Download the Upper Juniors Induction Pack (PDF)

Introduction

The school would like to involve you in your child's education. To assist with this, we have produced a booklet to keep you informed about your child's education during their final years at Alexander Hosea Primary School.

Upper junior staff want to make pupils' time spent in years five and six as happy and as educational as possible. Encouragement is given to ensure greater independence and responsibility for the individual's learning, possessions and behaviour. It is highly desirable that children develop independence, self motivation and excellent social skills so that they are ready for a successful transition to secondary school.

We hope you will find this booklet useful. It sets out the content of lessons throughout the year and indicates ways in which you might consider helping your child.

Special Educational Needs

Children identified with special educational needs are supported in relevant areas by a differentiated curriculum to match their understanding and pace. Extra support is given by the special educational needs co-ordinator and teaching assistants.

Literacy

An hour of Literacy is taught each day, following objectives from the National Literacy Strategy.

How you can help:

• Listen to your child read regularly and discuss the contents of his/her reading material.
• Children are given differentiated weekly spellings; help your child to learn these.
• Check and help your child with their homework.
• When possible, visit the library with your child.
  

Numeracy

The Numeracy hour begins with a mental warm-up, a whole class teaching activity and a ten minute plenary to reinforce the content of the lesson.

How you can help:

• Help children to thoroughly learn their tables.
• Encourage mental arithmetic.
• Encourage children to read the time and timetables, weighing scales and to handle money and understand the value money.

Homework how you can help:

• Check your child completes his/her homework and give assistance when necessary.
• Encourage your child to inform their teacher if they do not understand their homework.
• Provide a dictionary and a calculator when required.

ICT

Access to the computer suite is time-tabled twice a week for each class. The programs we use include, but are not limited to the following:-

MS Word, MS Powerpoint, MS Excel.

How you can help:

• If possible encourage word processing skills and familiarity with a keyboard.
• Help to search the internet effectively and safely.

If you do not have your own computer, the local library should be able to provide facilities.

Curriculum Breakdown

Children are provided with sketch books for drawing from observation, imagination and memory.

Physical Education

Throughout the year we teach games, gym and dance. Children need to have daps and trainers, and for some outside activities, a tracksuit would be beneficial.

Personal Health and Social Education (PHSE) and Citizenship

This is included with RE and a number of other subjects. Sex and drugs education make up a part of this and the science curriculum. The school nurse or a teacher gives a sex education lesson in year six. This includes videos which may be viewed by parents prior to the lesson.

Extra Curricular Activities

The school offers a wide range of activities out of school time. These are supplemented by tournaments involving other schools and often ‘away fixtures' where adult help is welcomed. ‘WATCH' club is also available for those interested in the environment. A school sports day takes place every year and in addition some children participate in District Sports.

Music Tuition

Peripatetic teachers visit the school to teach a wide range of instruments.

Cycling Proficiency

Where possible, cycling proficiency is taught in the summer term of year six. The pupils must have a roadworthy cycle and a helmet.

Standard Assessment Tests (SATS)

Children sit their SATS in May of year six. The following tests are taken:

• Literacy:
  • Reading/Comprehension.
  • Writing tasks, long and short (handwriting is assessed as part of the long writing task).
  • Spelling

• Numeracy:
  • Calculator paper
  • Non-calculator paper
  • Mental arithmetic paper

• Science
  • Two general papers

In year six, revision will take place during some numeracy, literacy and science lessons, but the National Curriculum is still followed. All other curriculum areas are adhered to so the children receive a broad and balanced education. Pupils are offered the use of revision books but are not encouraged to spend too much time using them. Booster classes target children whose confidence and ability would benefit from additional support consisting of lessons in small groups.

Transfer to Secondary School

Year six parents have a choice of different authorities to apply to for secondary school. The two authorities are currently working together to provide one application form indicating a preference in either authority.

Educational Visits

These take place regularly and relate to specific curriculum areas. Year six now visit the ‘Create Centre' in Bristol for experience in life skills. Year six have the opportunity, and are encouraged, to go on a residential trip for a week. A wide variety of activities are arranged. It is an excellent opportunity for social development and promotion of independence.

Leavers' Assembly

At the end of year six, all children perform their own assembly reflecting on their time at the school. This is performed to year six parents and the rest of the school.