Helping Primary School Pupils Approach Assessments with Confidence
Assessments and tests like SATs, 11+ Exam, phonics screenings and spelling tests are a familiar part of primary school life. But for many pupils, they bring real pressure. Be Your Best gives pupils simple, structured guidance to approach assessments with confidence, along with practical strategies to use before, during and after.Preparing for assessments is not only about knowledge.
Why This Matters
Preparing for assessments is not only about knowledge.
Pupils also benefit from feeling calm, focused and able to respond to their thoughts and emotions.
Some pupils may feel unsure how to approach the experience of assessments. Providing clear coping strategies can help pupils feel more settled and able to engage positively.
How Be Your Best Supports Pupils:
- Supports pupils to approach assessments with greater confidence
- Builds emotional awareness, resilience and self-confidence
- Provides practical strategies to manage pressure and stay focused
- Encourages a constructive and positive approach to assessments
- Helps pupils reflect on their effort and progress after assessments
How This Supports Wellbeing and Mental Health Education
The programme supports pupils to recognise how their thoughts and feelings influence their experience of assessments, and gives them practical strategies for how to respond in a calm and focused way.
By developing emotional awareness alongside practical strategies, pupils are better able to manage pressure and approach assessments in a balanced way.
The content links closely to the wider myHappymind wellbeing curriculum, reinforcing key concepts such as developing a positive mindset, building mental fitness and recognising personal strengths.
Where This Can Be Used
- In the classroom during the lead-up to assessments
- As part of SATs preparation, the 11+ Exam or other more regular tests such as spelling
- In small group or targeted support sessions
- At home through the parent app
- As part of the wider Year 6 transition support
Access or Implementation Information
Be Your Best is a short, flexible programme that fits easily into the school day.
- Five short video sessions in the lead-up to assessments
- One supportive session to use the day before the test
- One supportive session to use after the assessment
- Accompanying pupil workbook for reflection after each session
- Optional podcast version for flexible access
- Available on the parent app for use at home
The programme is designed to support pupils before, during and after assessments, providing a consistent structure throughout the experience.
Assessments can be an important moment for primary age pupils, but they do not need to feel overwhelming. With the right support, pupils are better able to approach them with confidence and a clearer sense of how to manage the experience.
Be Your Best provides a simple, structured way to help pupils feel more prepared, stay focused and recognise their effort both during and after assessments.
Interested in Finding out More?
Already a myHappymind school? Contact your Customer Happiness Manager or email hello@myhappymind.org to get started.
New to myHappymind? Book a call with our team today:
FAQs
A short programme designed to support pupils as they prepare for assessments, exams and test, with practical strategies and a focus on confidence and emotional awareness. Available as part of our whole school wellbeing programme for primary schools.
Primary school pupils with upcoming assessments, including SATs and other school-based tests.
Through short video sessions, or the podcast content if preferred, and supported by a pupil workbook.
Yes. The programme is also available on the parent app for families to use together.
