Welcome to Year 4!
Welcome to Year 4 2025-2026
Our Newsletters
The newsletter provides parents and guardians with an overview of what we are teaching and learning about during any half term.
Autumn 1 – Ancient Greece
Spring 1 -
Spring 2 -
Summer 1 -
Summer 2 -
In year four, our learning is underpinned by the two main statutory subjects of maths and English during the mornings. In the afternoons we teach a broad range of foundation subjects which allow our children to be creative and express themselves in a variety of ways.
Reading
In year four, reading is primarily taught through daily English lessons. Once a week there is a discrete comprehension VIPERS (Vocabulary, Infer, Predict, Explain, Retrieve, Summarise) lesson based on the whole class reading book at the time. We have a reading area in year four where children can access a wide variety of different books which span over several genres in both fiction and non-fiction. This is to promote reading for pleasure for the children. The majority of year four children are issued books through the current school reading scheme. The goal is to develop their comprehension by the end of the year so that they can become a free reader and start reading books that they have an interest in. Throughout the year, we also visit our excellent Knaresborough library and the children select a book which they read in class.
Writing
In Year 4, we write for lots of different purposes linked to the topic for our year group. The writing activities have a mission statement which allows children to give context to their writing, making it more meaningful. When producing a larger piece of writing, we show the children a WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like) to demonstrate how to use the features of different genres in their writing. We ensure that children re-read their writing and give them time to practise their editing skills to then make sure their writing is up to the best standard it can be for the children to publish.
In addition, we incorporate SPaG activities to help children reinforce their grammar skills and up level their writing. There is a weekly grammar lesson and where appropriate links into the writing genre we are covering at the time.
Maths
Maths is taught daily following the White Rose maths scheme which builds on prior knowledge and understanding. Every Maths lesson starts with Times Tables work. During our lessons, children develop their understanding of a new skill before applying it in different reasoning and problem solving scenarios. Below is the maths plan for the year:
Year 4 times tables screening check
From June 2020, all Year 4 children in England have been required to take a Multiplication Tables Check (MTC). The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether pupils can recall their times tables fluently, which is essential for future success in mathematics. It will help the school to identify pupils who have not yet mastered their times tables, so that additional support can be provided. The test is administered online and we will be practising the format of the test with the children in school using iPads on a regular basis between now and June. We would also like to suggest some possible websites which would offer the opportunity for the children to practise at home. It would be useful if the children were able to use these sites to ensure they are feeling confident with the process of the test. We have children who are very proficient with all their tables but we feel they would benefit from practising the inputting of their answers in the 6 seconds available during the test. Possible websites which offer a very similar experience to the actual test include:
- Times Tables Rock Stars – click on ‘play’ at the top right hand side and then click on Soundcheck underneath
- Timestables.co.uk – look at menu on right hand side of screen and click on Multiplication Tables Check
- Mathsframe.co.uk –multiplication & division – then scroll down to Multiplication Tables Check
- Themathsfactor.com – has a free times tables check at the bottom of the opening page.
Other subjects
History and Geography are taught on alternate half terms. Where appropriate, English writing is linked to our topic that term. Other subjects are taught discreetly using a range of schemes:
ICT (Purple Mash)
Music (Charanga)
PSHE (Jigsaw)
French (Language Angels)
RE (North Yorkshire)
Art and DT alternate each half term.
PE (PE Pro).
Please make sure child comes into school dressed in their PE kits on their PE day. The PE days may change mid-term as we have some lessons delivered by Total Sports. Please check the newsletter for relevant dates. In the Spring Term, the children also get an opportunity to take part in swimming lessons at Knaresborough Leisure Centre. On your child's swimming days, the children come into school in their school uniform and have time to change into their swimming clothes at the swimming pool.
Homework
Homework is sent out each Friday and returned to school the following Thursday, ready to be marked. In Year 4, the homework consists of: spellings, times tables, maths or English (these rotate on a weekly basis) and talk homework. As well as this, children are encouraged to read every night and log onto Times Tables Rockstars each week.
Robin Hood’s Bay
In year 4, we run a trip to Robin Hood’s Bay in May. Each class will stay one night at the Old School House in the village. Activities include: exploring the coastline, the village itself and other surprises along the way! There will be meetings closer to the trip. Please find a powerpoint which was shared at the start of the year with additional information about the trip.
Robin Hood's Bay Powerpoint for parents/carers
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