Chestnut Class - Year 6

Chestnut Class Teacher is Miss Wright
Mrs O'Mara is our full time TA
Welcome to the
Chestnut Class Page
 
 
Welcome to your first term in Year 6. We hope you had a restful and enjoyable summer break! As we begin the new school year, we’re looking forward to working with you and making the most of your final year at Loxwood Primary School.

Our Autumn Term topic in Year 6 is called ‘Into the Light’.

In English, we will be reading the book 'Letters from the Lighthouse' by Emma Carroll.

In History, we will be learning about World War II. We’ll begin by exploring how and why the war started, before developing a deeper understanding of the key events that shaped the conflict. The children will learn about evacuation and rationing, and how everyday life in Britain was affected. 
 
In Geography this term, our topic is Our Changing World. The children will explore some of the many ways the world around us is constantly changing. From natural processes such as coastal erosion to human influences like political change, we’ll examine the factors that shape our environment. We will look closely at the structure of the United Kingdom and investigate how its physical geography has evolved over thousands of years. 
 
In Science this term, we will be focusing on Electricity and Light.

In our Electricity unit, children will learn to identify common electrical appliances and understand how electricity flows through a circuit. They will build and test their own circuits, including using switches, and explore how to keep safe when using electricity.

In the Light unit, children will investigate how light travels, how we see things, and the way light reflects from surfaces. They will explore shadows and learn about the properties of light, including how light can be refracted and how prisms split light into different colours.
 
In Maths this term, our focus will be on securing and extending the children’s understanding of place value and number. We will begin by revisiting numbers up to 10 million, exploring their value and the relationships between digits in different places. Building on this, we will develop skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, including formal written methods and problem-solving strategies.

Our fractions work will cover a range of important skills: placing fractions accurately on a number line; recognising equivalent fractions; adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators; multiplying and dividing fractions by whole numbers (integers); and finding fractions of amounts.

Throughout the term, children will apply their knowledge to reasoning tasks and real-life maths problems, ensuring a deep and confident understanding of these key concepts.
 
For more information please see the topic web below. 
 

PE days for Chestnut Class will usually be on 
Wednesdays (with Mr Green) and on Thursdays (Please note: these days may change weekly, so we recommend keeping PE kits in school every day.)

Autumn 1: Football (with Mr Green) and Fitness
Autumn 2: Hockey (with Mr Green) and Yoga
 

Woodland Learning
 
On their day of Woodland Learning, the children will need to come to school dressed in their Woodland Learning clothes. Please make sure all other items are named and are in a named bag. Woodland Learning will happen in most weathers, other than high winds and thunderstorms, therefore it means the children should be prepared to be outside in all weathers and dressed appropriately. It is also useful to have a separate plastic bag for muddy clothes or boots following the sessions. 

Most of you will be aware of the clothing requirements for participation in a Woodland Learning session, but as a reminder, your child will need:
  • Jacket/waterproof coat
  • Fleece/sweatshirt
  • Waterproof trousers/trousers that can get muddy - please remember, shorts are NOT suitable
  • Spare socks
  • Wellies or boots (named and kept at school)
  • Woolly hat/sunhat (weather dependent)
  • Gloves (weather dependent)
  • Spare plastic bag for muddy kit 
*Short sleeves, cropped tops and football kits are not suitable. 
 

Our dates for the Autumn term are:
All Thursdays - these dates are subject to change
 
Autumn Term 1:
11th September
25th September
9th October
23rd October
 
Autumn Term 2:
13th November
NOT 27th November due to INSET Day
11th December
  
If you have a query or concern, please talk to us at school drop off or pick up. You can also get in touch through the school office by emailing messages@loxwoodschool.com. I am always happy to answer any questions and support your child.
 
 
 
Miss Wright & Mrs O'Mara
 
 Homework 

Topic Homework
Each term, the children will be given a new ‘Independent Homework Grid’. This term it is themed around our topic: 'Into the Light'. In Year 6, there will be set ‘hand-in’ days at the bottom which is the minimum requirement. Each task should be taken from a different row and column. The amount of time a child chooses to spend on a project is up to them. Please focus on the presentation!

Please see the homework grid and hand-in dates below.

Times Tables
Children should continue to practice their times tables at home to help them improve their weekly scores. Knowing the times tables (and their associated division facts) supports mathematical learning and understanding. We encourage children to use TT Rockstars. Each child has their own login details.

 

Learning by Questions (Maths)
This is new to the children when they start in Year 6. We will guide them through the website and give them time to become familiar with it before encouraging them to practise at home. Children should also visit the Learning by Questions website (www.lbq.org/task) and complete the assigned maths units. Please see more information about LbQ below.

 

Accelerated Reader (for those who need it)
Children are already familiar with the Accelerated Reader (Renaissance) website. In Year 6, those who are not yet a free reader are expected to complete a quiz on the website after finishing each book they read. They should then record the book title, quiz score, and the date in their reading records, in the designated areas. This supports their reading development and helps us monitor their understanding and progress. 

Please encourage regular reading at home. Reading a minimum of 3 times per week is recommended for junior children. Talking about the book with your child is also important: ask questions about the characters, key events, and what they predict might happen next to help develop their comprehension skills.

This not only supports them in preparation for their SATs, but also promotes reading for pleasure and builds their confidence and understanding, which is essential for tackling the more complex texts they’ll encounter at secondary school.

 

All links to the websites mentioned are at the bottom of this page.

'Into the Light' Topic Homework Hand-in Dates:
 
 
  • Monday 29th September
  • Monday 20th October
  • Monday 17th November
  • Monday 8th December

Each task should be taken from a different row and a different column. We give children plenty of time to complete one piece of homework, so we expect it to be done carefully and to be something they’re proud to share with the class. All children need to hand in their homework by the due date. If they don’t, they’ll need to use their own time at school to finish it. We’re happy to provide any resources they might need to help them get it done at home.

Remember, Year 6, this is just one piece of homework every three to four weeks - it doesn’t need to be finished in one evening! A little bit every few nights will make it more manageable and will leave you with plenty of free time at home. 

Maths Independent Study
 

We are pleased to share that we will continue using Learning by Questions (LbQ) - in class, as well as at home. LbQ is a research-based learning platform designed to provide immediate feedback to pupils and help them improve through personalised practice.
 

Each week, the children will complete a diagnostic activity in class. This will automatically generate tailored question sets to target specific areas where they need support or development. The platform adapts to their responses, offering immediate feedback to guide their learning.

While the homework is optional, it is an excellent opportunity for your child to consolidate what they’ve learned in class. The questions are aligned with the curriculum and provide meaningful practice to reinforce understanding, address misconceptions, and build confidence.

Children will log in to their independent study accounts using their existing login details. If a reminder is needed, please contact me or Mrs O'Mara, and we will happily provide a copy.

To learn more about how LbQ works, visit primary.lbq.org.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Miss Wright

Chestnut Class Spellings 2025-2026
 
 
There will be no weekly spelling test or sentences. Instead, children will be focusing on spelling rules in school, continuing work they have learnt in Year 5 using Grammarsaurus Spelling.

Below are the statutory spellings from Year 2 up until Year 6. If your child wants to practise their spelling at home, feel free to choose some appropriate words from the lists below. 
 
Your child will be bringing words home that your child's teacher feels they need to practise to help them in their writing. They will not be tested on these spellings.

From the National Curriculum (2014):
'Most people read words more accurately than they spell them. The younger pupils are, the truer this is. The word-lists for years 3 and 4 and years 5 and 6 are statutory. The lists are a mixture of words pupils frequently use in their writing and those which they often misspell.'


If you have any questions about spellings, please email messages@loxwoodschool.com

 

Here are some highly recommended books to read if you need inspiration: