Friday 4th September 2026
Dear Parents and Carers of Year 5,
RE: Y5 Curriculum Letter, Autumn 1 ‘Into Africa’
Welcome to Year 5 at Kelvin Grove. Our Learning Journey topic this term is titled: ‘Into Africa’ with a strong topic links in geography, whole class reading, science and music. Please see the Y5 mind map which outlines this term’s learning.
As part of the immersion in our new topic, we have booked a fantastic dance and storytelling workshop on Thursday 10th September 2026. Please see the separate letter sent regarding this. Each class will see an interactive performance from Iroko Company and take part in a workshop in the morning. In addition to this, across this academic year each Y5 class will learn Djembe drumming techniques and rhythms in lessons with a specialist drumming teacher, commencing Wednesday 9th September.
Key information for this term:
P.E. Lessons
PE will be on alternate Mondays as part of PPA (7th September, 21st September. 5th October and 19th October). Also, Lavender will have PE every Tuesday, Violet will have PE every Thursday and Lilac will have PE every Friday.
Please ensure that your child comes to school wearing school PE kit in on PE days: grey or black bottoms, white t-shirt, red school jumper/cardigan and trainers/plimsolls. As the weather turns colder, tracksuit bottoms are advised. A reminder to all families – with exception of permitted religious items and stud earrings, jewellery and adornments are not allowed in school. In our school policy, stud earrings will need to be covered or removed on PE days. Also, we ask for long hair to be tied back.
Home Learning:
Reading: Reading with your child and discussing what has been read each day is essential to helping them make progress in all areas of the curriculum. The expectation is that your child reads for at least 15-20 minutes each evening and that they record this in their Reading Record Book which will be handed out next week. We ask that you support and monitor your child’s reading and check/sign it regularly.
Maths: Maths homework is set each week on Mathletics and activities will reflect the learning that has taken place in school over the previous fortnight. Mathletics homework will be set fortnightly and will begin on Monday 21st September 2026. The homework is to be completed by the Friday of the following week. We will reissue Mathletics logins to all pupils next week.
Times Tables: Please practice all times tables and their related division facts frequently using TTRS online. We will reissue TTRS logins to all pupils next week.
Spellings: A spelling rule will be introduced in class on Mondays, and throughout the week lessons and activities will be completed based on this rule. Over the course of the half term, we will send home a spelling homework to consolidate spelling patterns taught in school. When spelling homework is sent out it will have a clear due date for the work to be returned. Typically, this happens once or twice each half term.
Topic Home Learning Project: Topic Home Learning Projects start in Autumn 2, after half term. Each project will be linked to learning from the previous term to give children a chance to revisit and build upon prior learning.
Important Dates:
Parents’ Evening will be held during the week beginning 12th October 2026. Further details will follow from school nearer the time.
Other information:
Please ensure your child brings a filled and labelled water bottle to school each day.
Year 5 pupils can bring into school a healthy snack e.g. a piece of fruit, savoury crackers or nut-free breakfast bar etc which can be eaten at morning break. If your child brings in what we would consider to be an unhealthy snack, they will not be allowed to eat it, and it will be returned to them at the end of the school day. Also, please ensure that your child’s snack does not contain any nuts due to pupil allergies.
As the weather becomes changeable, please ensure your child has a suitable coat and that all possessions are named. It is important that your child does not wear jewellery (unless it is for religious reasons) apart from stud earrings.
Below this letter, you will find a mind map which shows the learning that we will be doing this term. Additionally, we have included the Year 5 statutory spellings which the children are expected to be able to read and write correctly by the end of the academic year.
Thank you and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Mrs Cooper, Mrs Clark & Mrs Khan
Year 5 Team
