Welcome to year 6!
Learning for a Better Tomorrow.�
Values:
Honesty
Determination
Independence
Respect
Resilience
Kindness
Rules:
Attendance
Evidence shows that pupils who have poor attendance and punctuality do not generally achieve well and have difficulties at secondary school.
At Sunnymede, we are continuing to improve our attendance. The DfE will be monitoring the school to make sure this improves and we need parents on board in committing to keeping their child’s attendance high (ideally over 97%). Over the next few weeks, a member of the SLT or office staff will be contacting parents of any children who had an attendance below 95% last year to discuss how it could be improved.
Growth Mindset
We are continuing to develop a culture of ‘Growth Mindset’ within the school to support and encourage the children.
Each week, the children will vote for who they believe have shown a growth mindset and the winner will be awarded Neurone of the Week. The child will then have the chance to share how they have demonstrated a growth mindset outside of school.
Uniform
Long hair must be tied back and plain hair bands- no bows, flowers etc.
PE Uniform
General information
P.E. – We have indoor P.E. on Thursdays and outdoor PE on Fridays. Children to come to school in their PE clothes for these days.
Water bottles – We’re happy for the children to bring water bottles into the classroom and keep them at the side of the room. Please ensure these are named.
Pencil cases are allowed however they are the children’s responsibility and they should not be sharing or swapping items.
Pen licences – Children in year 6 are required to write in pen. If you are going to buy a pen, please make sure it’s a black gel pen.
Year 6 Curriculum Overview
At the start of each term- there will be a year group newsletter which outlines what your children will learn.
It also contains dates and optional homework that could be completed.
National Curriculum
On the handout is extra information on the end of year expectations (these are also on the website).
English
English lessons will occur daily as well as whole class reading sessions, separate grammar and spelling sessions will be held weekly.
READING
The SATs reading test is very challenging!
Reading forms an integral part of our curriculum and good reading skills help children progress well. Reading daily with your child will enhance their progress greatly. It is an expectation that children read at home, and parents are expected to make comments in the reading record books.
Your child can change their book when needed and explore a range of texts with their adults. They are often heard reading aloud by a teacher/ TA, with a comment in their record roughly once a month. We have started a new, challenging reading scheme this year and therefore children will no longer be free readers.
Children who read at home to a parent 3 times a week and have their reading record signed by a parent, will be entered into our reading raffle. Each week one child will win a prize from the reading raffle box.
Reading comprehension is vital in year 6 and most of our emphasis in class will be on this.
Boomreader
GPS
Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling
A wide knowledge of vocabulary and grammatical features are vital in children achieving well in this test.
Children need to understand the difference between written and spoken language.
Using the word lists- try to encourage children to ask questions about the meaning of words and how they can be used.
MATHS
There will be a heavy focus on number skills including number bonds, mental maths strategies, written strategies and times tables.
At home, it would be useful if children practised times tables and mental maths skills frequently.
Every week a Doodle maths task will be set which aligns with their weekly work. We encourage children to have paper at hand for workings.
Children also have access to TimesTables Rockstars to develop fluency and speed of recall. Logins will be in their homework diaries. If skills are not practised they are lost. Tables will be tested every Friday.
MATHS
The maths SATs papers are timed. Therefore, speed and accuracy are important.
The test consists of an arithmetic paper and two reasoning papers. We do not set the children.
Throughout the year, we might try to have short after school sessions for parents to come and have written strategies modelled.
SATs
SATs tests will be taken during the week beginning 13th May.
Tests will consist of a reading, maths and Grammar punctuation and spelling test (known as the ‘SPAG’ or ‘GPS’ test).
There will be a separate meeting for parents early next year, where we will share more about the SATs week itself.
HOMEWORK
The children will be given an English homework folder to complete their work in.
English homework will usually be a grammar based with SATS style questions.
Maths homework will be assigned on Doodle maths. This should take no more than 20 minutes. Please encourage them to use paper and formal written methods to support them in finding the answers to questions they cannot do mentally.
Maths and English homework will be set on Friday so that the children learn to get into a homework routine- to be returned by the following Wednesday. There is a weekly homework club that the children can attend on a Tuesday.
The homework for English and maths is compulsory. If it is not handed in on Wednesday mornings children will complete it during their lunch.
Spellings will be set regularly. The children will be given between 10 and 15 spellings depending on the rule. They will be tested on a Friday.
Communication
In almost all situations, unless very serious, the class teacher should be the first point of contact.
School drop –ins are Fridays from 3.15. You will be notified of these in due course
The office will need three up-to-date emergency contact numbers.
Arrival
Children need to be in school between 8.35am and 8.43am. Gates will be locked at 8.45am, after this they will need to enter through the Meadoway. Children need to go straight up to class.
End of the day exiting arrangements- should you wish your children to walk home or be collected by another adult- we now require your written consent for this to happen.
And lastly…
Our year group page will shortly be updated with information you may find helpful to know what your children are getting up to.
Medicines- It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure their children has an asthma pump in school. If your child requires medicine to be taken during the school day you will need to complete one of the medical forms which can be found on the website and in the office.
Any questions?
MATHS
Library
We will hold Year 6 library drop ins on a Wednesday after school.
You will receive a parentmail informing you of when this starts.