Teachers: Mr Lee, Miss Sharrock, Miss Northcott and Miss Hughes Teaching assistants: Miss Bodycombe, Mrs Saunders

We encourage our children at Hayes Primary School to be: confident; independent; ambitious life long learners; good communicators; polite and have good manners; resilient; open minded; willing to take risks; valued members of the community.

At Hayes Primary School we value: Respect Tolerance Responsibility Cooperation Friendship Love Courage Appreciation Honesty Understanding Thoughtfulness

Children’s Learning Our aim is to make children into independent learners. This begins in the reception classes and as they move into the juniors, they are expected to take more responsibility for their own work and resources. Please refer to the year group newsletter each half- term for information about the topics to be covered and ways you can support your child at home.

Homework & Reading Homework will be set on a Friday and will be due back into school on Wednesday (unless otherwise stated). We recommend children spend 30 minutes on each piece of homework given. In Year 6 Homework diaries are used instead of reading records. Homework diaries are not checked daily and therefore any notes to the teacher should be addressed separately. Please ensure your child has a reading book in school every day for quiet reading times. Children should be encouraged to read every day for a minimum of 10 minutes at home and complete their homework diary accordingly with a signature from an adult. Homework diaries will also be collected on a Wednesday and reading will be checked and sent home on a Friday. Children will be given a gold star for reading three times per week, silver for twice, bronze for once. Guided reading: 9:00 – 9:30 daily and based on our whole class text.

Spellings There are some changes to how spellings will be taught and assessed this year in KS2. Children are going to receive weekly spellings. They will have one spelling lesson during the week and a test on a Friday. Children will receive their new spelling list for the next week on a Friday, and will be tested the following Friday. Children will be set within their year groups for their spelling lessons so that their spellings can be personalised to meet their learning needs. The sets will be based on initial assessments currently being carried out by class teachers and we be regularly reviewed to ensure children are learning the correct spellings. The spelling test will comprise of words from the list that have been sent home to learn that week and some words that aren’t on the list, but follow the same spelling pattern. Therefore, KS2 English homework will be spelling investigation (set on a Friday) that will help the children learn their spellings ready for their test. We appreciate your support in helping your child learn their spellings at home.

Mental maths tests will take place every other week in your child’s math's set. MyMaths will be used in class and set for homework every week. Children are encouraged to play games and practice different Maths skills. Mental Maths

Assessment Ongoing teacher assessments include marking, observations and regular assessments. We will ensure that your child’s progress is closely monitored. We will give you feedback at the upcoming parents’ evenings. Parents’ evening dates:Tuesday 2 nd December Thursday 4 th December

Assessment SATs will take place between Monday 11 th May and Friday 15 th May. Children will be tested on the old National Curriculum The tests will be: Reading Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) 2 x Maths (no calculators) Mental Maths Writing will be Teacher Assessed If you want to practise with your children at home please use Rising Star books.

School Trips/Visitors Visitors Macbeth – Tuesday 14 th October Transport for London Safety & Citizenship – Autumn 2 School Trips France – 20 th - 24 th October The Globe Theatre – Autumn 2 London Eye – Spring Term

During this academic year each class will have a class assembly to share their current learning with their parents. Each assembly will take place on a Friday morning at 9.15am and the dates for each class are as follows: 6L - Friday 10 th October S – Friday 14 th November N - Friday 5 th December 2014 Assemblies

Information It is important that your child is punctual and has excellent attendance. Children in all Year 6 classes should enter the school via the back door of their classroom. Your child should arrive between 8.40 – 8.50 am. Children who arrive after this time must enter through the office. Your child will need a named PE kit (including trainers/tracksuits for outdoor PE), an art apron and their book bag in school at all times. Your child will remain in the same house as before.

Information continued… When walking out of school, children must stay on the pathways and not be running across the field/on the mound, for their safety. If your child is interested in playing a musical instrument, forms are held in the school office. Parent helpers - There is often a lot of photocopying needed to be done in Year 6. If there are any parents who would like to come in on a weekly basis for a couple of hours then please contact your child’s class teacher. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Teaching Assistants Teaching Assistants have been allocated to the year group. Additional support and interventions will take place outside of the Maths and English lessons.

Healthy Schools Please remember to send your child to school with a healthy packed lunch in a sealed box. School dinners are nutritionally balanced. Children may bring in a piece of fresh fruit for their break time snack and a named water bottle to have in class. Please remember that we are a nut free school! Please do not send your child in with any nut products. Children are encouraged to bring named water bottle into class containing water only.

Finally…… Thank you for coming this evening! If you have any questions or concerns then please do not hesitate to speak to one of the Year 6 team.