Welcome to
Year 6 & 5 – Oak Class
Spring letter 2026
Welcome back to a busy and exciting term
Oak class have settled well into their second term after their Christmas break. As always, this term is very hard working. The main aim in the Spring term is that the children continue to develop their independence and organisational skills both in their learning and personally.
Topics for the Spring Term
Our topics this term begin with a science theme looking at Animals including humans and a history focus delving into The Kingdom of Benin, which I am sure you will soon be hearing all about! It teaches children about a powerful, non-European civilization, highlighting sophisticated art (bronzes, ivory), complex city planning, long-distance trade (including the slave trade), powerful rulers (Obas), and societal structure, offering a contrast to British history and challenging stereotypes about Africa. To accompany this topic, we will be reading various fiction and non-fiction texts including Children of the Benin Kingdom by Dinah Orji.
Homework
As a reminder, homework is given out every Thursday and is due by the following Thursday, but children are welcome to bring it in earlier in the week. Any homework that hasn’t been completed will be done independently during break time on Thursday.
Times tables and arithmetic challenges regularly take place, as table knowledge in particular is crucial to so many aspects of mathematics. To this end it would be really helpful if you could practice regularly the ones that your child does not know or fire some random questions at odd times to keep this skill sharp.
PE
PE will continue to be on Monday and Thursday afternoon each week. Please ensure that football tops are not used for PE kits.
Yr 6 SATs
We do not put any pressure on our children regarding preparation for the Yr 6 SATS [which will take place from Monday 11th May – Thursday 14th May] although we do feel it right and fair to revise sufficiently, particularly after half term. A letter regarding a meeting about the Yr6 SATs will follow shortly. If you feel that you are not quite sure about the work your child is doing, or how best to help them, then we would recommend looking at the English and maths sections on https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/primary where work in is summarised and easy to follow.
An added input this term is a Maths Club, offered to Year 6 children as an extra boost. The small group activities will help to consolidate their understanding or eradicate some of the gaps in the children’s’ knowledge, in a friendly and fun environment. The club will take place on a Tuesday afternoon, beginning on 20th January 3.30-4.30pm, and all children from Yr 6 are invited.
As always, should you have any concerns or queries about your child’s wellbeing in school, please arrange a time to have a chat.
Kind regards,
Mrs Whetton
