As your child moves through Year 6, it is important to understand the key expectations for their learning in different subjects. Below is a guide to the skills and knowledge your child is expected to develop in reading, writing, maths, and science by the end of Year 6.

1. Reading

In Year 6, children are expected to:

• Read fluently and independently: Children should be able to read a wide range of texts, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, with understanding and expression.

• Understand and analyse texts: They should be able to summarise key points, identify themes, and make inferences (e.g., read between the lines) based on the evidence in the text.

• Word meaning and vocabulary: Children should be able to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words from context and explain how an author’s word choices affect the tone or mood of a text.

• Use higher-level comprehension skills: This includes identifying the writer’s intent, understanding figurative language (e.g., metaphors and similes), and recognising how texts are structured.

Key Skills in Reading:

• Summarising key ideas from a text.

• Making inferences from information provided.

• Understanding the meaning of new words.

• Critically evaluating a text’s structure and style.

2. Writing

In Year 6, children are expected to:

• Use a range of sentence structures: They should be able to use a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences to express ideas clearly and effectively.

• Use punctuation accurately: This includes using commas, apostrophes, speech marks, and a range of punctuation for clarity and to convey meaning, including semi-colons and colons.

• Spelling and grammar: Children should use correct spelling, including commonly misspelled words, and apply grammar rules (e.g., subject-verb agreement, correct use of tenses).

• Write for different purposes and audiences: This includes writing stories, reports, letters, and explanations, and adjusting tone and language based on the intended audience.

Key Skills in Writing:

• Writing with varied sentence structure.

• Accurate spelling and punctuation.

• Writing in a clear, well-organised way for different purposes.

• Using paragraphs and cohesive devices (e.g., first, next, however) to organise writing.

3. Mathematics

In Year 6, children are expected to:

• Number and place value: Children should be confident in understanding numbers up to 1,000,000, including reading, writing, and comparing them. They should be able to round numbers to the nearest 10, 100, or 1,000 and use negative numbers in context.

• Four operations (Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division): Children should be able to perform calculations involving large numbers and fractions. They should also know multiplication and division facts up to 12x12.

• Fractions, decimals, and percentages: Children should understand how fractions, decimals, and percentages relate to one another and be able to convert between them. They should be able to add and subtract fractions with different denominators and solve problems involving percentages.

• Geometry and measures: Children should be able to calculate the area and perimeter of shapes, understand the properties of 2D and 3D shapes, and work with angles and symmetry.

• Problem-solving: Year 6 children should be able to solve complex problems that involve reasoning and using multiple steps.

Key Skills in Mathematics:

• Performing operations with large numbers.

• Understanding and manipulating fractions, decimals, and percentages.

• Working with shapes, angles, and measurements.

• Solving multi-step word problems with reasoning.

4. Science

In Year 6, children are expected to:

• Living things and their habitats: Children should understand how animals and plants are classified and how living things are adapted to their environments. They should also understand the role of reproduction in the life cycle of plants and animals.

• Properties and changes of materials: They should understand different properties of materials (e.g., solubility, conductivity) and explore reversible and irreversible changes (e.g., melting, burning).

• Forces: Children should be able to describe and explain the forces that act on objects (e.g., gravity, friction), and understand how forces can affect motion and movement.

• Light and electricity: Children should know how light travels, how shadows are formed, and the role of reflective surfaces. They should also understand basic electrical circuits and the components that make them work.

• Earth and Space: Children should be able to explain the movements of the Earth and other planets in our solar system, including the reasons for day and night, and understand the Earth’s position in the solar system.

Key Skills in Science:

• Understanding classification and adaptation of living things.

• Investigating properties and changes of materials.

• Exploring forces, motion, and the effects of gravity.

• Understanding the basics of light, electricity, and space.

How Parents Can Support Learning

Here are some ways you can support your child’s learning at home:

• Reading: Encourage regular reading at home, including books, magazines, and websites. Discuss the texts together and ask your child to explain what they have understood.

• Writing: Support your child with writing tasks, helping them use correct punctuation and develop interesting ideas. Practice writing different types of texts (stories, reports, letters).

• Maths: Practice times tables and help your child with problem-solving activities. Use everyday situations (e.g., shopping, cooking) to reinforce their maths skills.

• Science: Encourage your child to observe the world around them and ask questions about how things work. Try simple experiments together to help them understand scientific concepts.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s learning, feel free to contact us. We are here to support both you and your child throughout this important year.