Key Stage 2 SATs are the first major assessment most children face, and for Ludlow families they carry real weight. SATs results influence secondary school setting, and in some areas they affect school placement. Our tutors prepare Year 5 and Year 6 students for all four papers — arithmetic, mathematical reasoning (Papers 2 and 3), reading, and grammar, punctuation and spelling — building confidence alongside capability.
Grammar and Spelling
The GPS paper tests grammar terminology (subordinate clauses, modal verbs, relative pronouns) alongside spelling and punctuation. It's often the paper that children in Ludlow find most unfamiliar, because the metalanguage can be confusing. Our tutors teach this vocabulary explicitly, using examples and practice questions to make abstract concepts concrete. Spelling lists are practised regularly, and common patterns are taught systematically.
Number Skills
The arithmetic paper tests calculation skills: long multiplication, long division, fractions, decimals, and percentages. There's no room for reasoning here — it's about speed and accuracy. Our tutors in Ludlow build these skills through regular practice, focusing on the methods children are expected to use and the common errors that cost marks. Fluent arithmetic is also the foundation for the two reasoning papers, so time spent here pays off twice.
When to Start
Starting in Year 5 gives the most time to fill gaps — particularly in maths, where foundational weaknesses can be hard to fix quickly. Year 6 preparation then focuses on applying those skills under test conditions. For Ludlow families who come to us in Year 6, we can still make a significant difference by targeting the topics most likely to appear and building test-taking ability rapidly. But earlier is always better, especially for children who find reading or maths genuinely difficult.
For Parents and Carers
Families know their children better than anyone. That insight is valuable — and we use it. At the start, we ask parents to share their observations: which subjects cause stress, when homework becomes a battle, what has worked or not worked before. Throughout the process, regular updates ensure families in Ludlow always have a clear picture of progress and next steps.
Learning to Learn
The aim of tutoring is not dependence — it is independence. Working with Ludlow learners always includes helping them develop effective study habits: how to plan a revision timetable, how to use active recall instead of passive re-reading, how to break large tasks into manageable steps. These meta-skills are as valuable as the subject knowledge itself, and they serve pupils long after tutoring ends.
How to Begin
If your child in Ludlow is approaching SATs, we can help them feel ready. Drop us a message to discuss where they are now and what support would make the most difference.