1. Year 6 2015-16 Miss Edwards (Class Costa Rica / 11) and Miss Griffiths (Class Kenya / 10)

2. Structure of the year  Terms 1 and 2 – consolidation of maths and English skills  Terms 3 and 4 – developing and applying skills in preparation for SATs assessments  Term 5 – SATs tests (week beginning 9 th May) and project work  Term 6 – Leavers’ performance, transition to secondary schools and end of year celebration

3. Organisation  English: Taught in classes. Streamed spelling groups on Streamed spelling groups on Fridays. Fridays.  Maths: Taught in streamed classes  (working at different paces) Groups will be flexible if needs Groups will be flexible if needs demand. demand. Organisation of groups will change during ‘Booster’ period.

4. This Year’s Topics….  Alone on the wide, wide sea (Geography)  Excavating Egypt (History)  The Living World (Science)  Fit For Life (Science)  Box of Memories (Design technology)  Rock ‘n’ roll (Music)  Stone Age to Iron Age (History)  Settlement (Geography)

5. Year 6: Alone on a wide, wide sea Based around the book ‘Alone on a wide, wide sea’ by Michael Morpurgo Key questions:  What is a challenge? Are challenges the same for everyone?  Which features on World maps are used by travellers to locate their position and destination?  What are the major physical features of Australia and how have they affected human activity?  What were the impacts of human resettlement on Australia?

6. How you can help  Times tables  Reading – children will be part of a guided reading group in school. During this time (once a week) they will study a short text in order to develop their reading skills. However, they must read as often as possible at home to develop fluency, comprehension and vocabulary. Reading from a range of genres and authors is important.  Reading records – We collect these in every Thursday.  Vocabulary – we will encourage your children to be ambitious in their use of vocabulary. Please ensure that they are similarly ambitious in their homework. / Introducing new vocabulary  Use links to maths and English websites on the school website  Encourage resourcefulness / independence

7. Other Information  Maths Calculation – copies of our guide for parents available on the website.  Jewellery – Ear-rings – studs only (no hoops) and nothing hanging. Taped for PE when new (6 weeks only after piercing), tape provided by parent. No decorative jewellery including rings, bracelets etc.  Watches – OK, but the child’s responsibility.  Lost property - All named. Anything left at end of term must be reclaimed or will be disposed of. Please check that your child comes home with the correct garments!

8.  Fruit – On designated days - cutting volunteers please! volunteers please!  Homework – - Year 6 will receive written homework but not every weekend. - Homework will be sent home as appropriate (to reinforce learning in class) - Written homework will often be marked in class with the children - Written homework to be brought into school by Tuesday - Weekly spellings (lists sent home termly and available on website) - Homework may include: maths, English or topic (e.g. research) - Written homework tasks should take no longer than 30 minutes for each  Reading - Children on scheme readers should take books from the appropriate level. Free readers should read a book the appropriate level. Free readers should read a book from either the book corner or home (provided it is from either the book corner or home (provided it is appropriate to their reading level). appropriate to their reading level). Reading records kept and monitored at school. Reading records kept and monitored at school. Yellow reading records provide a record of reading at home. Yellow reading records provide a record of reading at home.

9.  PE kit – not fashion show! T-shirts for houses and black shorts/tracksuit bottoms. Must be brought on a Monday and left in school until Friday or end of term. A text will be sent home if kit is not in school. If this happens twice in the same term, a phone call will be made to ensure that parents/carers are aware of what is happening.  PE bags – the best way to store PE kit at school is in a draw-string bag which will hang on a peg (without being knocked off!).  Bags – should be modest in size, our cloakrooms are overflowing!  Mobile phones – if needed (after school) they must be labelled and handed in to class teacher at the start of the day. They will be stored in the office until 3:30pm.  Come and see us! – after school please if possible

10. Yearbook / End of Primary celebration Over the course of the academic year, Year 6 pupils are given the opportunity to raise money for their commemorative yearbooks and an end-of –year event.

11. Year 6  A year full of challenges and opportunities  A time to really develop, both academically and socially  Independence, resourcefulness, responsibility  Enjoyment  We’re a team in Year 6 – all need to play our part if we are to get the most out of it.  Oldest in school – set an example.

12. E-safety Last year we dealt with the following issues:  Posting unkind messages (Facebook, Instagram, text)  Uploading images onto Instagram (inappropriate images and using images without permission)  Uploading films onto YouTube  Accessing adult sites via Instagram and on mobile phones  Playing age-inappropriate games online

13. E-safety  Please be vigilant  Please talk to your child about these issues  Experience has shown that while we do everything we can in school to teach the children about staying safe online, the message needs to be reinforced at home.  Please see E-safety links on school website (includes information for parents and children)