The teaching assistant working across Year 4 is Miss Bodin.
Additional staff who may be working with your children include:
Ms. Wilkinson who is the school’s SEND Coordinator.
Mrs. Hussain and Mrs. Doidge, who support Ms. Wilkinson, will also be supporting specific children in the year group.
Mrs. Smith, our school librarian, will support specific children to develop reading fluency and enjoyment of reading.
Soft start: From 8:45, we are in the classrooms with activities set up for the children which include practicing prior learning to build understanding and fluency. It is therefore advantageous to be arriving at school nearer to 8:45 than to 8:55!
Collection: The school day ends at 3:30. Children can be collected from 3:30 to 3:45 from the playground.
Playtime: Children may bring a snack into school for playtime. These must be limited to fruit or non-chocolate based cereal bars (No nuts). Any inappropriate snacks, like crisps or chocolate, will be confiscated and returned at the end of the school day.
Water: All children should have a water bottle in school. In the long run it is much cheaper to buy a water bottle than use single use bottles of water but if you do, please encourage your child to reuse these so that we are not creating large amounts of plastic waste in school.
Boys: Grey trousers, White shirt or polo shirt, navy blue jumpers / sweatshirts and sensible shoes (not trainers).
Girls: Grey trousers, skirt or pinafores, white shirt or polo shirt, navy blue jumpers / sweatshirts and sensible shoes (not trainers). Additionally, blue & white check dresses can be worn in warmer months..
Hijabs/Patkas: Children can of course wear a hijab or patka, where applicable. These should be plain and either be blue or black in colour.
Long hair: Long hair should be secured with a hair bobble.
Footwear: We do not allow Wellingtons to be worn in school throughout the day. In wet weather, please ensure that your child has a sensible pair of shoes or trainers/pumps to change into once inside the school building. Sensible shoes exclude open toe shoes or sandals, shoes with embedded flashing lights or wheels, wedges, platform soles and shoes with high heels.
A weekly music lesson will take place this year. Children in 4 Dorset will learn to play the clarinet with Mrs. Wakelam-Sloan whilst 4 Scottish Highlands will learn Brass with Mr Li.
Your child will have the opportunity to bring these instruments home to practice what they have learnt; therefore, it is important that they remember to bring their instrument back into school on the correct day so that they can take part in the lesson – there are no spare instruments if they forget.
Timetable: On PE days, children should come to school in their P.E. clothes.
P.E. Kit: P.E. clothes include dark shorts or tracksuit bottoms and a plain white t-shirt. During colder months, children may also wear a plain sweatshirt for their outdoor P.E. lesson.
Jewellery: Teachers ensure that children remove all jewellery prior to PE lessons. Stud earrings should be removed so if your child wears them, please ensure that they are able to remove them (or perhaps don’t wear them on P.E. days!).
Swimming: We will be swimming in the Autumn term. If possible, it would be great if your child could experience a trip to the swimming pool at Fox Hollies before they begin and practise drying and dressing themselves if they can’t already do this. Swimming takes place on Tuesday mornings.
Swimming kit: Children will need to bring a swimming costume and a towel in a bag large enough to hold their school clothes and shoes. For children who have already begun to learn to swim, a pair of goggles as part of their swimming kit would also be helpful.
January: Schools’ concerts: key stage 2 & 3 (approx. £8)
June/July: We are looking to book Umberslade Adventure in either June or July. (approx. £30)
Homework: Homework will be handed out on Monday and should be returned, completed by Friday.
Mathematics: All pupils have access to Times Table Rockstars and Mathletics. By encouraging your child to access these online resources, you will be providing them with the opportunity to raise their achievement, both this year and into the future.
Reading: But most of all encourage your child to read – reading at home regularly has a huge impact on your child’s long term academic attainment. Every week, the children have the opportunity to visit the library and borrow two books.
Y4SH will visit the library on Friday. Y4D will visit the library on Thursdays.
Additionally, each classroom has home reading books available which the children can exchange whenever they have completed their current book so your child should have no shortage of quality reading material at home! When you read with or listen to your child read, it is really important that this is recorded so that we can monitor home reading and support where necessary. The system for recording home reading remains online
Times Tables Screening: In Year Four, all the children complete a times table screening. These will take place in a two-week period, beginning on the 7th June 2027. The assessment is very similar to Times Table Rockstars (more specifically, the Soundcheck’ mode) so the more you can encourage your child to use the app the better prepared they will be for June’s assessment.
Permission to collect: Please ensure you are added to the list by contacting the office or children cannot be released.
Sickness: If your child experiences sickness (ie; vomiting or diarrhoea), they must be off school for 48 hours before returning to school.
Names: Names to be written in all clothing items please.
Bookbags: To be brought to school everyday, not just library days. There will be homework and letters inside on different days. Please keep checking/emptying them, as you may miss something important.
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