Welcome to Year 6!

The Year 6 Team

This year in Year 6, our teachers are Mrs Taft (Year 6 Team Leader and Class 10), Mr Moore (Class 11) and Miss Grainger (Class 12).

We are also supported by our dedicated Learning Support Assistants (LSAs): Mr Norgrove, Mrs Lomasney, Mrs Kundi, Miss Peel, Miss Embleton, Mrs Barker and Miss Rhodes.  They support us throughout the day, both in and out of the classroom.

Key dates for the year group (Autumn term):

8th October          Harvest festival – donations for the Food Bank

10th October        World Mental Health Day – activities in school

13th-17th October       Year 6 Bikeability Week

14th & 16th October    Parents evenings – in person (3.30pm to 6.30pm)

24th October        Whole school outcome event – 2.30pm

27th to 31st October      Half Term

3rd November      INSET day

7th November      Y5/6 reading café 9-10am

10th November   ‘Cool to be Kind’ Week (anti-bullying week) – events in school

14th November   Child In Need – Non-uniform day

17th November   Road Safety Week – events in school

25th November   Nasal Flu Vaccinations for whole school

8th December     Year 6 Listen2Me Concerts (times TBC)

16th December   Christmas Pantomime – in the school hall

17th December   Christmas Dinner & Christmas Jumper Day

19th December   End of Term – finish 2.30pm

Topics

Our Topic for Autumn 1 is the Industrial Revolution.  In History, we will look at social and economic aspects, as well as some of the inventions that impacted this era . We will also look at the impact of the Industrial Revolution on Basingstoke - did you know there were two workhouses in our local area?

In English, we will read the book 'Street Child' by Berlie Doherty which looks at the plight of a young Victorian child.  The children will have the opportunity to really immerse themselves in the characters and write diary entries from their perspective, as well as writing informative non-chronological reports about workhouses. Our science will involve investigating electrical circuits and using our understanding of this to help us build motorised vehicles in DT.

We are looking forward to showcasing our hard work to you all at our outcome afternoon on Friday 24th October..

In Autumn 2, our topic will be Globalisation.  In Geography, we will look at the impact of globalisation on the way we communicate and trade as well as its impact on food and fashion.  Our English and Guided Reading units will be based around books linked to difference and how we treat others, including the books 'Wonder' and 'The distance between me and the cherry tree'.  We will investigate sound as our Science topic, while the Art unit will look at Pop Artists, including

Andy Warhol. 

For more information about our curriculum, please follow the link below:

PE

Each week, the children will have two sessions of PE - one indoor session (Wednesday) and one outdoor session (Monday). Children should come in to school wearing their PE kits on these days.  

Please follow the link below to find out more about our PE uniform expectations:

Home Learning

Each week we will set a reading, maths and grammar task for home learning.  The tasks will be set on Purple Mash.  

Home learning will all be set on a Thursday and then due back in on the following Tuesday.  As we are trying to develop the independence of the children, it will be their responsibility to complete their work on time.

If your child is having problems completing the home learning, please speak to their class teacher.

Maths - An times tables recall quiz will be set, to help the children with their speed and recall.  A maths task will also be set linked to that week's maths unit.  This may be a maths quiz or playing a game that revises key skills. 

English Grammar - There will be a grammar task that is linked to the Grammar covered in the English unit that week.  

Reading - Reading stamina and fluency are key and your child should read for at least ten minutes per day.  If your child can read aloud to an adult at least once a week, they are able to improve their reading fluency.  The reading home learning will be set on the Purple Mash system, under the reading section and the Serial Mash link.  Children will have a short chapter of a scheduled book (that can also be listened to by clicking the audio tab).  There will be 5 to 10 questions to answer linked to that chapter. 

Spellings - Spellings home learning will continue to focus on the statutory year 3/4 and 5/6 lists of spellings. This will not be set as a task on Purple Mash.  Children will have a test on the Year 3/4 list spellings in December. 

Bikeability 13th - 17th October

Here are some notes for the Bikeability week and some answers to some FAQs. 

We hope this helps.  Please ask if you have further questions. 

Bikes

- Bikes will need to be in good working order but will be checked by the Instructors during the first session. 

- Children who have applied to borrow a bike will be supplied with a checked bike for use during each of their sessions

- The bikes will be stored at the bikes stands at the front of the school.  There will be a section of the stand for each class to make it easier for children to collect their bikes.

-Secure locks should be provided so the bike is protected while not in use. If children are sharing locks, please make sure they are in the same class. 

-Bikes DO NOT have to be left on site over night, they can be brought to school each morning and taken home each night. You are welcome to leave your child's bike overnight if it is more convenient, however this is done at your own risk.  

Clothing

- Children should wear their school uniform on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  PE uniform should be worn on Monday and Wednesday. 

- Trousers and leggings are suggested on school uniform days.  Children who wish to wear a skirt should wear tights or leggings under the skirt.  

- Children can bring trainers in to wear during their Bikeability session but will need school shoes to change back into on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. 

- Please be aware of the weather conditions.  Warm and water resistant coats, gloves or scarves are suggested if the weather is cold and wet. 

Helmets

-Helmets are compulsory. 

- The helmet will be checked by the instructors on the first session and the fit adjusted if required. 

- Children who have requested to borrow a helmet will be provided at the start of each of their sessions. 

- Helmets can be stored in the lockers when not in use.  

Safety

-Children are expected to listen to the Instructors and abide by the safety rules. 

-During the earlier sessions, the Instructors will assess all pupils and only those assessed at an appropriately safe level will be taken out of the school grounds and onto the local roads. 

SATS Week 2026

SATS week for this academic year is during the week commencing Monday 11th May 2026. 

Further information about this week will be sent to parents nearer the time and the Year 6 staff will hold informal drop-in sessions for parents in the Spring term to give further details.

Follow the link below to the 'If you like...try...' book suggestion lists.

Runway's End Residential

12th - 16th January 2026

The 2025 kit list and parent presentation are attached, however these will be updated for 2026, in due course. We will notify parents of the date for this year's parents information meeting, when it is finalised. Please email the school office or speak with Mrs Taft, Mr Moore or Miss Grainger, if you have any questions in the meantime.