Welcome to Year 5!

We’re excited to begin a brand-new school year filled with learning, creativity, and adventure. This year promises to be full of exciting topics, new challenges, and opportunities to grow both academically and personally. We can’t wait to see the enthusiasm and curiosity each child brings to the classroom. Let’s make this a fantastic year together!

Year 5 Staff

Class Teachers: Mr Kulyn (5K), Miss Sutcliffe (5T)

Teaching Assistants: Miss Jodie, Miss Burgess, Mrs Williams

Year 5 – Autumn 1 Curriculum Overview

Writing: This half term, Year 5 will begin by exploring narrative structures through the text Tuesday. Pupils will write in character, develop imaginative adventure settings, and predict future events in the story. They will also create a character description for a new frog and compose a battle cry for the leading frog.

As part of our geography topic, Raging Rivers, we will be studying the non-fiction text River Stories. This will support the children in writing a non-chronological report about a famous river, combining literacy skills with geographical knowledge.

To conclude the half term, we will read Don’t Trust Fish. Pupils will engage in role-play writing, adopting the voices of the intriguing and exciting characters they encounter in the story.

In addition to our main texts, children will continue to develop their handwriting and take part in discrete grammar and spelling lessons to strengthen their core writing skills.

Reading: Guided reading takes place daily using a variety of engaging texts, alongside our new online reading programme, Reading Eggs. It’s important that children access Reading Eggs at home—each child has received a laminated copy of their login details.

Please encourage your child to read regularly outside of school. If you need book recommendations, feel free to ask. Lovereading4kids.co.uk is a fantastic resource, and we also have a wide selection of books available in school. Remember, comprehension and enjoyment are just as important as speed and fluency. There’s a book for everyone—if you're unsure what your child should read next, we’re happy to help.

Maths: This half term, children will deepen their understanding of place value with numbers up to one million. We’ll use concrete resources and pictorial models to support learning before moving on to reasoning and problem-solving.

Next, we’ll focus on addition and subtraction, consolidating formal calculation methods and applying them to real-world problems.

Please continue practising multiplication tables at home. By the end of Year 5, children should be able to recall all times tables (and related division facts) within 3 seconds. Times Tables Rock Stars is a great tool—ask for login details if needed.

Children will also complete a daily “5-a-day” maths recap to reinforce previous learning.

Science: Our science topic this half term is Living Things and Their Habitats. We’ll explore the life cycles of various animals and plants.

History: Our next history topic will begin in Autumn Term 2.

Geography: This half term’s geography topic is Rivers. Children will learn about the features and course of a river, and research some of the most famous rivers in the UK and around the world.

Art & Design Technology: In DT, we’ll be studying Bridges—learning how designers make them strong and stable, before designing and building our own using the knowledge gained.

Computing: Our computing focus is Online Safety. Children will learn how to stay safe and make responsible choices online.

Religious Education (RE): Our next RE topic will begin in Autumn Term 2.

PSHE: We follow the Jigsaw scheme of work. This half term’s topic is Being Me in My World, where children will reflect on the year ahead, set personal goals, and discuss potential challenges.

Physical Education (P.E.): P.E. takes place every Monday and Tuesday. Please ensure your child brings the correct kit: white T-shirt, black shorts, and black pumps. Track pants and a warmer layer are recommended for outdoor sessions. All items should be clearly labelled and kept in a named P.E. bag.

Life Skills: Life Skills sessions are held every Thursday afternoon.

Homework: Reading is the most important activity outside the classroom. With the right book, it won’t feel like hard work!

Weekly spellings are given every Monday and tested on Friday.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school office to arrange an appointment.

Mr Kulyn, Miss Sutcliffe and the Year 5 Team :)