Year 4 Parents Information Session

Mrs Learmont and Mrs Paldi 4LP

Mrs Fitzpatrick 4F

Miss Hine and Miss Windle 4W

Mrs Wadsworth English, Maths and Science

General Information

Winter Uniform: School jumper, white shirt/blouse, grey skirt or trousers, green tie, black supportive school shoes, black or grey tights or socks.

P.E kit: School white polo shirt (with House colour), plain black cotton shorts, plain black tracksuit bottoms (with elasticated waist and ankles), School hooded sweatshirt or plain black jumper and trainers/plimsolls.

Small studs may be worn and a wrist watch. Both will need to be removed for Games and PE (please note that your child will not be able to go swimming with earrings in). Hair must be tied back.

Please ensure that the office has up-to-date emergency contact information and medical information and please ensure that any medications are in date.

The New National Curriculum• In place from September 2014.• Schools have been preparing for the new curriculum for the past

couple of years.• Courthouse has devised new schemes of work to cover and link all

objectives in the new curriculum, these can be found on the website.

• The National Curriculum defines the programmes of study for key subjects in maintained/ state primary and secondary schools in England (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own equivalents). Fundamentally, it sets out what your child is supposed to learn and when.

• The main aim is to raise standards.• Although the new curriculum is intended to be more challenging,

the content is actually slimmer than the current curriculum, focusing on essential core subject knowledge and skills such as essay writing and computer programming.

Homework Diaries• Every child has been given a homework diary to form an

easy communication path between home and school. • Homework will be recorded, along with other information

(spelling scores, table test results etc.).• A timetable should be found on the inside cover.• Please sign your child’s homework diaries when they have

completed their homework and it is ready to hand in.• Please try to cover your child’s diary to ensure they last the

whole year (wrapping paper or sticky-back plastic).

Homework• Reading should happen daily, out loud to an adult

(we will endeavour to hear the children read as much as possible in school too).

• English and Maths homework will be handed out on Thursdays and needs to be completed and handed in by the following Tuesday.

• The children will be required to learn a set of spellings and times tables every week ready for their spelling and tables test on a Friday.

English• English lessons happen daily, in the morning, with extended

lessons on a Monday, Thursday and Friday to allow the children to participate in Guided reading sessions.

• This term we will study:

Poetry – Creating images (similes & metaphors) Recount – Newspaper articles Stories with a historical setting – Pompeii

• For all of these units, we will look at the relevant features, form and style associated with the different writing styles.

• Spellings will be taken from and follow the new English National Curriculum and the Alpha to Omega scheme.

• We will be sending home a list of words that the children are expected to be able to read and spell by the end of year 4.

Maths• Maths lessons happen daily, in the morning sessions. • During this term, we will cover:

Counting, partitioning and calculating Securing number facts, understanding shape Handling data and measures Calculating, measuring and understanding shape Securing number facts, relationships and calculating

• We will use the ‘Courthouse Calculation Policy’ to teach age and ability appropriate methods for calculating. This can be found on the website.

• There will be a maths evening workshop in October that will include demonstrations on the methods for calculations used at Courthouse.

ScienceThis term we will cover three units:

Biology (animals, including humans):

• Skeletons - the children will learn that humans and some other animals have skeletons and muscles for support, protection and movement.

• Digestive system – the children will learn about the functions of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans. They will also construct food chains and identify producers, predators and prey.

Physics:

• Electricity – the children will learn about electrical safety and will investigate circuits, conductors and insulators.

Science

Nature Journals

The children will also be observing the changing seasons using our new Nature Journals. Each class has adopted a different tree in the school grounds, which the children will observe and study on a regular basis.

Thank you to Mrs Cooke who has helped Mrs Wadsworth to develop this scheme of work.

Revolutionary Romans• The children will learn about the founding of

Rome and how the Roman Empire expanded due to many successful invasions of surrounding countries.

• The children will research life in Roman times and how Britain changed as a result of the Roman Invasion of Britain.

• Significant people in history will also be studied including Julius Caesar, Claudius and Boudicca.

• Enquiry skills of making observations and finding answers to questions about the past will be developed and built upon.

The Arts

• Our art work will be linked to the Romans, the children will investigate Roman art styles such as mosaics and statues.

• In music we will be learning to sing Roman songs and creating musical accompaniments to these songs.

• We will turn into Roman soldiers during our dance lessons as we learn to move to music, creating different shapes and sequences based on soldiers.

French

• French will be taught on a weekly basis and aims to provide an appropriate balance of spoken and written language.

• The children will be taught basic vocabulary and phrases and then will focus on using this to communicate orally and in written form.

• The children will also learn some French songs so listen out for these!

PSHE & RE

These lessons will happen on alternative weeks.

• In PSHE, we will look at ‘New Beginnings’, which explores the children’s understanding of feeling valued as a person, in the class, school and wider community. We will then move onto ‘Getting on & Falling Out’, where we will look at how to deal with incidents, how to read emotions and understand that people interpret things differently.

• In RE, we will be studying ‘Festivals of Light’, where we will look at Diwali, Hanukah and Christmas. The children will learn about the origins of these festivals, why they are celebrated and how it is customary to celebrate.

P.E & Games

Please ensure that your child has the correct kit for each lesson. P.E (indoor) is on Monday and Games (outdoor-trainers needed) is on Thursday.

• In PE we will be developing and improving our skills in dance (linked to our Romans topic) and gymnastics where we will be learning various different balances.

• In Games the children will be taught by professional sports coaches, supported by the class teachers and LSAs. The children will be learning to play Tag Rugby and Netball.

Important Dates• Parents Consultation Meetings: 30/9/14 5.30pm-8pm 2/10/14 3.30pm-6pm• Maths Workshop: 20/10/14 3.30pm-4.30pm• October Holiday: 27/10/14-31/10/14• Visit to Maidenhead Synagogue: 14/11/14• Visit to St Peters Church: Late November/December• Pantomime: December• Class Christmas Parties: 17/12/14 End of term: 19/12/14

Class Assemblies:4F 22/10/144LP 5/11/144W 10/12/14

Our Plea…Are you able to come and help in Year 4?

We would love people who are willing to…• Hear children read• Assist during art lessons• Assist during games lessons• Photocopy and collate work• Back work for display• Talk to the children about relevant subjects we

are learning about

Whether it be for an hour or more, every little helps!!

Please feel free to come and ask us any questions you may have.