The Runaway Children of Chennai – Year 6 English Scheme
I’ve created a full, text‑faithful Year 6 English scheme of work to accompany my novel The Runaway Children of Chennai. It’s built around empathy, global citizenship, rich discussion, and the kind of close reading that gets even the quietest pupils joining in.
As a former Year 6 and English teacher, I’ve designed the scheme to be practical, flexible, and genuinely enjoyable to teach. No over‑complicated planning, no endless printing, just clear, ready-to-go lessons that really work. ​
Pupils were
completely engaged
Reluctant readers joined in more than expected​
The unit felt ready to teach
What’s Included
✔ 6‑week scheme of work (with bonus 7th week)
Fully planned lessons with clear objectives, modelling, discussion prompts, and annotation guidance.
​ ✔ ​Built-in differentiation
Support and stretch options for mixed‑ability Year 6 classes.
✔ Assessment opportunities
Reading, writing, and spoken-language tasks integrated naturally throughout the unit.
✔ Printouts Pack
All pupil‑facing resources in one place - clean, accessible, and ready to use.
✔ Extension & homework philosophy
Optional tasks that deepen thinking without overwhelming pupils or teachers.
✔ Safeguarding‑aware guidance
The story touches on vulnerability and resilience; includes gentle notes to support safe, thoughtful discussion.
✔ Real‑world charity connection
Links to real organisations supporting vulnerable children in India, giving pupils a chance to see how stories connect to real lives.​
The annotation approach helped pupils feel confident with complex texts.
Nothing to prepare!
Themes sparked meaningful PSHE and global citizenship discussions.
