Regular information is shared with parents and carers through the home/school diaries, newsletters, Arbor emails and through the website. By clicking on the class pages, you'll find out more about the team supporting the year group.

This year, all of our classes are named after dinosaurs. These names were democratically chosen by the children. Last year, our classes were all book characters.

All of the classes are supported by our SENCo (Special Needs Coordinator), Mrs Natalie Parsonson and our Learning Mentors, Mrs Lynn Mildren and Mrs Nicky Tapp.

 We hope that you have had a lovely summer break and are ready for the year ahead. We have lots of new topics and activities to look forward to. This is an important year in terms of developing independence in learning in preparation for Year 5 and 6. We would very much hope that you support your child on this important part of their learning journey.

Drop off and Pick Up Time

The school gate opens at 8:40. Year 4 children should enter via the KS2 gate. The whistle will be blown at 8:45 and the children will enter class ready for registration. At the end of the school day the children will leave via the KS2 gate at 3:25. We will be at the school gate if you would like to speak to one to the team.

Residential

Year 4 are invited to take part in a residential. This is a very exciting time for them and more information will be shared via email in the next few weeks.

Topics

Our first topic, ‘Brainwaves: metacognition’, focuses on the best ways to learn and strategies to becoming an effective learner. This will last three weeks and then we will start learning about the Egyptians! This topic is called ‘Temples, Tombs and Treasures’. During this topic we will be learning about how they live their life, writing and Gods and mythology

Home/School Diaries

Please remember to check these daily for communications and sign weekly ready for the following Monday. We strongly recommend that you continue to read with your child daily and encourage your child to record this in the home section as we are now focusing on independence in learning in preparation for Year 5 and 6.

Homework

Most of our homework will be online via SPAG.com, TT Rockstars, My Maths and accelerated reader. Once a term we will ask the children to complete a project based on their topic. This will be sent home with your child on Fridays and will be due in the following Wednesday. It is expected that all children will complete and hand in their homework on time.

Spellings and Times-tables

Your child will begin to bring home weekly spellings. They need to practise these daily in preparation for a test on Wednesday which will be marked in class with results going into Home/School diaries.

 

The national Year 4 times-table test will take place in the summer term. It is expected that Year 4 children will know up to 12x12 by the end of year 4. We will be doing lots of work on these in class and ask that you practise regularly at home to support your child with their learning. There will be a meeting nearer the time to go through the details of this test with you. The test is quite similar to the games on TT Rockstars so spending 10 minutes a day on this will prepare them for this test well.

Accelerated Reading

Following on from Year 3 children will be continuing with Accelerated Reader. They will initially sit a Star Reader test in the first couple of weeks of term to provide an up-to-date reading age and level. The colour bands related to their score will be shared in the Home/School diaries. It is expected that your child will read and take the Accelerated Reading quizzes regularly. Scores will be recorded in Home/School diaries

Equipment

We will provide the children with the equipment that they will need in class you’re your child can bring in their own equipment.

Children will need to bring their own water bottle each day and this will be sent home to be washed at the end of each day. They can be refilled during the day as required. There are free water bottles available from school.

Indoor PE: This will be on Monday mornings – your child needs to wear the correct PE kit as per the policy - this will involve changing in school (in classrooms for the boys and girls). During year 4, the children will complete swimming lessons. More details will follow about this.

Outdoor Games: This will be on Wednesday afternoon - Your child will need to bring their PE kit in a spare bag as per the school policy. Regardless of the weather we will be going outside so please ensure children have sun cream and hats if weather is hot or a jacket if weather is cold.

Forest School: This will be on Tuesday – your child will need a raincoat, waterproof trousers and wellington boots as we will be out regardless of the weather. Your child will need to bring this in a bag which will stay in their lockers. Forest school kits will be sent home at the end of each term for cleaning.

Please ensure all clothing and footwear for PE and Forest School is clearly labelled with your child’s name.

Mr Bass’ class will start Forest school on Tuesday 12^th September and Miss Stanley’s class will start their first session the following week on the 19^th.

Class Dojo

Throughout the year, we will be posting pictures and clips on class Dojo of what the children in year 4 have been completing and taking part in. Please use this link to join our class story

https://www.classdojo.com/ul/p/addKid?target=class&class=CHQTH33

Should you have any questions or queries at any point in the year please talk to us face to face (try to avoid the mornings), an email ( you will receive a reply within 2 days) or a phone call to the office. Please make sure that you always keep your contact information up to date so that we can easily contact you at any time particularly in the event of an emergency situation. Email addresses are provided below

Many thanks

The Year 4 Team

Mr Bass – Jbass@deanshanger.northants.sch.uk

Miss Stanley – cstanley@deanshanger.northants.sch.uk

Miss Brooks – nbrooks@deanshanger.northants.sch.uk

Mrs Young, Mrs T-G and Mrs Griffin