How to Support Your Child with SATs Stress (Without Making It Worse)

As May approaches, many Year 6 children start to feel the pressure building. Even confident, capable pupils can suddenly become anxious, tearful or overwhelmed when SATs are mentioned.

If your child is worrying about their SATs, you are not alone - and neither are they.

The good news? There is a lot parents can do to reduce stress, build confidence and help children perform at their best without turning home life into a revision battlefield.

First - Remember What SATs Really Are

SATs are not a measure of your child’s worth, intelligence, creativity or future success.

They are simply:

• A snapshot of how your child is doing in one particular week

• A tool schools use to understand what to teach next

• One small part of a very big picture

Secondary schools carry out their own assessments anyway.

Your child is so much more than a test score.

Why Are Children So Stressed?

Most children are not actually worried about the questions.

They are worried about:

• Letting parents or teachers down

• Failing

• Being compared to others

• Feeling “not good enough”

• The tests feeling big, serious and scary

A lot of SATs stress comes from pressure, not ability.

The Most Important Thing You Can Do: Reduce the Pressure

Children need to hear messages like:

“We’re proud of you whatever happens.”

“Just try your best - that’s all anyone can ask.”

“These tests don’t define you.”

Try to avoid:

• “These are really important”

• “You must get a good score”

• “Secondary school will judge you on this”

• Comparing them to siblings or classmates

Even very able children can crumble if they feel too much is at stake.

Keep Revision Calm, Short and Predictable

At home, little and often works far better than long, stressful sessions.

Aim for:

• 20 to 30 minutes

• 3 or 4 times a week

• Same time, same routine

• Always finish with something enjoyable

If revision regularly ends in tears, arguments or exhaustion, it is not helping.

A calm brain learns better than a stressed one.

Protect Sleep, Play and Normal Life

These are not “optional extras” - they are essential.

• Early nights

• Fresh air and movement

• Time to relax and switch off

• Time to just be a child

A rested, happy child will always perform better than an overtired, anxious one.

Let Them Talk (Without Rushing to Fix It)

If your child says:

“I’m scared I’ll mess it up.”

Try not to jump straight into solutions.

Instead:

• “That sounds really worrying.”

• “Lots of children feel like that.”

• “Tell me what part worries you most.”

Feeling heard and understood often reduces anxiety more than reassurance alone.

Build Confidence by Focusing on What They CAN Do

When children are anxious, they forget how much they already know.

Remind them:

• How much progress they’ve made

• What they’re good at

• Times they’ve succeeded before

• That effort matters more than results

Confidence leads to calm. Calm leads to better thinking.

Watch for Signs of Too Much Stress

If you notice:

• Sleep problems

• Frequent headaches or tummy aches

• Tearfulness or panic

• Avoidance or big emotional reactions

The answer is less pressure, not more work.

The Most Important Thing to Remember

A calm, confident child with slightly weaker knowledge will often outperform a stressed, anxious child who knows more.

A Final Reassurance

Your child does not need to be perfect.

They do not need to get everything right.

They just need to feel:

• Safe

• Supported

• confident enough to try their best

That is what makes the biggest difference.