Chestnut Class - Year 6

Chestnut Class Teacher is Miss Wright
Mrs O'Mara is our full time Assistant Teacher

Welcome to the
Chestnut Class Page
 
 

Welcome back to your second term in Year 6! We hope you had a fun and relaxing Christmas holiday and enjoyed celebrating the new year. We’re excited to continue working with you in 2026 and can’t wait to make your final year at Loxwood Primary School full of  fun and amazing memories!

Our Spring Term topic in Year 6 is called ‘Law & Order’.

In English, we will be reading Holes by Louis Sachar. Pupils will explore the theme of crime and punishment through a range of engaging fiction and non-fiction texts. Work will include writing a non-chronological report on famous outlaws, participating in discussion writing to debate whether crimes match their punishments, creating fiction inspired by Holes (including setting descriptions and characterising speech) and performing chosen poetry to each other.
 
This term in History, pupils will explore Crime and Punishment through time: laws and justice in Roman Britain; the witch trials during King James I’s reign; Victorian crimes and punishments; and how crime, law, and justice operate in modern 21st-century Britain, developing an understanding of how attitudes have changed over time.
 
In Geography this term, our topic is The Amazing Americas. Pupils will study the continents of North and South America, identifying the countries within them and locating these on maps and atlases. They will explore a range of contrasting regions across the Americas - and the UK - comparing landscapes, climates, and physical and human features. Pupils will also develop their geographical skills by using maps and atlases effectively, including practising reading and writing grid references and coordinates.
 
This term in Science, pupils will explore Living Things and Their Habitats, focusing on the classification of animals, plants and microorganisms. They will learn the names and key characteristics of the main groups used to classify living things and develop their skills in using and creating classification keys with yes/no questions. Pupils will investigate the question: “Is yeast a microorganism?” and carry out an experiment exploring yeast respiration. They will also research the life and work of Carolus Linnaeus, gaining an understanding of the importance of his standard classification system in organising and naming living things.

This term in Maths, pupils will recap the four operations in arithmetic to secure understanding and develop their knowledge of fractions, decimals, and percentages. They will also work on measurement, including converting units, finding perimeters, areas and volumes; algebra, using simple formulae and number sequences; ratio, solving problems with scale factors; and statistics, interpreting charts, graphs and calculating averages.

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.)

Spring 1: Netball (with Mr Green) and Dance
Spring 2: Gymnastics (with Mr Green) and Tag Rugby
 

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 spring term are:
All Thursdays - these dates are subject to change
 
 
Spring Term 1:

Thursday 8th January 2026

Thursday 22nd January 2026

Thursday 5th February 2026

 

Spring Term 2:

 Thursday 26th February 2026

Thursday 12th March 2026

Thursday 26th March 2026

  
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: 'Law & Order'. 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.

'Law & Order' Topic Homework Hand-in Dates:
 
 
  • Monday 19th January
  • Monday 9th February
  • Monday 9th March
  • Monday 23rd March

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 a member of the Year 6 team and we will be happy to 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 learned 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:
Rehearsal tracks (with backing track)
Performance tracks (no backing track)