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

Year 6 Uniform Reminder

As our oldest pupils, Year 6 are the role models of the school. They set the standard for the younger children, and we want them to feel proud of representing the top of the school each day and to help prepare them for secondary school uniform expectations. To help maintain this, please ensure your child is wearing the correct uniform:

• Navy blue V‑neck jumper with school logo or blue cardigan with logo
• Grey trousers, skirt or pinafore
• Grey socks or tights
• Black school shoes (NO trainers)
• White shirt (short or long sleeve) with a school tie — ties are provided by the school
• Navy blue fleece with logo (logo optional) – Please note: The fleece is not to be worn in the Year 6 classroom. It may be worn only as an outside coat, however in extremely cold weather it can be worn inside. (This only applies to year 6).
• Due to safeguarding, Smart Watches are NOT allowed to be worn by pupils in school. If children come into school wearing them, the watch will be given to the office to be collected by the parent.

Thank you for your support in helping Year 6 continue to present themselves smartly and confidently as leaders of the school and begin their preparation for secondary school.

English: Our writing this term will be underpinned by the story The Arrival by Shaun Tan. Children will explore characters, emotions, different points of view and the challenges faced by the main character and some of the other characters that have made their way to the new land. Following this text, we will use, Can we save a Tiger? By Martin Jenkins and then The Last Bear by Hannah Gold. We are starting off our VIPERS (whole class reading) with the text ‘War Horse’ by Micheal Morpurgo. 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: 

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

Light – Through our learning children will recognise that light appears to travel in straight lines, use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain that objects are seen because they give out or reflect light into the eye, explain that we see things because light travels from light sources to our eyes or from light sources to objects and then to our eyes, and use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain why shadows have the same shape as the objects that cast them.

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, investigating existing products and improving our sewing skills to make a Christmas decoration.

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 Monday and Friday – this is subject to change. However, it is essential PE kits are in school from Monday ready for the week. Children will bring home kits on a Friday 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. PE socks are essential.

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. Safe Relationships – covering recognising and managing pressure, consent in different situations. 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. There are changes to spellings and reading – please see my separate whole school email. 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 2027 and the process for applying for a secondary school place. If your child is in year 6, you can apply for a secondary school (year 7) place between 12 September 2026 and 31 October 2026.

 Events for your Diary

Friday 4^th September – non-uniform for house points and sports day winners.

Bikeability- September 2026 – only the children whose parents signed up online in June/July will be taking part – information to follow.

Thursday 17^th September – Meet the Teacher evening.

Tuesday 20^th & Wednesday 21^st October – Parents Evening

Monday 2^nd November – INSET day

Friday 13^th November – Children in Need

Tuesday 24^th November – Tray Day (3.20-4pm)

Tuesday 15^th & Thursday 17^th December – KS2 Christmas Production (Evening Performances)

Wednesday 16^th December – Christmas lunch

The team working alongside me this term to support the class is: Mrs Martin, Mrs Rudkin, Mrs Neal, 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