Can we just take a moment to talk about something?
Year 1 phonics tests. Tests for 5 year olds.
What the actual fuck.
Reuben is now coming up to his Year one phonics testing and, after a recent meeting with his teacher, we’ve discovered that he isn’t quite at the (ahem, unobtainable) level that is required of him. He needs a bit of a bump graft to push him to the level he needs to be at to pass these tests. Now, I appreciate that everyone has levels which they have to obtain and that the argument for tests at such a young age is that it helps us keep an eye on kids and see who is dropping behind and who needs challenging more.
Yet, here I am, calling bullshit.
Tests, especially at this age, are nothing more than a government initiative to test teaching standards, putting unnecessary pressure on already over stretched teaching staff and, much more importantly in my eyes, children as young as 5 years old.
FIVE. Why would you be thinking about anything other than which power ranger is cooler or which nostril to pick first at the age of five? It’s appalling and yet another example of a flawed education system.
To make matters worse, they tests are based exclusively on phonics, with a mix of Blended nonsense words (useful) and real words that he is expected to segment and blend together. I have always been a firm believer that tests prove one thing: that you can pass tests and not your actual knowledge of the subject matter. When Reuben is focused and at home, he kicks ass at phonics – something he demonstrated not so long ago when he correctly sounded out F-U-CK. no mean feat to get that double CK sound at the end..: all the cringe.
Yet, despite doing well at home, reading six books from school a week alongside completing a maths sheet and an English sheet, he isn’t meeting minimum levels at school. I have to question if I would meet the minimum myself to be honest.
Now I’ve mentioned it, that is another thing that frustrates the living daylights out of me: homework. At 5. Why? As someone who has always been a champion of homework (bough my secondary maths tutor Mr Hubery may disagree on that point…) I feel like five years old is really too young to be forcing homework on children. They spend six hours, a full day for anyone, learning and working at school, only to find that when they get home their parents dive on hem with “homework before you play!” We’re creating a never ending cycle for children, a cycle that ultimately is going to put a dampener on their enjoyment of learning.
At what point did young children stop being just young children and start being a statistic that is used to lobby for ofsted rankings? At what point did children become so burdened?
What are your thoughts? Tests and homework: too much too soon or at I just another mother than needs to push harder?
H 🙂
I understanding the reading at home and perhaps doing a little bit of practice but I never remember getting proper homework at that age, seems ridiculous! An actual test shouldn’t be a thing at that age, you don’t need tests to monitor progress!
Urgh, I am SO with you on this. Freddie is in year 1, and whilst he is apparently doing okay with phonics etc, I’m still so against testing like this at this age, it’s so unnecessary. Like you said, I don’t want him to be put off learning due to the pressure- learning at this age should be fun. Our school is quite good in that we don’t have too much ‘extra’ homework, but what they do have each week (reading, spellings, maths game on the computer) is more than enough! x
There is a lot more pressure on children to reach certain standards, the problem is it is a catch 22 situation as the level of teaching in many cases is inadequate. I really do worry about my girls and want to move schools because of it but there seems to be a shortage of good schools in London.
Ah bit controversial but I think the earlier the testing the better. Had my nephew been tested he might have been helped with the problems and issues he now has with reading and writing x
I really dont agree with testing kids. I think it causes so much unnecessary stress and pressure. I felt it badly when I was a kid xxx
No way ho say! My mummy would be pee’d off if I brought homework back at 5 years. When I start school in September she’s going to be worried about all the tests and the impact it has of my confidence and wellbeing.
My son is in year 1 and at our school there is no homework until year 3, except occasional projects over the holidays (the last one he had was he had to draw our house, so hardly trying homework) and the test they don’t know is a test (same with the year 2 sats, they don’t tell them it is a test just that it is a workbook and they aren’t allowed to talk). No pressure, no problem x
Ah I am so with you, our eldest is in year one and had practise tests for these during the hols which needless to say we haven’t done. She is 6 and on holiday to play and have a break from too formal (in my opinion) learning. I reckon at this age they should be playing (in Denmark they haven’t even started school at this age!) hope you are well, loving your blog xx
I don’t have children but it doesn’t make me want to agree with you more on this. My wife is a Nursery Manager and she see’s so much difference in development and they have such a different way of letting children learn. Which is what they do, let children learn. They choose what they want to do. Nothing is forced.
I agree literacy and numeracy is a key skill, they are basic skills we all need but you can learn more at home at 5 by interactive play rather than homework.
We home educate our kids and this is one of the reasons why, however my boy is almost five and ASD non verbal so wouldn’t be able to be in regular school.
I feel your pain. Little man is in Year 3 and was sent home a huge list of things to do during half-term. Hubby insists that we shouldn’t do any of the homework as he is holiday!
This is why we are thinking about home schooling. I think that testing 5 year olds is just crazy.
ive literally just taken my children out of school for these reasons well part of them just recently . too much pressure on children , no need for such tests so early on x
I feel exactly the same about how much they expect of children and all your points I agree with i totally think there is so much pressure on children to achieve to a standard that I feel is too advanced for children of 5 years that haven’t been at school very long.
My 7yo daughter is in Year 2. In May she will be having SATS tests. Her two big sisters have been through it already in previous years and, to be fair, it didn’t stress them out at all (the school call them ‘quizzes’). However, this year we have received a letter from the school inviting us parents to a meeting to “help your children revise for their tests”. Really?! Erm, no. I’m not going to be helping my 7yo, unicorn-and-glitter-loving daughter revise for tests that supposedly measure how ‘well’ she’s doing. She’s doing just fine tank you very much. She is kind, funny, imaginative and loving. I politely declined their invitation. This new curriculum is nuts.
Wait? What? They seriously do tests for Year 1? What the actual f***… My daughter’s not even in school yet and I am pissed off by that! It’s too bloody early! And will make the whole process of learning a chore, at such a young age!
I am with you all the way, and am known for voicing my views on this through my family and friends, they are kids and should be able to be kids, and I hated phonics with a passion. Be like me, if my Daughter just did not get her homework, I would give in and say dont worry and would speak to the teacher, I did like homework (a bit older than 5) as it gave me an insite on what she was learning, rather than she did nothing at school. Wait until you reach SATS in year 6, unfortunately I started writing my blog a couple of months after this event, but I will still have a lot to add to any posts about this subject. Let them be kids x
I work in education so I can assure you stuff like this really irritates me. I think we should be developing our young people socially and mentally rather than rushing them to meet specific standards. They all grow up so quickly after all and being a child should be about discovering and understanding rather than making sure they’re at the ‘right level’ set out by the government. Wishing Reuben well and regardless of the outcome, he’s doing well and has a loving and supportive family beside him xx
Thank you lovely – I have as of yet to find an educator who actually supports such early testing! It’s infuriating and is just another hoop for teachers to jump through when they are already struggling to navigate the obstacle course hat the profession has become. x