1. Year 4 Information Evening Mrs Lesley Dickens September 2015

2. Welcome to Year 4 The aim of tonight is to help you to understand what you and your child can expect in Year 4. I would also like to identify some opportunities for you to help your child as they progress through this important year.

3. The Year 4 Team Mrs Dickens is the class teacher. Miss Cooke is the class teaching assistant. Mrs Bourner provides some PPA cover for teachers, and she will be taking the class on Wednesday afternoons for Science.

4. Homework Children in Year 4 will be given homework each fortnight, the homework will reflect what the children are learning in class as far as possible. Children will also be set reading, spellings and times tables each week in addition to homework. There will be a sticker in their books with the related learning objectives. There will also be a sticker in there for you to complete, this will show the level of support needed. Reading remains a vital ingredient in Year 4, and I would encourage children to read as often, and as widely as possible. They still have an opportunity to achieve reading badges if they read 4 times a week at home and get their partnership books signed.

5. Ongoing Tests Spellings: 10 words will be given out on a Monday, for testing on the Friday. The words will follow a spelling pattern each week. Please make sure your child learns the spellings for the test. Mental Maths/Times Tables: There will be a Mental maths test every Friday. There will also be an informal maths test every other Friday (the week we don’t do extended writing) to consolidate knowledge from the previous fortnight’s class work. In keeping with the school policy, the children will do Extended Writing (an unsupported, independent piece of work based on the week’s genre) every other week, which contributes to their writing assessment.

6. Trips/Experiences Our topic this term is dinosaurs Travelling Natural History Museum – happened Friday 11 th September Wellington Country Park (16 th September 2015) Shootesbrooke Estate Spring term our topic will be Vikings and Dragons. Trip to Butser Ancient Farm (date to be confirmed)

7. Trips/Experiences There is also a residential trip to Hooke Court planned in June (8 th – 10 th ) This is a fantastic opportunity to encourage children to develop independence. They experience a fun filled two days with their friends and peers. A memory which stays with them for life!

8. Behaviour Management There are a number of behaviour management strategies used in Year 4, consistent with those used across the school. House Points Awarded for excellent work in lessons, and for exceptional behaviour and helpfulness. Star of the Week Awarded for excellent work throughout the week. We will of course be following the school behaviour management consequences, as detailed in the Parent Partnership Books.

9. Post Newsletter will be sent home electronically on Mondays. All other post will be sent home on a Friday with the children. Please try and remember to extract the messages from your child’s school bag so they don’t get lost! Any messages for Miss Cooke or I can either be written in the Parent Partnership Books or left at the office.

10. PE There are two PE sessions each week. The children need suitable trainers for outdoor PE, particularly as the field begins to get muddy again. PE kits must be in school ALL week in case a sporting activity arises on the spur of the moment! Please ensure that these are labelled.

11. School Website This is updated weekly Homework information is included if your child forgets or loses their homework or spellings. There is an outline of planned learning for reading, writing, maths and science included. The curriculum map for the term is included. Photographs are updated regularly.

12. End of the Day Children will be brought out onto the playground (weather permitting) by their class teacher. They will remain in their class line until we have seen a grown up responsible for collecting them. Please write a message in the parent partnership book if your child is being collected by somebody other than yourselves or the person who normally collects.

13. Parents’ evening The first parents’ evenings of the school year will be on the 6th and 7 th October. Being so early in the term, we will be discussing the targets that I have worked with your child to decide on, and any ways we can work together to achieve them.

14. The most important aim for this year should be to HAVE FUN! The children will progress much faster if they are enjoying what they are learning. We have a very relaxed but work focussed and well organised classroom, where everyone is encouraged to develop independence and responsibility for themselves. Please don’t hesitate to talk to me about anything if you have any questions.