Welcome to a new academic year.  Set out below is an outline of the work we shall be doing during the term:

English
Historical stories; Stories set in imaginary worlds; stories from other cultures; Poetry; Instructions; Newspaper reports and recounts; Information texts.  

Maths
Counting, partitioning and calculating numbers; Securing number facts and understanding shape; Handling data and measures

Geography    
No geography topic this term, but there will be linked work to our Romans topic.

History 

The Romans

Music 
Exploring Rhythmic patterns; the class Orchestra – exploring arrangements.

French
Animals

RE/PSHE
Becoming an adult;
New Beginnings; Getting on and falling out.

Science
Habitats; Solids, Liquids and how they can be separated.   

Information & Communication Technology
Branching databases; Writing for different audiences.

Art & Design
Art and design will be linked in with our history topic on The Romans.

Design Technology
Making a storybook with a moving mechanism linked with Literacy – stories from other cultures.

PE
Football; Gymnastics; Invasion games.

The following visit has been arranged to complement our curriculum:

The Verulamium Museum, St Albans. Thursday 1st October.

General Classroom Organisation:

When children are absent from school, please phone the school on the first day of absence.  If we do not hear from someone by 10am you will be called. 
Please ensure that your child has a snack of fruit or vegetables for the mid – morning break. Your child will also need a water bottle in school.
Please make sure all items of clothing and PE kit are clearly labelled (preferably sewn-on labels).  If your child does not have his / her full P.E. kit in school they will not be able to take part in the P.E. lesson.  During the winter months you may want to provide track suit bottoms, an extra pair of socks and trainers for any outside P.E. that we do. Please make sure children have a warm coat to wear during the morning break and lunch hour.
PE/Games lessons will be on Tuesday and Thursday.
Please make sure PE kit is in school at all times.
If for any reason your child is unable to take part in a PE or Games lesson, please provide a note.

Library books will be changed on Friday
All library books will be collected in during the penultimate week of term.

Medicines
Children must not bring medicines of any kind into school without prior agreement with Ms Hartley.

Holidays
If you are planning an absence, please obtain an application form for leave of absence from the office.

Homework
We value the support of parents in providing the time, encouragement and suitable environment for the children in which to complete their homework.  In setting homework for children, we aim to provide a relevant activity for them to do in which parents may be involved and which can aid their general educational progress.  Thank you for your help with homework.  It is important that we have consistency in the classroom.  It is expected that all children will complete homework on time. 
The following are some examples of work to be completed at home: Children must practise their spellings and times-tables each week at home, in addition to the homework activities set from the Maths and English Workbooks. 

I will send out a separate letter detailing homework arrangements next week.

Parent Consultations

 Wednesday 21st October, 4.00 – 6.30pm

 Thursday 22nd October, 5.00 – 7.30pm

We will be organising a maths workshop for parents this term, further details to follow.

School Governor Class link
In order that the school governors can gain closer links with the pupils and staff, we have attached a governor to each of the classes in the school.  He/she will endeavour to make at least one visit to their class during the term and will support the class teacher by working with the children sharing his/her expertise in a relevant area or accompanying a school visit.

Our class governor is: Mr. Grant

Additional Information

Attached are: Booklists as guidance for reading and writing genres studied in Year 4; Maths targets leaflet; Handwriting information sheets; spelling information sheets.

Group reading will take place every Wednesday between 9.00 and 9.30am.

This year I will be “blocking” curriculum topics.  This means that, for example, instead of having 1 history lesson per week for the whole of the term the children will be having 4 lessons on a particular subject for a certain number of weeks.

If you wish to discuss the content of this letter or have any other concerns, please contact Mrs Baxter or Miss Childs to make an appointment to see me.

Yours faithfully

Miss Spreadbury
Class Teacher

[Please note that it is not possible to complete this form online!]

Child’s name ………………………………………….  Class …………..

Please tick appropriate spaces:

______ I acknowledge receipt of the Autumn term class letter

______ I am able to accompany school visits this term

______ I am able to provide artefacts/resources for this term’s topic

  Please indicate when you are able to help and I will contact you in due course.  All adults that work in school do require a CRB check.  If you have not yet filled one out, please collect a form from the office in order to do so.

Signature …………………………..

I am able to help on: (Please state day and time) ...................................