Class 6 Newsletter – Autumn Term 2024 

 A very warm welcome to Year 6. I do hope everyone had a lovely summer break and everyone is ready for the term ahead.  

English: We will be studying fiction genres with a focus on significant authors and historical stories as well as extended narrative, letters and description writing linked to our history topic – World War I. Non- fiction work will include recounts, instruction and explanation writing. We are starting off our VIPERS (whole class reading) with the text ‘War Horse’ by Micheal Morpurgo which the children have been reading over the summer. Spelling, grammar, punctuation, handwriting, editing and other literacy skills are weaved throughout all of our curriculum. The children are continuing to strengthen their dictionary and thesaurus skills.  

 Maths: Improving mental calculations, place value up to three decimal places and 7- digit numbers, patterns and sequences, handling data and interpreting information, contextual problem solving, securing number facts, relationships and calculations, efficient written methods for calculation, algebra, fractions, decimals and percentages. It is essential children are fluent in their multiplication and can recall multiplication division facts up to the twelve’s times table.  

Science:  

Evolution and Inheritance – Recognise that living things have changes over time, that fossils provide information from millions of years ago, explore factors associated with inheritance and identify how plants and animals adapt to their environment. We will also be examining the theories of evolution constructed by Darwin and Wallace. 

All Living Things – Describe how living things are classified and give reasons for specific characteristics. 

 Topic (History/Geography): Our first topic is World War I. We will be learning about the causes of the war and its impact on Britain and the local area. In the second half term we will be learning about the geography of the United Kingdom. We will learn the counties and cities of the United Kingdom, geographical regions and their identifying human characteristics, key topographical features (including hills, mountains, coasts and rivers), land use and patterns: and develop our understanding of how some aspects of these have changed over time. 

Languages: Topics will be En Ville and Les Saisons. We will be building on our previous learning, broadening our vocabulary, exploring patterns, structures and sounds and developing greater confidence to speak, read and write French with increasing fluency within a range of contexts. 

 Computing: We will focus on internet safety and developing our coding skills. Next half term we will be developing our understanding of algorithms for searching, sorting and maths. 

 Art and DT: In Art we will learn about great artists focusing on the work of Georgia O’Keeffe. In DT we will be looking at textiles and combining textiles, hopefully improving our sewing skills. 

 RE: We will be studying moral philosophy: investigating moral issues such as peace and conflict. We will be studying three main religions Christianity, Hinduism, Islam the role of the individual, community and society and the life and work of a Christian, Muslim, Hindu individual and how their faith impacts on their actions. 

 P.E: Mr Snelling and Miss Morton will be teaching PE sessions this term. Currently, PE will take place on a Thursday and Friday afternoons. However, it is essential PE kits are in school from Monday ready for the week and children will come home in kits on a Friday (uniform in their bags) so it can be washed. Please remember deodorant needs to be stick/roll on – please no aerosols and all uniform and PE kits are clearly named, including footwear. We will be starting the term PE lessons with dance and football.   

 P.S.H.E: We start with recapping the NSPCC’s Speak Out, Stay Safe lessons. We will then move onto the unit on Families and Friendships covering subjects such as attraction to others; romantic relationships; civil partnership and marriage. Then we move on to the unit Safe Relationships covering recognising and managing pressure, consent in different situations. We will also be doing Play Leader training and the beginning of the Autumn term and once the new Reception children have settled into school, the children will find out their Buddies and begin supportive activities with them. This has become a very special link between the oldest and youngest children over the last few years at Clavering. 

 Music: We will listen and appraise music from different times and cultures and compose short pieces. We will also have our Christmas production which will involve learning new songs and the potential for solos and duets.  

 Homework: The children will be set Maths and English or Topic homework each week which will be posted on Teams on a Thursday and completed by the following Wednesday unless otherwise stated. On occasion the children may be set a project to complete over a set period which will run alongside regular homework. Six sets of spellings will be issued for the half term and tests will take place every Friday – these will be via Teams. Children need to read daily – some of the class will be assigned group texts to read and they will be advised what they need to read of the book and by when. Please do discuss their books and reading choices and continue to listen to them reading aloud when possible; this enables them to read at a pace to allow spellings and grammatical structures to be absorbed more readily. Additional homework may be set on occasions to support specific areas of learning as required. 

 Water/Snacks 

Children are actively encouraged to bring in a snack for break time each day. It is often a long time between breakfast and lunch and a snack is important to keep us all going. We ask that these are healthy, in line with our Healthy Schools ethos (fruit or vegetables in their natural forms). Children must have a water bottle in school every day.  

Secondary Transfer 

You will shortly receive details regarding secondary school applications for 2024 and the process for applying for a secondary school place.  

‘From 12 September 2024 you can apply online for your child’s secondary school (year 7) place. Applications received after the 31 October 2024 are considered late and will reduce your chance of being offered a place at your preferred schools.’ – Essex County Council  

 Attendance  

Attendance – please see our new attendance policy inline with the changes made by the DfE. 

Clavering Primary School SEN Information and School Policies – Clavering Primary School 

 Events for your Diary 

Thursday 19th September – Meet the Teacher evening. 

Wednesday 25th September – Girls Football Event  

Thursday 26th September – MacMillan coffee morning 

Wednesday 9th October Football Tournament Boys am/Girls pm 

Bikeability- September 2024. 

Wednesday 16th October – Cross Country  

Friday 18th October – Year 6 Sharing Assembly for Parents  

Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd October – Parents Evening 

Wednesday 23rd October – Year 5 & 6 Dodgeball Event 

Friday 25th October – INSET day 

Week Beginning 4th November – Friendship Week  

Friday 15th November – Children in Need  

Thursday 28th November – The 2 Johns  

Monday 2nd December – Tray Day (3.15-4.15pm) 

December 11th & 12th KS2 Christmas Play 

Wednesday 18th December – Christmas lunch  

The team working alongside me this term to support the class is: Mrs Lipscomb, Mrs Martin, Mrs Elliston and Mr Snelling.  

If you do have any quick questions, please do come a speak to me at the beginning or the end of the day, if a longer discussion is required, please phone/email the office to arrange an appointment. 

Miss Morton