There are no longer statutory assessments at the end of key Stage 1, however SATS can still be used as an optional assessment tool to support teacher assessment judgements at the end of Year 2.
In our school at the end of Key Stage 1, teachers use a range of formative assessments to assess the standard that your child is working at in English (reading, writing and grammar), maths, and science. To help them make these formative assessments, particularly in relation to reading and maths, they may use an optional summative assessment or test known as standard attainment tests or SATS.
These tests are only an optional supporting measure and do not override all the work and progress children make throughout the course of the year. They are simply to help the teacher to assess what still needs to taught or reinforced before your child moves up to Key Stage 2. Traditionally KS1 SATs took place in May.
Optional SATS assess English skills through two papers; both consist of reading a variety of text types and responding to questions.
Optional SATS can also be to assess English grammar, punctuation, and spelling. This involves two tests; one relating to spelling and the other focusing grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
Optional Maths SATS consist of two papers, one focusing on arithmetic and another focusing on reasoning to assess calculation skills.