year6@allsaints-harwich.essex.sch.uk

Autumn Term 2025- Year 6!

Welcome to year 6! I hope you have all had a wonderful summer holiday and I'm looking forward to welcoming you all into year 6 this September. We have a busy and exciting term to start the year!

Here's some information about what we have lined up for you.

Maths

In Maths this term, we will be starting the term with work on place value and number, making sure that the children are confident with working with large numbers. We will still continue to practice the four operations- addition, subtraction, multiplication and division- to make sure that the children are still very confident with these methods and can apply their knowledge for problems solving activities, with new learning of long division and moving into multiplying and dividing fractions too.

English

In English, we will begin the term with linking our reading and writing units of character descriptions. Children will build on their previous learning for this unit, focusing on the purpose and audience to ensure their writing can be used effectively by their reader. Children will then look at letter writing and end the term with some more story writing (which is most of the children's favourite genre). We will continue to build on our reading skills by practising comprehension skills needed for understanding and inferring texts and developing our knowledge of vocabulary.

Science

Within Science, we will be begin the term with learning about Living things and how they are categorised into different groups of the animal and plant kingdom. The children will then continue in their science lessons to learn more about circuits and electricity, which I know the children always enjoy the practical side of these units.

RE

In RE, we will be starting the year with a focus on stories from the Bible. The children will have opportunities to explore these stories in more detail and discuss the meanings and messages for Christians within these texts. 

Geography

In Geography, we will be answering the following question: Why does population change?

The children will learn about imports and exports of produce, as well as immigration. Children will investigate reasons why families may locate and how population of countries around the world have changed over time.

History

In history lessons this term, children will be answering the question: What does the Census tell us about the local area?

It supports the development of historical skills including extracting information from sources, evaluating historical figures and the opportunity to decide the criteria for significance. children will carry out lots of research and make their own decisions to answer the question, using detailed reasons, backed with evidence from their research.

Art

Our focus for our art lessons,  this term, is Digital Photos! This unit teaches pupils to create expressive photography and reflect on their artistic decisions. As part of the learning, children will explore work of famous photographers and the use of light, perspectives and positions to create some interesting photographs.  I'm sure the children will thoroughly enjoy this unit and enjoy the endless possibilities of being creative in their way.

D&T

Our D&T lessons this term will focus on designing equipment and technology for a new playground. Children explore existing deisgns, collect data from target audiences and design their own areas which are presented to others.  The children will also learn lots about and explore systems known as CAD (computer aided design) and CAM (computer aided manufacturing), researching how they are used in production across the modern world.

Computing

I am super excited for computing this term! The children will be learning how to use new software called Python. This is a coding system where children can develop their knowledge and create their own programmes. I am sure that within a few lessons on this unit, the children will be full of enthusiasm and new experts in this field of technology!

Music

For our Music lessons this term, children will be attending sessions outside of school as part of 'We are music!'

This is an exciting experience for the children which I know they will enjoy. This will take place every Thursday for the first half of the term and will all be arranged by school. A quick ride on the minibus and the children will be able to play instruments, sing, record and be part of a band! 

Spanish

Within our Spanish lessons, we will be covering two units: El fin de semana y Yo en el mundo. We will learn how to tell the time accurately in Spanish and learn how to say what activities we do at the weekend. 

PSHE

In our PSHE lessons, our unit will be 'Well-being' and learning all about the importance of looking after our mind, as well as our bodies. Children will learn skills in breaking down goals and tasks into smaller steps and ways to help when feeling stressed and anxious in every day situations.   

PE and Forest School

PE and Forest School days will now be every Thursday and we ask that on this day, pupils come into school in their PE kit (burgundy shorts, white t-shirt of polo shirt and trainers). Long hair should be tied back and earrings should be removed. During colder days, children should wear a plain tracksuit.

For Forest School, we also ask that children bring a change of footwear and socks. Even though the days are generally becoming much warmer, it can still be very wet outside in the forest school area so please remind children to bring a pair of old shoes on these days. Wellies are ideal footwear for this, but any spare footwear will do. This will ensure that all the children can enjoy these sessions whatever the weather outside and have warm and dry footwear to change back into afterwards.

Homework

Mathletics and grammar activities on SPAG.com are set on a Friday each week and should be completed for the following Friday. All children who complete this earn an extra break on a Friday afternoon. If it has not been completed, this time is instead used as an opportunity where we can support children in completing the work. 

As in previous years, we also ask that reading is completed at home throughout the week- at least 3 times for at least five minutes and that this is recorded in their reading records. Reading at home helps build a love of reading and also develops children's ability to concentrate on their reading for a longer period of time. The more children read, the better they are at it! Children may wish to read to themselves, but we ask that their reading records are still signed by an adult. They do not need to only read the book they are currently reading at school, but instead could choose to read anything that they are interested in.

As always, please contact me if you have any questions, queries, concerns and any information that you feel may help for me to know! Emails will be up and running as we start the new academic year and I will always get back to you as soon as I can. If not, feel free to catch me on the gate or call the school's office and I will help how ever I can.

Kind regards,

Miss Thorpe