1. Thank you for your time.

2. Year Group Staff In 6SC are Miss Clemmence and Mrs Kelleher. In 6KH are Miss Hartshorne and Mrs Duggan. Mrs Grady and Mrs Atkinson will also be working with groups throughout the year across the curriculum. Mrs Rowbottom will be offering additional support.

3. This term we will be learning about... Literacy We aim to link our Literacy units to the current topic whenever possible. Reading The children work in groups for guided reading. We aim to hear children read individually throughout the week. Regular reading at home with your child, of a variety of texts, and questioning is vital to your childs success. Please remember to sign your childs diary when you read with them. All children will sit a level 3-5 reading SAT in May, with some children sitting an additional level 6 paper. We will send examples of previous SATs home once completed by the children throughout the year. Please go through these papers again with the children to see where extra marks could have been gained.

4. Writing Literacy We aim to link our Literacy units to the current topic whenever possible. Writing Throughout the year the children will build up a writing portfolio from a variety of genres and this will form their end of year assessment in May. For this reason it is imperative the children try their best on every piece of writing we do. Writing homework tasks sent home will help develop these skills further, so your support with this is very much appreciated to help to ensure consistency between writing at home and in school. Handwriting will be developed throughout the year with an aim for every child to use joined and legible writing ready for high school.

5. Literacy We aim to link our Literacy units to the current topic whenever possible. SPAG Spelling, punctuation and grammar. All children will sit a DETAILED level 3-5 SAT paper in May, with some children sitting an additional level 6 paper. Spellings will be sent home every Tuesday to be tested the following Tuesday and given the new testing arrangements for this, your support is invaluable. The grammar is very specific and requires a lot of detailed knowledge. As such Literacy homework sent home on a Friday for the following Friday will often reflect this.

6. Numeracy We aim to link the units with current topics wherever possible and use practical real life situations. All children will sit a level 3-5 SAT paper in May, there is no longer a calculator paper. However some children will sit an additional level 6 paper, which does contain a calculator paper. There is a big emphasis on written methods and extra marks are awarded for showing workings out. Numeracy homework will be set every Thursday to be handed in the following Thursday. This will follow up the work and develop further the skills we have learnt during the week. Your support with this is crucial. In addition to this all practical everyday experiences you can give your child eg. interpreting scales, reading the time, calculating change, handling money, reading timetables etc are hugely beneficial.

7. Numeracy Mental Arithmetic All children will sit a mental arithmetic test as part of their SATs in May. To help develop these skills further we will sit a weekly test on a Friday, which will be sent home for you to discuss further with your child. Times Tables It is crucial that all children know their times tables off by heart, as this underpins most things which we cover this year.

8. This term we will be learning about... Topic work WWII R.E. The Kingdom of God Justice M.F.L French P.E. Games Dance ICT Powerpoints Spreadsheets

9. Our Expectations Our expectations for the children are high and they should be taking responsibility for themselves, their learning and behaviour. We are encouraging them to be independent in their thinking and problem solving, ready for High School. We expect a high level of behaviour and attitude towards others. The children are encouraged to consider the choices they are making and take responsibility for them. We expect them to listen carefully, stay focused, and try their best at all times to ensure they can reach their true potential.

10. Rewards We reward good behaviour in Year 5 with House Points and Golden Tickets. There is a weekly (SC) / half termly (KH) Golden Ticket draw and a small prize awarded to the winner. Children are also able to earn a maximum of 30 minutes Golden Time each week. The children are able to choose their activity during this session as a reward. House Points are also awarded for super pieces of work. We also have a class sticker chart, which the children contribute towards as a class.

11. Behaviour We investigate fully any problems that we are made aware of at school and always aim to deal promptly with any incidents accordingly. If we need to contact you about your childs behaviour we will make a comment in the diary. Please could you sign the diary each week and also initial when we have made a comment.

12. Things to remember: Please read through the front section of the diary and sign the appropriate areas. Please use the diary for any messages for school, they will be checked regularly. Please encourage your child to remember their PE kit for indoors and outdoors on a Wednesday and Friday (KH) and Friday (SC). Year 6 can be a very challenging yet positive year. Please help us to work together to make your childs last year at primary school a fabulous one! If you have any queries or problems, please speak to us after school or make an appointment at a mutually convenient time.

13. Dates for your diary SATS Week Monday 12 th May-Friday 16 th May 2014 Whitby Week Monday 9 th June – Friday 13 th June 2014 Autumn Term Parents Evenings Tuesday 20 th November and Wednesday 21 st November 2013 Spring Term Parents Evenings Tuesday 11 th March and Wednesday 12 th March 2014