Year 4 Teaching Team
Miss Walker (Class Teacher) Mrs Tubman (HLTA)
We would like to warmly welcome you and your children to Year 4. The children have already settled in beautifully, and it has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm, curiosity and positive attitude towards learning. We are excited to watch them continue to grow in confidence, independence and knowledge throughout the year.
There are many exciting experiences ahead, including engaging learning opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom. One highlight will be our visit to Coombe Abbey, where pupils will take part in a river study, bringing our geography learning to life through real-world exploration.
Each day, children will take part in maths and spelling lessons, alongside regular sessions in reading, computing, Religious Education, PE, science and French. Our wider curriculum is taught through knowledge-rich projects, allowing pupils to develop their understanding through creative, meaningful and engaging learning experiences.
Reading at home plays a vital role in supporting your child’s progress. We kindly ask that you listen to your child read for approximately 10 minutes each evening and record a comment in their reading diary. This helps to build fluency, confidence and a lifelong love of reading.
Another key focus this year is developing strong multiplication fluency in preparation for the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC). Children practise their multiplication skills regularly in school, including daily use of the multiplication check format to build confidence, speed and accuracy. We also encourage children to practise at home using Times Tables Rock Stars, which supports rapid recall in a fun and engaging way:
Times Tables Rock Stars: https://ttrockstars.com/
Multiplication Tables Check practice: https://www.timestables.co.uk/multiplication-tables-check/
We have many exciting opportunities planned to inspire and motivate the children throughout the year, and we look forward to sharing these special moments with you. I am really looking forward to getting to know both you and your children as the year progresses.
You will find curriculum overviews below outlining what the children will be learning.
Year 4 Learning in Action
Mastering Number – Going for Gold with Multiplication
Year 4 are fully embracing their multiplication learning this year, developing confidence, fluency and enjoyment through a wide range of engaging and purposeful practice strategies. As part of our Mastering Number approach, pupils are “Going for Gold” with their multiplication knowledge, building both speed and deep understanding in preparation for the Multiplication Tables Check.
Learning is active, varied and fun, allowing every child to access multiplication in a way that supports their learning style. Pupils practise using flashcards, interactive iPad activities and structured recall sessions to strengthen accuracy and confidence. Physical strategies such as hand gestures and movement support hand–eye coordination and help embed mathematical patterns in a memorable way.
We also use creative approaches to make learning stick — including multiplication songs, fidget spinner challenges and collaborative games that encourage resilience, motivation and teamwork. Through these strategies, pupils are developing automatic recall while also deepening their conceptual understanding, enabling them to apply their multiplication knowledge with increasing independence.
The enthusiasm and determination shown by Year 4 has been fantastic, and we are incredibly proud of how they are growing into confident mathematicians and true MTC champions!
English – Developing Independent Authors
In Year 4, we are nurturing confident, independent writers who take ownership of their learning. Pupils are developing strong editing and vocabulary skills through the use of dictionaries, thesauruses and structured spelling resources.
Across our English units, pupils explore ambitious vocabulary choices and how language shapes meaning. Whether creating immersive settings inspired by fantasy worlds or exploring character voice through dialogue, pupils are learning to craft writing that is thoughtful, descriptive and engaging.
Our Oliver and the Seawigs topic has inspired creativity and imagination, supported by the arrival of some mischievous Sea Monkeys in our classroom! This real-life link to our learning encourages responsibility while strengthening engagement with storytelling.
Religious Education – Growing in Faith Through Child-Led Prayer
Religious Education in Year 4 provides meaningful opportunities for pupils to grow spiritually, deepen their understanding of faith and develop confidence in leading prayer and reflection. Our classroom is a place where children are encouraged to explore their relationship with God through discussion, reflection and child-led worship.
It has been wonderful to see Year 4 pupils confidently leading prayer, especially during key moments in the Church’s liturgical calendar. During Harvest and the Month of the Rosary, children shared thoughtful reflections about gratitude, generosity and how we can give to others through kindness and charitable actions. Pupils explored the structure and meaning of the Rosary, learning what each decade represents and praying together in a calm and reflective atmosphere.
We celebrated the feast day of our class saint, St Francis of Assisi, by reflecting on his message of caring for creation. Pupils wrote heartfelt prayers focusing on stewardship of the world and compassion towards animals and others. Throughout the year, children have also explored the lives of inspiring saints, including Saint Josephine Bakhita, whose faith and resilience encouraged pupils to reflect on trust, courage and God’s unconditional love.
During Remembrance Day, Year 4 engaged in thoughtful reflection, discussing the significance of remembrance, the meaning of different coloured poppies and the importance of peace. Pupils created their own prayers, reflections and messages of hope, demonstrating empathy and a growing awareness of global responsibility.
In Advent, pupils explored the Jesse Tree symbols, deepening their understanding of salvation history before creating their own bambinellis ready to be blessed at Mass. As part of their learning about proclaiming the Good News, children created modern-day social media posts to demonstrate how Jesus’ message can be shared in today’s world, linking faith with contemporary life.
Through these experiences, Year 4 pupils are developing confidence, spiritual awareness and a strong sense of community, growing as reflective and compassionate individuals rooted in faith.
History – Immersive Learning and Historical Understanding
Year 4 are preparing for their exciting visit to the Black Country Living Museum, where pupils will deepen their understanding of life in the Victorian era through full immersion and real-world experiences.
Our history lessons are designed to bring the past to life through enquiry, role play and practical exploration. Pupils explored Victorian child labour through hands-on challenges, including lifting heavy water jugs to experience the physical demands placed on children during this time. Mystery clues and artefacts placed around the school encouraged investigative thinking as pupils analysed historical evidence, discussed working conditions and debated ethical questions surrounding child labour.
Through this approach, pupils develop historical empathy, critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of how the past has shaped modern society.
Geography – Understanding Rivers and Our Environment
Year 4 have thoroughly enjoyed exploring rivers through a combination of classroom learning and real-world fieldwork. Pupils have studied river features, important rivers around the world and the vital role rivers play in supporting ecosystems and human life.
Learning was brought to life during our fieldwork visit to Coombe Abbey, where pupils engaged in pond dipping, measurement activities and environmental investigations. Despite challenging weather conditions, the children demonstrated resilience, enthusiasm and strong collaborative skills.
Our geography curriculum encourages environmental responsibility. Pupils explored river pollution, investigating how everyday actions impact wildlife and discussing how we can protect our waterways for future generations.
