Learning this half term in class 3 – Elder

 

The theme of this half term’s learning is ‘In the Press’. 

 

Topic

 

Children will be able to explore their understanding of chronology and making sense of what they already know e.g. the Stone Age, and where this fits in. They will also explore chronology in music.

 

English

 

The class will study a range of texts from modern classic books to classical literature. We will be exploring preferences in genres and using the various texts to write their own story.

 

The year 6 will use this to help their comprehension and grammar skills prior to SATs and to produce a number of pieces of written work, to be assessed.

 

Year 5 will continue to read The Iron Woman by ted Hughes as their book study. I will also be asking them to bring in their favourite book, to share with the class, and why they like it.

 

Reading

 

Children should aim to be reading at least five times at home each week. They are encouraged to record this in their reading record. Please also encourage your child to take their reading record home and ask your child about the book they are reading and talk around the story (to practise skills of inference and deduction). This is part of their weekly homework and their reading records will be checked weekly.

 

Spelling

 

We will continue to look at words with silent letters and begin to learn the list of words from the Year 5 and 6 curriculum.

 

Maths

Topics to be covered:

• Geometry – angles
• Number – multiplication and division
• Geometry – shapes, area and perimeter

 

The Year 6 children will also be revising all areas, to support their KS2 SATs preparation.

 

 

History – Chronology through time of the history of writing and printing in Britain

 

French – Book study – Par une sombre nuit de tempête

 

Science – Forces

 

Computing – Information Literacy – identify, find, evaluate, and use information effectively. From effective search strategies to evaluation techniques, pupils and students learn how to evaluate the quality, credibility, and validity of websites, and give proper credit.

 

RE – What makes a leader worth following?

 

Music – Music through time

 

Art – Printing – using a range of techniques and media

 

This is a busy term for Year 6 as they will be taking their SATs Week commencing 14^th May. Year 5 will also be completing assessments, as well as gardening this week. There is a SATs meeting for parents on Tuesday 17^th April, after school.

 

 

 

For parents/carers of children in year 6. 

 

Dear Parents/Carers

 

Your child will be taking their end of key stage SATs in May 2018.  We hope the information below will help you understand your child’s SATs tests in a little more detail.

 

What are SAT’s?

 

SATs (Standard Attainment Tests) take place at the end of year 6 and are designed to test pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the key stage 2 programme of study. All year 6 children across the country are tested in English and Maths and this gives the government a clear picture of what standards look like. It also helps parents compare their child’s progress with children of the same age nationally. This is the third year that a year 6 cohort has been tested on the new curriculum that was introduced in September 2014. Consequently, the testing process has been changed to previous years to account for this.

 

What will my child have to do?

 

Monday 14 May: English grammar, punctuation and spelling test (SPAG)

Paper 1 – short answers (45 minutes)

Paper 2 – spelling (15 minutes)

 

Tuesday 15 May: Reading test (60 minutes)

 

 

Wednesday 16 May: Maths tests

Paper 1 – arithmetic (30 minutes)

Paper 2 – reasoning (40 minutes)

 

Thursday 17 May: Maths tests

Paper 3 – reasoning (40 minutes)

 

 

What happens to the tests?

 

Tests are sent for external marking. Schools usually receive the results in July. Parents will be given a copy of their child’s test results and teacher assessments. The results of the school are used to inform school ‘performance tables’.

 

What do the results mean?

 

It is important to understand that children cannot ‘fail’ SATs. The information is used as a snapshot of where children across the country are currently working. Since the removal of the ‘old’ levels, the government has had to think of a new way of measuring attainment. From 2016 onwards, the raw score from each test will be converted into a scaled score and each child will receive an overall result indicating whether or not they have achieved the required standard on the test.

 

What is meant by ‘scaled scores’?

 

It is planned that 100 will represent the ‘national standard’. Each pupil’s raw test score will therefore be converted into a score on the scale, either at, above or below 100. The scale will have a lower end point somewhere below 100 and an upper end point above 100. A child who achieves the ‘national standard’ will be judged to have demonstrated sufficient knowledge in the areas assessed by the tests.

In July 2018 for publication of test results, each pupil will receive:

• A raw score (number of raw marks awarded).
• A scaled score in each tested subject.
• Confirmation of whether or not they attained the national standard.  In year 6, it is only natural that your child might feel a little nervous or apprehensive about what the week will hold – so there are a few things that you can do to help them at home.

     

How can I help them at home?

• Support your child in helping prepare them for the tests – but don’t overdo it.
• Explain that SATs are a way of showing off what they can do – and they cannot fail.      
• Make any learning as fun as possible.
• Give your child the opportunity to talk about any concerns.
• Help them with any revision homework in the run up to SATs.
• Encourage them to be confident in their ability – they have been working hard in school.
• Do something fun the weekend before the SATs tests to take their mind off them. Don’t overdo the revision or practice this weekend – it is important your child feels fresh and ready to tackle the tests on Monday morning.
• Make sure your child has a good night’s sleep before each test.
• Make sure your child has a healthy breakfast each morning.
• Send your child to school with some healthy snacks to have in between or after the tests.
• In the evenings of SATs week, keep any work you do at home short.
• Make sure your child is in school every day of SATs week. If they are feeling unwell it is important that they still come to school and try to do the test. If you are concerned that your child is feeling unwell during this week, please contact school as early as possible.
• Make sure your child is in school on time every day – the tests start first thing in the morning.

 

In school, we feel that we will support the children for them to achieve the very best results that they can.   We have every confidence in them!

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Mr Beahan and Miss Gregory

 

Please find attached the presentation from the parents meeting from April 2018 and the information booklet that accompanied the meeting:

 

KS2 2018 presentation

 

KS2 Sats info for parents 2018