Versa Education

If your child is in Year 1, they’ll be taking the Phonics Screening Check this June.

It’s a short 1:1 check with their teacher, designed to see how well children can use their phonics knowledge to decode unfamiliar words.

One thing that often surprises parents? Children are asked to read both real words and “alien words” 👽

The check isn’t testing memory. It’s assessing whether children can apply their phonics skills to words they’ve never seen before.

In this post you’ll find:
✨ What the check involves
✨ Why alien words are included
✨ The expected standard
✨ Simple ways to support your child at home

Save this post for later and share it with another Year 1 parent who might find it helpful 💜

Did you know about this test?

Most Year 4 parents don’t realise their child will sit a national multiplication test in June.

The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is designed to assess children’s recall of times tables up to 12 × 12.

Swipe through for the key facts every parent should know.

Do you have any questions about the MTC? Leave them below and I’ll answer them 💜🩵

SATs are over 💜

Well done Year 6 children, parents and teachers.

Children 🩵
You showed resilience, bravery and determination this week. But SATs will never measure your kindness, creativity, humour or the amazing person you are.

Parents 🩵
Thank you for the revision sessions, encouragement, pep talks and emotional support behind the scenes.

Teachers 🩵
Thank you for the breakfasts, interventions, booster groups and calm classrooms. SATs week takes so much care, patience and hard work.

And now…
The tests are finished.
Childhood continues.

Enjoy the rest of their last year of primary school! 💜🩵

One SATs day left 💜

By this point, many children are mentally tired, emotionally drained and putting pressure on themselves to “do well”.

Tomorrow is just one more paper.

Children do not need hours of revision tonight.
They need rest, reassurance and calm.

A confident child who feels supported will always perform better than a stressed child who feels overwhelmed.

You have all worked so hard already 🩵

Save this for tonight if your child needs a little encouragement 💜

SATs Day 2 is over 💜

Tomorrow’s maths papers can feel daunting for some children. Especially the reasoning paper where there’s more reading, explaining and problem solving involved.

Remind your child tonight that:
⭐️one tricky question does not define the whole paper
⭐️skipping and coming back is a good strategy
⭐️confidence matters more than perfection

A calm evening, reassurance and rest will help far more than panic revision 💜

I’ve also included a simple grounding activity at the end of this post to help settle anxious thoughts tonight. 🩵💜

SATs Day 1 is done 💜

Tomorrow’s reading paper is often the test children find the most mentally tiring, especially by the final text as they get progressively more challenging.

If your child found today emotional, overwhelming or exhausting, that is completely normal.

Tonight, rest, reassurance and an early night matter far more than hours of extra revision.

I’ve included a simple mindfulness activity at the end of this post that you can try together tonight.

How did today go for your child? 💜🩵

Good luck to every Year 6 child starting SATs today 💜

You have worked hard for this.
Believe in yourself; you can do it! 🌟

Tomorrow might feel big for children and parents alike 💜

But schools will do everything they can to help children feel calm, settled and supported during SATs week.

Tonight does not need to be filled with pressure or hours of revision.

A calm evening, reassurance and a good night’s sleep matter more than last-minute cramming 💜

I’ve included a simple mindfulness activity in this post that you can try together tonight.

Saving this for tomorrow morning might help 💜

SATs week can feel overwhelming for parents too 💜

But calm, reassurance and confidence matter more than perfection.

From a Year 6 teacher:
You are probably doing better than you think.

SATs week can feel overwhelming for parents too 💜

But calm, reassurance and confidence matter more than perfection.

From a Year 6 teacher:
You are probably doing better than you think.