year6@allsaints-harwich.essex.sch.uk
Spring Term 2026- Year 6!
Happy New Year!! I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas holiday and have enjoyed that well-deserved rest after a very busy Autumn Term! We have a very exciting Spring term to start 2026!
Here's some information about what we have lined up for you.
Maths
Before the Christmas Holiday, the children had built up a great knowledge of the four operations- addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, as well as incorporating these operations when working with fractions. In Maths this term, we will be moving on to new concepts in our ratio and algebra units. Hopefully, the children will soon learn that these methods and skills are straight forward and enjoyable- as soon as you learn how!
English
In English, we will begin the term with linking our reading and writing units of newspaper writing. Children will build on their previous learning for this unit, focusing on levels of formality, style, purpose and audience to ensure their writing can be used effectively to report information. Children will then look at diary writing, looking at how word choices and sentence structure can portray emotions from the reader. By the end the term, children will move onto 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 'Light and reflections' which I hope the children will find interesting as they investigate how light travels and how our eyes work. The children will then continue in their science lessons to learn about evolution and how genetics is passed from family members through generations.
RE
In RE, children will be investigating the question 'How can religion bring peace and conflict?'. From my experience of teaching this unit in previous years, the children find it very interesting as they learn about past events in history and how people have overcome difficulties due to their religious views.
History
I am thoroughly looking forward to teaching the children all about our history unit- World War II.
The children will begin these lessons finding out about how and why the war began, learning about the events that took place before the invasion of Poland. Children then continue to develop their historical skills including extracting information from sources, evaluating historical figures and the opportunity to decide the criteria for significance. The children will learn all about the Allied Troops, those famous historical figures and how each person in Britain had an important role in the success of our country. The children also learn about what it was like for children and families within the local area during this time and consider how they would have felt with a world event taking place.
Please get in touch if you have any information about this time in history that you feel might be of help with the children learning about this topic. Thank you!
Geography
During the second part of the term, the children will then move on to learning about energy sources in Geography lessons. The children will be answering the following question: Why does energy come from?
The children will learn about developments in science and technology and how as a glocal effort, people are trying to change energy sources for a cleaner future.
Art
Our focus for our art lessons, this term, is a focus on drawing skills in a unit called 'Make your voice heard!' This unit teaches pupils to create expressive sketches 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 pencil drawings. 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 and making a waistcoat- linked to our topic of WWII. The children will learn about the importance of people being able to 'make do and mend' during the war and this is a great time for our children to have a go at sewing! Although this can sometimes start of as a rather 'stressful' process :-), we hope that over a series of lessons, children become much better at being able to sew using basic stitches and handling material to make an item of clothing. It's always memorable and (hopefully) enjoyable!
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 focusing on developing their musical knowledge of pulse, tempo, rhythm and volume whilst singing the song 'Happy by Pharrell Williams'.
This is an exciting and fun unit for the children which I know they will enjoy.
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 continue to be every Thursday and we ask that on this day, pupils come into school in their PE kit (jogging bottoms for this time of year, white t-shirt and trainers). Please make sure that children have warm clothing for colder weather- gloves and hats etc. A change of shoes for forest school lessons is crucial as the area is very wet and muddy this time of year. Long hair should be tied back and earrings should be removed.
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
Maths homework is now set on maths.co.uk and grammar activities are on SPAG.com. These 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.
Children also have access to Times Table Rock Stars and can complete this as frequently as they choose. Although this is not part of our weekly homework set, practising times tables will always be beneficial and the online system makes this fun! I will challenge children on here fairly often so please encourage children to give it a go when they can!
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