For even the most confident of 10-year-olds (and their parents!), the move into Year 6 can be a daunting time – but it really doesn’t have to be. Being in Year 6 truly is the most memorable time in your child’s primary education.
Year 6 is a key moment in your child’s life; they will develop more independence, a huge amount of resilience and, most importantly, they should become very aware of who they are as both learners and as young adults.
What will my child do in Year 6?
As in all other year groups, Year 6 follow statutory schemes of National curriculum and Cambridge curriculum. Children are assessed at the end of the year as to whether they have met the ‘expected’ national standard. All teachers will do their best to follow these schemes whilst also making their teaching personalized, exciting, creative, and thematic.
- Cambridge primary checkpoint
Firstly, no guide to Year 6 would be complete without some mention of the Cambridge primary checkpoint – the assessment tasks that all Year 6 pupils sit in April of each year. The results of these will determine whether your child has met the ‘expected’ level in English, Science and Mathematics.
In mathematics, the children will learn about square, prime and negative numbers. They will be multiplying and dividing with numbers up to four digits, using formal, efficient methods. They will be doing more complicated work with fractions, decimals and percentages.
In English, they will read a range of different genres. They will enhance their inference of characters’ motives and feelings and be able to discuss and evaluate how authors use figurative language. They will learn to spell a variety of more sophisticated words with different prefixes and suffixes.
In Science, children will learn about classifying micro-organisms, plants and animals, they will look at fossils, reproduction and adaptation and look closely at how light travels and how shadows are made. They will also look at diet and exercises and analyse the function of lamps, buzzers, cells and switches.
- The wider curriculum
There are many other valuable subjects that are not assessed in the tests which many children excel in – and these are equally as important. In Year 6, the children always love the history topics. History schemes vary from school to school but many Year 6 classes will look at World War 2. It makes for some amazing cross-curricular learning involving art, drama, DT, music, geography, and fabulous English writing activities.
How can I help my child in Year 6?
- Help with homework
For parents in Year 6, the most important thing is to continue to help where possible with reading, homework, times tables, and projects whilst stepping back just a little more than in previous years.
Your child will learn during this year possibly more than any other that it is their own hard work and effort that matters, not someone else’s. Their teacher will be aiming to help them develop their independence, organisation, and self-motivation in time for the increased demands of secondary school. This stepping back can be tricky for both parents and teachers!
- Keep on reading
As ever, it is still important that your child continues to read, both alone and to you, as much as possible. It is never too late to develop a love of reading. Spend time finding the best books for your child – speak to their teacher too, or a librarian if this is proving a challenge.
- Prepare for Cambridge primary checkpoint
You will probably want to support your child in the lead up to the Cambridge primary checkpoint. Working with your child, when needed, will help you see where they need the most support. It is often a surprise to some parents just how much the children are expected to know and just how clever they have become – they may now know more than you!
Be sure to speak to your child’s teacher at various (non-parent teacher’s conference) times during the year when you need to. They will be keen to help with any areas of concern you might have.
