2 separate worksheets (with answers for ease of marking) that call on pupils to identify main, subordinate and relative clauses in different sentences. The method asks for similar identification to that asked for in the GPS SATs test so can be used as a good foundation for revision or simple teaching throughout upper key stage 2.

Four short passages where children must use inference with regards to the text in order to answer 3 mark questions. This is good practice for providing evidence from the text itself and explaining reasoning. These exercises can be carried out in a whole class guided reading environment, small groups or individually. Might be a good idea to one text as a class and discuss how to answer the questions. Give another as a paired exercise and the final two as individual work. A teacher notes/answers sheet is provided as a separate file for ease of marking.

This is a new teacher published book about little people called the ‘Lampkeepers’ who lived in lampposts during Victorian times. The story can be read as a standalone to children across the whole primary curriculum or it can be used in conjunction with the chapter-by-chapter comprehension quizzes that accompany it in key stage 2. The writing is designed to be mostly phonically decodable and uses a range of writing features for good teacher modeling. Incorporated into the writing are many examples of multi-clause sentences, semicolon usage, subordination, use of coordinating conjunctions, use of the subjunctive, exclamatory sentences, similes and metaphors. The comprehension quizzes are designed around the SAT style questions that children will face in the reading papers - e.g. fact/opinion, true/false, inference, retrieval, synonyms, word comprehension. All answers are included at the end of each comprehension quiz for ease of marking.

The Christmas views of a rather grumpy Christmas tree who is dragged indoors every December. Written in the first person, the story/narrative is accompanied by a comprehension quiz (15 questions) requiring pupils to infer, recall, retrieve, state true or false, state fact or opinion, consider word meaning/comprehension and look for synonyms. Questions are styled to be a good practice ahead of the SAT reading paper. All answers are included for ease of marking.

A three pack of reading comprehensions for year 5/6. Footsteps in the Attic - spooky short story with accompanying comprehension quiz and answers. Bonfire Night - short non-fiction opinion piece about the author’s experiences of Bonfire Night as a child. Comes with comprehension quiz and answers. The Crack at the Edge of the Universe - 10 page novella, teacher written, that tells the short story of a NASA shuttle sent to investigate a mysterious crack at the edge of the universe. Things soon start to go wrong! Accompanied by a comprehension quiz for each two chapters and answers for ease of marking. All comprehensions can be done as guided reading, whole class guided reading or individually. Questions and answers modeled on the type used in year 6 reading SATS for good practice.

Newspaper article on Prometheus stealing fire from The Gods and giving it to humankind. Uses formal language and writing features expected in a news article as well as including a shift to informality where appropriate in interviews. Article is accompanied by a 14 question (19 mark) reading comprehension comprising of: retrieval inference true/false fact/opinion synonyms language level of formality Available as Word and PDF with answers for ease of marking.

Newspaper article with reading comprehension. Bonus 1 page grammar and punctuation quiz. Suitable for SATs practise. Questions include: retrieval Newspaper features inference fact and opinion true and false time ordering Answers are included for ease of marking.

1 page of reading - Oliver Twist Reading Comprehension for Year 5 and 6. Text is taken from the opening page of Dickens’ Oliver Twist. Some text has been altered to make it less antiquated and age appropriate so it is not entirely the original text (but it is close and the same in meaning). 24 mark reading comprehension (with answers for ease of marking). retrieval inference fact and opinion true and false word comprehension and synonym

Second in series of SPAG/GPS quick quizzes that gradually work through the different aspects of the GPS curriculum. Ideal for early and gradual preparation for the GPS SAT paper in May. Can be used as knowledge retrieval exercise or as a lesson plenary. Answers included on pages 3 and 4 for ease of marking or quick feedback. 50 mark quiz.

First in series of SPAG/GPS quick quizzes that gradually work through the different aspects of the GPS curriculum. Ideal for early and gradual preparation for the GPS SAT paper in May. Can be used as knowledge retrieval exercise or as a lesson plenary. Answers included on pages 3 and 4 for ease of marking or quick feedback. 50 mark quiz.

Fifth in a series of SPAG/GPS quick quizzes that gradually work through the different aspects of the GPS curriculum. Ideal for early and gradual preparation for the GPS SAT paper in May. Can be used as knowledge retrieval exercise or as a lesson plenary. Answers included on pages 3 and 4 for ease of marking or quick feedback. 50 mark quiz.

Series of 5 SPAG/GPS quick quizzes that gradually work through the different aspects of the GPS curriculum. Ideal for early and gradual preparation for the GPS SAT paper in May. Can be used as knowledge retrieval exercise or as a lesson plenary. Answers included on pages 3 and 4 for ease of marking or quick feedback. 50 mark quiz.

Fourth in a series of SPAG/GPS quick quizzes that gradually work through the different aspects of the GPS curriculum. Ideal for early and gradual preparation for the GPS SAT paper in May. Can be used as knowledge retrieval exercise or as a lesson plenary. Answers included on pages 3 and 4 for ease of marking or quick feedback. 50 mark quiz.

Third in a series of SPAG/GPS quick quizzes that gradually work through the different aspects of the GPS curriculum. Ideal for early and gradual preparation for the GPS SAT paper in May. Can be used as knowledge retrieval exercise or as a lesson plenary. Answers included on pages 3 and 4 for ease of marking or quick feedback. 50 mark quiz.

Handy two pack Christmas comprehensions for year 5/6 as you get to that time of year when you need to reinstate a little structure as the timetable becomes littered with carol practices and production rehearsals - ideal for restoring a bit of order! The Ghost of Christmas Past - comprehension written in the 1st person by the Ghost of Christmas Past as he explains his role on Christmas Eve - visiting wrongdoers can be a trying business when you’d rather be tucked up by the fire! The Christmas Tree - first person opinion piece written by a rather grumpy Christmas tree who laments on being dragged into his human household for a month every December. Both comprehension come complete with a 15 question comprehension paper and answers for ease of marking. Enjoy.

Autumn Special: Halloween and Bonfire Night Double Comprehension Pack. Halloween: The Footsteps in the Attic: A short story about a young man who buys a run-down house only to discover there is something strange going bump in the night. Story is accompanied by a comprehension quiz that runs a similar line of questioning to a year 6 SAT paper for good practice. Answer are also enclosed for ease of marking. Bonfire Night Lights in the Sky A short poem and opinion piece by the author, detailing his memories of November 5th when he was a child. Poem also contains examples of simile and alliteration and can be used for modeling poetry pieces, while the text can be used for discussing elements such as fact/opinion, true/false, retrieval and inference. Comprehension quiz is enclosed with answers also for ease of marking.

If you’re struggling to find something to fill those end of the term time gaps then this might give you half an hour respite. Rearrange the anagrams of film titles. Can they get them all?

A starter exercise to get the class thinking about formal and informal language and promote class discussion. There are also a couple of slides based on missing commas just to jog pupils’ memories.

An A4 sheet of useful conjunctions (and relative pronouns) that children can use in their writing. Ideal for laminating and keeping in their drawers. When writing, they can tick off different conjunctions to encourage using a wider range.