can book both Sport and Tuition for the special price of £270 £240 for 5 days 9am-3pm.  The children are supervised over lunch and just a packed lunch is needed. Suitable for 6-12 year olds.

Childcare Vouchers Accepted

Child care vouchers accepted.  If you receive Working Families Tax Credit you may receive up to 70% of the fees.

Please fill out the form to enquire

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