Year 4

Dear Parents/Carers

Welcome back! We hope that you have all had a very enjoyable summer break, and that your children are excited to start a brand-new year of learning. This year, Year 4’s class teacher is Mrs K Whinton, supported by Mrs Karakas and Miss Thompson.

The autumn term is always a busy time for children in Year 4 with lots of new learning taking place. We are continuing with our new Thematic Topic lessons, using Dimensions, across the school, and our first Year 4 theme is ‘Lightning Speed’. This unit is based around the history and development of the internet and World Wide Web, with a focus on computing. Following this, in our second unit, ‘May the Force Be with You’ we will reinforce previous science learning linked forces and magnets. In our final unit ‘Window on the World’ the focus will be on geography skills exploring settlements, land use and trade.

In our Science work, we will be exploring Electricity before moving on to learn about Sound. English and Mathematics will continue to be taught daily and focus on key writing skills and mathematical calculations. Times tables are an area requiring continuing improvement, please encourage your child to learn and revisit times tables they are struggling with as this knowledge aids so much of their learning in maths. There will be a strong emphasis on learning and rapid recall of times tables up to 12 x 12 as children in Year 4 will be taking take part in the National Multiplication Test later in June next year. More information will be provided nearer the time.

Support for spelling will take place within Year 4 and will be tailored to meet your child’s needs. Children will continue to receive reading books linked to their ability from school which can be changed once completed, we expect books to be changed weekly. You will receive a new reading diary for this year, please continue to read at home and please support us with writing in your child’s reading diary. Children will have access to reading journals should they wish to complete them, but these will not be compulsory – these could be included during purple homework though.

Children need to keep a P.E kit in school, but generally children in Year 4 will have P.E on a Monday and a Wednesday, can you please ensure your child has the correct PE kit in school. PE kit should consist of a plain white t-shirt, plain shorts and a pair of pumps. It would also be appreciated if all uniform, including PE kit and pumps, are labelled with your child’s full name and class.

Please can we remind parents that jewellery should not be worn in school with the exception of stud earrings, and in line with Health and Safety guidelines these should not be worn on PE days. Children will be asked to remove earrings before PE sessions.

Children in Year 4 receive regular homework: purple creative homework books will be continued and age-related spellings will be given out each Monday and tested on the following Monday. Children will also have support for spellings and a test on Tuesday.

To provide you with as much information as possible, I have included a copy of your child’s timetable. This gives a brief outline of your child’s day, but should be viewed as a guide only, as it is often necessary to change lessons as circumstances within school dictate.

A reminder that school start time remains at 8.45am and children should enter via the main gate, with their collection time being 3.15pm from our classroom door.

A further reminder that if your child is asthmatic, please ensure an in-date inhaler and spacer is always in school. Please ensure you have informed the office with any updated medical information.

We anticipate a busy and exciting term, and we thank you for your continued support. We will, as always, keep you updated with any changes but if you have any questions/queries now or throughout the year, please do not hesitate to speak to me, either after school or by making an appointment via the school office.

We look forward to a very enjoyable year full of learning and progress.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs K Whinton

Year 4 Class Teacher