Year 4 at Heron Hill School
Back Row: Mrs Osborne, Mrs Wilson, Mrs Dodd-Hemingway.
Front Row: Miss Hildrew, Mrs Drayton, Mrs Lawson.
Welcome to Year 4 - we are passionate about creating a welcoming, safe and stimulating teaching environment
Year 4 Staff
Miss Hildrew (Class Teacher)
Mrs Lawson (Class Teacher)
Mrs Osborne (Planning, Preparation and Assessment - PPA)
Mrs Dodd-Hemingway (PPA)
Mrs Wilson (Teaching Assistant)
Mrs Drayton (Teaching Assistant)
Mr Westwell (swimming lessons)
Morning Routine
Please arrive in the playground 8.45 am at the earliest! Staff will appear and children need to line up in classes at the end of the playground. Parents, please stand back and allow children to be independent. Say goodbye and watch them line up from a distance. Please make sure that any payments (visits, donations etc) which you send in with your child or deposit in the secure box in the entrance hall, are in a labelled envelope.
At the End of the Day
Children will leave their classrooms, collect belongings and meet parents/carers on the yard. Please do not come into cloakrooms, they are already very congested. Please talk at home with your child about being tidy and hanging up coats on their peg.
Uniform
A full description of the school uniform is on the school website. Sweatshirts and cardigans, costing £9.00 each, are available to buy from the school office, as are bookbags, £4.50 and PE bags, £4.00. Please label with child’s name.
PE Kits
All PE clothing and your child’s PE bag need to be labelled. Please remind children to look after their belongings. Full PE kits are required every Monday and Thursday and the children need to ensure they have them in school, every week. If your child does not have their PE kit with them, they will receive a reminder slip.
Pencil Cases
Please provide your child with a small pencil case containing a rubber, sharpener and coloured pencils. All of the children have been supplied with a pen, pencil, a ruler and highlighters to use in class, which stay in school. Do not provide felt tips or other highlighters.
Earrings
These should be removed for school in line with school and Cumbria County Council policy. Children who are unable to take earrings out will be unable to swim or take part in PE; please help us to avoid this situation occurring by remembering to remove earrings on the morning of PE days or send a box/container for children to put their earrings into.
Meeting with Staff
If you want to speak to a member of staff please use the main entrance, not the side entrances, as we need to know who is in the building in order to keep your child safe.
Lunch Boxes
These should be stacked on the shelf by the children as they arrive in the cloakroom. In warm weather, please place a cool pack in your child’s lunch box. Please ensure lunch boxes are labelled.
School Meals
Meals should be ordered on-line by 9.30 am on the day and can be booked up to 3 weeks in advance. Our school kitchen prepares the delicious hot meals on site, providing 3 meal choices each day, including a vegetarian option. Meals cost £2.50 per day. Please remember to cancel your child’s school meal by 9.30 am if they are unwell or you will be charged for the meal. Contact the school office if you have lost or forgotten your log-in details.
Morning Snack
Children in Year 4 do not get free fruit so your child may like a snack at break time. Please can you talk to your child about the importance of bringing in a healthy snack. This should be fresh fruit, vegetables or cheese. These should be taken into class at the beginning of the day so that children are not tempted to raid lunchboxes at break time.
Water
Please provide your child with a named water bottle every day. Research supports the need for water to refresh the brain. No juice please.
Milk
School milk is available on a daily basis at a cost of approximately 23p per day. If your child is not already registered in this scheme and would like to have milk please ask the office for further details.
Communication
Please let us know of any concerns or successes that happen by talking to a member of staff. Children are sometimes asked to relay messages and they do not always get them right. If you are unsure please ask.
Please inform the school, by telephone or e-mail before 9.30 am, if your child is unwell and will be absent. If you take your child out of school for medical or dental appointments, please provide evidence (show the office staff the text or letter), if available. Give at least 4 weeks’ notice, if possible, if you are taking your child out of school for a holiday; work will be provided for your child to complete during their absence.
Parent Consultation Evenings
To keep parents well informed of children’s progress, we will send home termly attainment and attitude to learning reports. These will be followed by parent consultation meetings to discuss the reports; the meetings will take place in November, February/March and July. If you have any concerns or issues about your child at any time, staff are always willing to meet with you. If this is not possible immediately, please telephone and make an appointment.
Reading
In school, your child will participate in class reading activities and enjoy listening to the class story. They will also choose individual reading books, guided by their ZPD level, to read independently and share with parents/carers. They will then complete an online quiz in school for each book as part of our Accelerated Reader programme. Whatever the ability of your child, shared reading continues to be an enjoyable activity, as does hearing a book read to them that is too difficult for them to read independently.
The expectation in Year 4 is that your child will read at home for a minimum of 15 minutes, at least five times each week, and discuss their book with you. Please ensure that these activities are recorded in their Home-School book; the children should be encouraged to do this themselves. We will be awarding house points for those who achieve this target.
Since reading is such an important skill and we are all aware of the benefit of regular practice, the school has a Reading Club on Thursday lunchtimes when any child who has not achieved their reading target will have the opportunity to catch up.
Sharing a book can be…
Remember to ask questions about the story/information…
Home Learning
Swimming
Please provide a colourful towel. A full costume is required for girls and swimming trunks (not baggy shorts) for boys. Everything needs to be named. We will need helpers please, but remember, if helping, we like to give you a poolside group. Only parents with a DBS check and with class teachers’ support can go into changing rooms; this is to safeguard your child. (If helpers come regularly, we will pay for DBS checks.)
Independence
The children will be encouraged to take much more responsibility for organising themselves and looking after their belongings. We want them to take great pride in everything they do, showing resourcefulness and maturity in their conduct, approach to learning and ability to take responsibility.
The expectation at the start of Year 4 is that pupils will be accompanied to and from school by a responsible adult. Please inform us if your child is not going to be collected by their parent/the usual adult at any point. Also, please discuss with your child’s class teacher if you are considering allowing your child to begin to travel to and from school unaccompanied by an adult.
Our hope is that your child will have a happy start to life in Year 4. We are really excited about the year ahead and working in partnership with you to ensure the very best for your child.
300 High Frequency Words
I Mr Mrs I’ll I’m I’ve the and a to said in he of it was you they on she is for at his but that with all we can are up had my her what there out this have went be like some so not then were go little as no mum one them do me down dad big when it’s see very look don’t come will into back from him get just now came oh about got their people your put could house old too by day made time if help called here off asked saw make an water away good want over how did man going where would or took school think home who didn’t ran know bear can’t again cat long things new after wanted eat our two has yes play take dog well find more round tree magic us other food fox way been stop must red door right sea these began boy never next first work lots need that’s baby fish gave mouse bed may still found live say soon night small car three head king town around every garden fast only many let’s much told another great why cried keep room last jumped because even am before gran clothes tell key fun place mother sat boat window sleep feet queen each book its green let girl which inside run any under hat snow air trees bad tea top eyes fell friends box dark end than best better hot sun ever miss most cold park lived birds duck wish eggs once across looked narrator thought through morning different suddenly something everyone grandad animals laughed couldn’t there’s looking children shouted gone hard floppy really please thing stopped horse rabbit white coming he’s liked giant looks use along plants dragon pulled we’re fly grow wind river like old wanted still sleep across
Miss Hildrew (Class Teacher)
Mrs Lawson (Class Teacher)
Mrs Osborne (Planning, Preparation and Assessment - PPA)
Mrs Dodd-Hemingway (PPA)
Mrs Wilson (Teaching Assistant)
Mrs Drayton (Teaching Assistant)
Mr Westwell (swimming lessons)
Morning Routine
Please arrive in the playground 8.45 am at the earliest! Staff will appear and children need to line up in classes at the end of the playground. Parents, please stand back and allow children to be independent. Say goodbye and watch them line up from a distance. Please make sure that any payments (visits, donations etc) which you send in with your child or deposit in the secure box in the entrance hall, are in a labelled envelope.
At the End of the Day
Children will leave their classrooms, collect belongings and meet parents/carers on the yard. Please do not come into cloakrooms, they are already very congested. Please talk at home with your child about being tidy and hanging up coats on their peg.
Uniform
A full description of the school uniform is on the school website. Sweatshirts and cardigans, costing £9.00 each, are available to buy from the school office, as are bookbags, £4.50 and PE bags, £4.00. Please label with child’s name.
PE Kits
All PE clothing and your child’s PE bag need to be labelled. Please remind children to look after their belongings. Full PE kits are required every Monday and Thursday and the children need to ensure they have them in school, every week. If your child does not have their PE kit with them, they will receive a reminder slip.
Pencil Cases
Please provide your child with a small pencil case containing a rubber, sharpener and coloured pencils. All of the children have been supplied with a pen, pencil, a ruler and highlighters to use in class, which stay in school. Do not provide felt tips or other highlighters.
Earrings
These should be removed for school in line with school and Cumbria County Council policy. Children who are unable to take earrings out will be unable to swim or take part in PE; please help us to avoid this situation occurring by remembering to remove earrings on the morning of PE days or send a box/container for children to put their earrings into.
Meeting with Staff
If you want to speak to a member of staff please use the main entrance, not the side entrances, as we need to know who is in the building in order to keep your child safe.
Lunch Boxes
These should be stacked on the shelf by the children as they arrive in the cloakroom. In warm weather, please place a cool pack in your child’s lunch box. Please ensure lunch boxes are labelled.
School Meals
Meals should be ordered on-line by 9.30 am on the day and can be booked up to 3 weeks in advance. Our school kitchen prepares the delicious hot meals on site, providing 3 meal choices each day, including a vegetarian option. Meals cost £2.50 per day. Please remember to cancel your child’s school meal by 9.30 am if they are unwell or you will be charged for the meal. Contact the school office if you have lost or forgotten your log-in details.
Morning Snack
Children in Year 4 do not get free fruit so your child may like a snack at break time. Please can you talk to your child about the importance of bringing in a healthy snack. This should be fresh fruit, vegetables or cheese. These should be taken into class at the beginning of the day so that children are not tempted to raid lunchboxes at break time.
Water
Please provide your child with a named water bottle every day. Research supports the need for water to refresh the brain. No juice please.
Milk
School milk is available on a daily basis at a cost of approximately 23p per day. If your child is not already registered in this scheme and would like to have milk please ask the office for further details.
Communication
Please let us know of any concerns or successes that happen by talking to a member of staff. Children are sometimes asked to relay messages and they do not always get them right. If you are unsure please ask.
Please inform the school, by telephone or e-mail before 9.30 am, if your child is unwell and will be absent. If you take your child out of school for medical or dental appointments, please provide evidence (show the office staff the text or letter), if available. Give at least 4 weeks’ notice, if possible, if you are taking your child out of school for a holiday; work will be provided for your child to complete during their absence.
Parent Consultation Evenings
To keep parents well informed of children’s progress, we will send home termly attainment and attitude to learning reports. These will be followed by parent consultation meetings to discuss the reports; the meetings will take place in November, February/March and July. If you have any concerns or issues about your child at any time, staff are always willing to meet with you. If this is not possible immediately, please telephone and make an appointment.
Reading
In school, your child will participate in class reading activities and enjoy listening to the class story. They will also choose individual reading books, guided by their ZPD level, to read independently and share with parents/carers. They will then complete an online quiz in school for each book as part of our Accelerated Reader programme. Whatever the ability of your child, shared reading continues to be an enjoyable activity, as does hearing a book read to them that is too difficult for them to read independently.
The expectation in Year 4 is that your child will read at home for a minimum of 15 minutes, at least five times each week, and discuss their book with you. Please ensure that these activities are recorded in their Home-School book; the children should be encouraged to do this themselves. We will be awarding house points for those who achieve this target.
Since reading is such an important skill and we are all aware of the benefit of regular practice, the school has a Reading Club on Thursday lunchtimes when any child who has not achieved their reading target will have the opportunity to catch up.
Sharing a book can be…
- Hearing your child read aloud
- Sharing/alternate reading aloud
- Reading to your child and discussing the content
- Silent reading
Remember to ask questions about the story/information…
- Can they predict what will happen next?
- How would you feel if…?
- Can you change the ending?
- Imagine if….?
- Do they know what to do when they get stuck?
Home Learning
- Each half term, we will be setting a creative project linked to our topic. Your child will be asked to complete a piece of their choice, using any media. For example: poems, stories, illustrations, internet research, craft, collage, photographs, models, reports of visits etc. We will explain to the children how to approach this work creatively. We hope the children will feel able to make their own choices about what they want to do; however, they will need support from you to complete their task.
- Multiplication tables knowledge and secure number bonds (Learn Its) will be increasingly important to support your child’s learning and the latest national expectations are for children to know all their tables by the end of Year 4. We will test these regularly and children’s progress will be recorded in their Home-School book.
- Your child will be given spellings to learn each term and these will be stuck in their Home-School book; please practise these with your child and encourage them to learn how to spell them. There are ideas for creative ways to practise spellings on our school website under the tab ‘Parents’ – Helping your child with Spelling. See some lists of Year 4 words at the back of this booklet.
- Mathletics. The school has subscribed to Mathletics for Years 4, 5 and 6. This is a fantastic resource and evidence demonstrates that regular use leads to significant improvements in children’s mental agility. All children have been given an individual login and password which is kept in their homework diaries. Mathletics is fun to use and very informative – topics covered within class are accessible on the site together with help and advice sections. We strongly recommend regular use at home. As the term progresses, focussed Mathletics homework activities will be set, usually each Friday. We will run Mathletics competitions during the year to encourage pupils to practise and develop their mental and arithmetic skills. Children who do not have access to a PC are welcome to attend the homework club on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday lunchtimes to complete Mathletics homework tasks.
Swimming
Please provide a colourful towel. A full costume is required for girls and swimming trunks (not baggy shorts) for boys. Everything needs to be named. We will need helpers please, but remember, if helping, we like to give you a poolside group. Only parents with a DBS check and with class teachers’ support can go into changing rooms; this is to safeguard your child. (If helpers come regularly, we will pay for DBS checks.)
Independence
The children will be encouraged to take much more responsibility for organising themselves and looking after their belongings. We want them to take great pride in everything they do, showing resourcefulness and maturity in their conduct, approach to learning and ability to take responsibility.
The expectation at the start of Year 4 is that pupils will be accompanied to and from school by a responsible adult. Please inform us if your child is not going to be collected by their parent/the usual adult at any point. Also, please discuss with your child’s class teacher if you are considering allowing your child to begin to travel to and from school unaccompanied by an adult.
Our hope is that your child will have a happy start to life in Year 4. We are really excited about the year ahead and working in partnership with you to ensure the very best for your child.
300 High Frequency Words
I Mr Mrs I’ll I’m I’ve the and a to said in he of it was you they on she is for at his but that with all we can are up had my her what there out this have went be like some so not then were go little as no mum one them do me down dad big when it’s see very look don’t come will into back from him get just now came oh about got their people your put could house old too by day made time if help called here off asked saw make an water away good want over how did man going where would or took school think home who didn’t ran know bear can’t again cat long things new after wanted eat our two has yes play take dog well find more round tree magic us other food fox way been stop must red door right sea these began boy never next first work lots need that’s baby fish gave mouse bed may still found live say soon night small car three head king town around every garden fast only many let’s much told another great why cried keep room last jumped because even am before gran clothes tell key fun place mother sat boat window sleep feet queen each book its green let girl which inside run any under hat snow air trees bad tea top eyes fell friends box dark end than best better hot sun ever miss most cold park lived birds duck wish eggs once across looked narrator thought through morning different suddenly something everyone grandad animals laughed couldn’t there’s looking children shouted gone hard floppy really please thing stopped horse rabbit white coming he’s liked giant looks use along plants dragon pulled we’re fly grow wind river like old wanted still sleep across
