Reading at Home

Reading continues to be an essential part of learning in Year 5, as children encounter longer, more complex texts and are expected to develop deeper comprehension skills. Encouraging daily reading at home helps build stamina, broaden vocabulary and strengthen understanding. Please ensure your child's daily reading is recorded in their individual reading diary (and they should bring it into school every day). Talking together about what they have read by discussing themes, characters, viewpoints or new vocabulary supports the higher‑level reading skills outlined in the National Curriculum. Whether your child enjoys fiction, non‑fiction or poetry, the most important thing is that they read often and with enjoyment.

Writing and Spelling

In Year 5, children begin to write with greater control and accuracy, using a wider range of sentence structures, punctuation and ambitious vocabulary. They also learn more complex spelling patterns and rules. You can support this at home by encouraging your child to write for real purposes, such as keeping a journal, writing letters, creating stories or even helping with shopping lists or instructions. Talking about new words, exploring their meanings and noticing interesting language in books all help strengthen their writing skills.

Oracy and Vocabulary Development

Strong speaking and listening skills underpin success across the curriculum. In Year 5, children are encouraged to express their ideas clearly, listen respectfully to others and take part in thoughtful discussions. Vocabulary development also becomes increasingly important, as children encounter more subject‑specific and sophisticated language. You can support this by having regular conversations at home, encouraging your child to explain their thinking in full sentences and exploring new words together when they appear in reading, homework or everyday life.

Maths and Number Fluency

Maths in Year 5 builds on the foundations of earlier years, with children applying their knowledge to more complex problems involving fractions, decimals, percentages and multi‑step calculations. Secure number fluency remains essential, as it supports confidence and accuracy across all areas of maths. Practising key facts at home, such as times tables, number bonds and mental calculation strategies, helps children work more efficiently and tackle new concepts with greater ease.

Supporting Independence

Year 5 is an important year for developing independence and responsibility. Children are encouraged to take ownership of their learning, organise their belongings, complete homework with increasing independence and prepare for the school day. Supporting these routines at home helps build resilience, confidence and a sense of pride in their achievements.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Supporting children’s mental health continues to be an important part of Year 5. As pupils grow more independent and face new academic and social challenges, it’s normal for them to experience a wider range of emotions. Encouraging open conversations at home helps children feel comfortable expressing how they feel and builds their confidence in managing everyday worries. Simple routines, such as regular sleep, time to relax, opportunities to play and chances to talk about their day, all contribute to a positive sense of wellbeing.

Key Information

Year 5’s PE day is on Thursday. Children should attend school in their PE kit on their PE day. 

Uniform: Please ensure all uniform, especially jumpers/cardigans, are labelled with your child’s name and class.

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