MINISTERS are under pressure to scrap testing of five-year-olds after reports some pupils have been distressed by the exercise.

The Scottish Labour Party said it was time to end standardised assessments for pupils in the first year of primary school.

The call came after anecdotal evidence emerged that some young children are struggling to cope with the computerised assessments - which can take up to 45 minutes.

Comments gathered for a report by parent body Connect highlighted a number of concerns including reports that one pupil's eyes had "filled with tears" while another had been "terrified".

One teacher said: "With so many children suffering from low self-esteem and an increase in mental health issues, why is this happening? I truly despair.”

Teachers have also highlighted concerns over technical problems, the quality of the assessments and the amount of time they take to administer.

However, other comments were positive with one teacher saying none of her class had been "stressed or worried" after she described it to pupils as a "quiz".

Iain Gray, education spokesman for the Scottish Labour Party, said: “The SNP Government’s standardised testing policy was made up on the hoof by Nicola Sturgeon and has been a shambles ever since.

“Scotland’s children are paying the price, especially five year olds in P1. We were told these tests would not be high stakes, but these stories of young children being reduced to tears by testing show that was meaningless.

“Teachers are doing their best, but clearly struggling to administer badly designed and inappropriate testing without the resources to do it."

Similar concerns were raised by MSPs earlier this week as the education committee questioned John Swinney, the Education Secretary.

Mr Swinney said he was "absolutely committed" to continuing literacy and numeracy assessments, but was "very alert" to the concerns of teachers.

He said: "There have been over 400,000 Scottish national standardised assessments undertaken so far, and I'm hearing some feedback about the P1 assessments, but I've not been inundated with that, but I'm very open to the question.

"The P1 assessment, if properly handled, will be a pretty straightforward experience for a child because it's not presented in exam circumstances like the Scottish Qualifications Authority specialise in, it should be done in a very relaxed environment within the classroom.

"What it will help us with is to assess how much progress we are making year by year in closing the poverty-related attainment gap."

The tests were introduced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as a response to concerns over falling standards of literacy and numeracy and a lack of consistent data across the country.

However, critics argue the move to test pupils in the first year of primary - as well as P4, P7 and S3 - puts children and teachers under too much pressure.

Charity Upstart Scotland said earlier this year: "There is plenty of evidence that testing children at this age has no statistical reliability.

"It does, however, lead to greater concentration on specific skills teaching, growing anxiety on the part of parents, teachers and children and less time for what research tells us the under-sevens really need which is learning through play."