DfE-Funded – East Midlands KS2 SATs Support Sessions - Lincolnshire

Supporting Year 6 teachers through KS2 SATs

As the KS2 SATs period approaches, Year 6 teams are juggling high expectations with the everyday realities of classroom life. You're not just preparing pupils for assessments, you're managing workload, supporting colleagues and trying to make sure nothing important gets missed in the run up to May.

This session is part of a growing regional programme designed to help with exactly that.

Last year, our KS2 SATs Support Network brought Year 6 teachers and school leaders together across three regional events, alongside a library of free resources including presentations and expert videos. The response told us a lot. Teachers valued having direct access to expert input, the chance to learn from colleagues facing the same challenges, and practical guidance they could take straight back into the classroom, rather than more theory to file away.

This year, we're building on that. This face to face session brings together Year 6 teachers from across the region for a day of workshops shaped around the specific needs of your area, alongside a dedicated SEND session covering pupil groupings and common assessment pitfalls.

You'll come away with strategies you can use straight away, a stronger sense of what's working elsewhere, and a bit of reassurance that you're not tackling this alone.

Session Features:

• Safe and supportive environment – time and space to reflect, share and learn

• Practitioner-led inputs – guidance shaped around the specific needs of your region

• Peer learning opportunities – fostering honest conversations in a professional and respectful space

• Practical insights into key challenges, including:

  • SEND considerations, groupings, and compliance

  • Effective styles and approaches to assessment preparation

• Access to shared resources, including:

  • A regional Padlet of high-quality tools and materials

  • Recordings of key expert inputs for future reference

• Ongoing community-building – these events aim to spark a professional network that continues beyond the sessions to support Year 6 colleagues throughout the year

Who’s Involved?

Sessions will be designed and facilitated by experienced school leaders and Year 6 specialists, with additional input and support from:

• Multi-Academy Trust colleagues

• Local Authority and MAT moderation teams

• DfE-funded partners, including curriculum and subject hubs

Confirmed workshops

Workshop 1: Accelerating Writing for disadvantaged pupils
Facilitated by Paul Singleton, Keystone Academy Trust.

This session focuses on accelerating writing progress for disadvantaged pupils, introducing pupil conferencing techniques and the 'full loop cycle' to build strong progress within lessons. It looks at how practitioners can raise ambition for pupils working towards the expected standard, with a focus on embedding accuracy in the teaching of punctuation and grammar, and how tailored tracking is used to accelerate progress across the board.

Workshop 2: Pedagogy with purpose
Facilitated by Nicola Gough, St Mary's C of E

This session focuses on disadvantaged provision to secure the expected standard and above. It opens with a look at developing a strong sense of belonging for FSM, pupil premium and SEND learners to build an aspirational culture and ethos, before moving into the teaching and learning pedagogy behind it, using Rosenshine's principles to empower staff and provide consistency across all classes. The session closes with a case study exploring aspirational provision for a pupil premium pupil who joined the school only two years before SATs, starting well below age related expectations, and went on to secure the expected standard.

Workshop 3: Inclusion and the 3 3 3 method
Facilitator: Simon Green, The Marton Academy

This session looks at devising quality provision that "insights the competition," rapidly increasing pupils' sense of motivation and self belief. It introduces the 3, 3, 3 method for addressing prior learning recaps and anticipating misconceptions before they happen, before moving into a case study, "What Made the Difference," which explores how the school has raised aspirations for disadvantaged pupils despite a very low ADACI score and a growing population of SEND, pupil premium and free school meals pupils on roll, delivering consistently high combined outcomes above national, year on year.

Workshop 4: Fluency, Reasoning and Quality First Maths

Facilitator TBC.

An expert led workshop supporting colleagues to inspire and challenge mathematical thinking, refine pedagogy and strengthen quality first teaching. Targeted around regional and local data outcomes, each session focuses on delivering high quality provision for disadvantaged and SEND learners. Maths specialists will lead an exciting, practical workshop on developing pupils’ fluency and multiplicative reasoning, and explore SATs questions. They will also guide practitioners in developing Teaching Assistants to effectively support aspirational practice in the classroom.

SEND Workshop - Exploring Intersectionality Across the Four Areas of Need

Facilitated by Amy Storer, Leadership, Inclusion & Behaviour Specialist.

Gain a deeper understanding of intersectionality within SEND by exploring how the four primary areas of need can overlap and influence pupils' experiences. This session will consider the implications for inclusive practice and how a more holistic approach can help all learners thrive.

Full agenda details will be released soon. Workshop information may be subject to change.