"This is a stressful time": Counsellor gives advice as children in East Anglia sit SATs this week
We've spoken to a Norfolk counsellor for tips on how to support kids taking SATs this week
Last updated 11th May 2023
As primary school children across Norfolk, Suffolk and the rest of the country sit their SATs, a new report suggests primary school pupils in England are still behind in outcomes in mathematics compared with before the pandemic.
Outcomes in maths have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels in primary schools, equating to a loss of around 1.3 and 1.4 months of learning for pupils in Years 5 and 6, the study found.
The gap in reading outcomes between primary schools with high and low levels of disadvantage was still wider at the end of the 2022/23 autumn term than at the start of the pandemic, according to a report from think tank Education Policy Institute (EPI) and software firm Renaissance Learning.
However, outcomes in reading appear to have recovered in most year groups, the report adds.
The analysis looked at data from Renaissance's Star Reading and Star Maths assessments up to and including the autumn term of 2022/23.
Prior to the pandemic, the gap in outcomes in reading between primary schools with high and low levels of disadvantage was equivalent to around 11.7 months of learning.
The gap is now the equivalent of just under 12.3 months of learning, the report suggests.
"For many children, their time in education has been hugely damaged"
Jon Andrews, head of analysis at the EPI, said: "For many children, their time in education has been hugely damaged by the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Schools have been working hard to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, but it is clear that those effects are still being felt, particularly in maths and for children in more disadvantaged areas."
The report comes after Rishi Sunak announced that he wants to ensure all pupils in England study some form of maths up to the age of 18.
On the Prime Minister's plan, Mr Andrews added: "There are many obstacles to meeting that ambition, and this analysis highlights that among them is the fact that younger children have fallen behind in their maths as a result of the pandemic.
"There is a risk that government focus on education recovery is waning, and this analysis is a wake-up call that there is still much work to be done."
"The effects of the pandemic are still being felt"
James Bowen, assistant general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: "This report confirms that, while schools have done an incredible job to help pupils recover following the disruption caused by Covid, the effects of the pandemic are still being felt.
"This should be a timely reminder to the Government that now more than ever we need to see increased investment in schools so that it can put appropriate support in place for every child and young person that needs it."
A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said: "We're pleased to see that today's results highlight that children are getting back on track with their reading.
"We are supporting pupils to catch up and have made billions available for education recovery initiatives. On top of this, we are expanding our Maths Hubs programme as part of the Prime Minister's Maths to 18 ambitions.
"We remain committed to closing the attainment gap and are also increasing pupil premium funding to almost £2.9 billion in 2023-24, meaning this funding is at its highest ever level."
Tips for parents supporting children taking SATs
If your child is sitting their SATs this week, we've spoken to South Norfolk counsellor, Ruth Noble, for tips on how to support them.
She says it's important to remind them there's a bigger picture: "This is a stressful time, but there's more to life than SATs, A-Levels and GCSEs and that's important.
"At this time, it can feel like everything is focused on the exams, but kids have big, whole lives outside of them."
Ruth also says there's a difference between supporting your children and piling on added pressure: "As a parent, if you can do what you can to keep yourself level, and try not to get overstressed, then that will really help your children to keep calm...
"One of the things we know about stress and anxiety is that it kind of catches... if you're feeling stressed or anxious about the exams, your kids will pick up on it, consciously or subconsciously."