Just to get you thinking while you are waiting… If I borrow a million pounds am I a millionaire? Could a fly cause a plane to crash? If I take all of the books out of a library is it still a library? When you comb your hair is it art? (How do you think your child would answer these questions?)

Merlin and Kestrel Class Welcome to Year 6 Merlin and Kestrel Class

Who’s who? Merlin Class Mr Burton Class teacher/Year 5-6 Leader Mrs Blake Maths Teaching Assistant (works with both classes) Mrs Talbot Teaching Assistant Miss Wells and Madame Markham take the children for Music and French on Thursday afternoons.

Who’s who? Kestrel Class Mrs Hancock Class teacher Mrs Talbot Teaching Assistant Mrs Blake Maths Teaching Assistant (works with both classes) Miss Wells and Madame Markham take the children for Music and French on Thursday afternoons.

Core Subject Homework English: Set on Tuesday, due in on the following Friday Maths: Set on Tuesday, due in on the following Friday.

Spellings Times Tables Spellings are tested and a new list set every Tuesday. Times Tables The children in Mr Burton and Mrs Hancock's classes will be tested on times tables every other week.

Diaries Children will use their diary to: Regularly record their reading at school and home To record their spelling lists To write down what they need to do for Maths, English and Topic homework - Please sign your child's diary every weekend for the week just completed. - We collect, check and sign diaries every Friday.

PE and Games When: On a Tuesday (PE) and Thursday (Games) Indoor kit: Blue/black shorts, white t-shirt, plimsolls or indoor trainers. Outdoor kit: Blue/black trousers, white t-shirt, blue or black sweatshirt, outdoor trainers.

SATs Tests What: Maths, Reading, Spelling/Punctuation and Grammar When: Monday 13th to Thursday 16th May 2019 What: Maths, Reading, Spelling/Punctuation and Grammar Writing will be teacher assessed These test results are used by secondary schools to help them put children into sets. They are also collected by the Government to set targets for expected GCSE results. Schools selected for science sampling will need to be available to administer the tests within the 2 week period from Monday 4th June 2018. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/key-stage-1-and-key-stage-2-test-dates#to-2018-academic-year

Reading SATs Test The reading test will be a single paper with questions based on several passages of text. Your child will have one hour, including reading time, to complete the test. There will be a selection of question types, including: Ranking/ordering, e.g. ‘Number the events below to show the order in which they happen in the story’ Labelling, e.g. ‘Label the text to show the title of the story’ Find and copy, e.g. ‘Find and copy one word that suggests what the weather is like in the story’ Open-ended response, e.g. ‘Look at the sentence that begins Once upon a time. How does the writer increase the tension throughout this paragraph? Explain fully, referring to the text in your answer.’

Maths SATs Tests Children will sit three papers in maths: Paper 1: Arithmetic - 30 minutes Papers 2 and 3: Reasoning - 40 minutes per paper - Paper 1 will consist of fixed response questions, where children have to give the correct answer to calculations, including long multiplication and division.  - Papers 2 and 3 will involve a number of question types, including: Multiple choice True or false (and explain your reasoning) Constrained questions, e.g. giving the answer to a calculation Drawing a shape or completing a table or chart, a problem

Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling SATs Test The grammar, punctuation and spelling test will consist of two parts: a grammar and punctuation paper requiring short answers, lasting 45 minutes, and an spelling test of 20 words, lasting around 15 minutes. The grammar and punctuation test will include two sub-types of questions: - Selected response, e.g. ‘Identify the adjectives in the sentence below’ - Constructed response, e.g. ‘Correct/complete/rewrite the sentence below,’ or, ‘The sentence below has an apostrophe missing. Explain why it needs an apostrophe.’

Our Topic Learning - The Industrial Revolution/The Victorians Below is an idea of the topics we will be covering this year. If you have any expertise or resources you feel would benefit the below areas please see your child’s class teacher: - The Industrial Revolution/The Victorians - The Tudors - Natural Disasters

How can I help at home? Help your child to learn number facts (especially their times tables) Help your child to learn their spellings Listen to your child read, question them/discuss what they have read and ensure they are filling in their reading record Ask your child about their weekly ‘Big Write’ Ask if you can help with homework and help them to check for errors 

Do you feel left behind when it comes to the latest Apps that your children are using? Children and young people today are using the immense power of digital media to explore, connect, create and learn in ways never before imagined. With this power, young people have extraordinary opportunities, and yet they face many potential pitfalls.

What can you do to keep your children safe online? You don’t need to be an expert on the internet to help keep your child safe online. The best advice is to keep children’s internet usage open and honest between them and yourselves. If you are concerned with your child’s safety online however please: Talk to them about it. Let your child’s class teacher and/or our E-Safety Leader (Mr Burton) know your concerns and we can work together to support your child and yourselves. Do some research: saferinternet.org.uk NSPCC.co.uk Online Safety Among many others

Finally some key dates for you… Victorian Drama Day: Monday 8th October Victorian Exhibition: Monday 19th November (18:30-19:30) Christmas Play: Tuesday 18th December (19:00-20:00) PGL: Friday 28th June to Monday 1st July 2019 LMS Les Miserables Production: Wednesday 17th October