Northbrook Primary Academy Parents’ Information
Afternoon
Year 4
NPA Values
Welcome to Year 4
Mrs Spence
Class Teacher
Mrs Smith
Teaching Assistant
Key Staff:
Mrs Adams Executive Headteacher
Mr Cunniffe Headteacher
Mr Dowd Assistant
Headteacher
EYFS/KS1 Lead
Mrs Morris Assistant
Headteacher
KS2 Lea & SENDCo
Mrs Cole
Inclusion Coordinator
Year Curriculum
Our Topic titles: Autumn – Keep Calm and Carry on Spring- Water, Water Everywhere/Walk like an Egyptian Summer- Climb Every Mountain/Our changing world
We use a topic to create awe and wonder through many of our subjects.
English: In English this half term, we will begin with a Non-Fiction based unit on the Loch Ness Monster. We will research and discuss ‘Is Nessie real?’ The children will then create their own magazine article to present their research. We will then share fiction
Stories about Loch Ness and write our own adventure stories.
Science: In Science we will group and classify living things. We will use classification keys to sort plants and animals, and we will learn about vertebrates and invertebrates. We will also explore our outdoor area to answer the question, What living things do we have in our local area and how does this change over the year?
Year 4
Autumn 1/Half-term 1: ‘Keep Calm and Carry On ’
Maths Place Value – Numbers to 10000. Comparing and ordering numbers. Rounding to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000. Finding 1, 10, 100, 1000 more and less than a number. Roman Numerals.
Addition and Subtraction – Add and subtracts 1s, 10s, 100s and 1000s. Add four-digit numbers. Crossing 10 and 100 Adding and subtracting four-digit numbers with more than one exchange. Checking strategies and estimating.
Times Tables Facts – rapid recall of 2, 5, 10 ,3 ,4 times tables.
Geography: In Geography this half term we will be focussing on Europe and cities of the United Kingdom. We will focus on Germany looking closely at maps and atlases to identify key physical and human characteristics, of the country.
PE: In P.E. this half term we will have 2 lessons of P.E. These days are Wednesday and Thursday.
Music:‘How does music bring us together?’ We will listen to and appraise a wide variety of musical styles and learn rhythmic patterns with minims, crochets and quavers. We will also listen to and enjoy the music of World War Two and find out about the effects of music in this period.
Art: Investigating the textile artworks of Alice Kettle and her use of fabrics and dye to create artworks. We are going to be learning how to combine media such as paint and thread to create Poppy Fields landscapes.
RE: This term we will be learning about Hindu Dharma and consider what a Hindu might learn celebrating Diwali. We will listen to the story of Rama and Sita and discuss good role models.
Year 4
Autumn 1/Half-term 1: ‘Keep Calm and Carry on’
PSHE: In PSHE We will learn about ‘Being Responsible’ including listening to instructions and coming home on time. We will also explore our feelings and emotions including jealousy.
Computing: This term we will continue to develop our coding skills.
We will also continue to ensure we understand how to keep ourselves safe on the internet when we are using search engines for research.
PSHE
In our school, we follow the 1 decision scheme to teach our PSHE. Through PSHE, we see the children develop and grow – building positive relationships with their peers. Our school values are discussed often, with this half term focusing on happiness.
This half term we are going to be focusing on…
Being Responsible - Coming home on time
PE & Swimming
Day Class
Monday Reception, Year 1 & Year 2
Tuesday Year 1, Year 5 Swimming & Year 6.
Wednesday Reception, Year 3 & Year 4
Thursday Year 3, Year 4 & Year 6
Friday Year 2 & Year 5
PE kit (only to be worn on PE Days):
• Plain black joggers/tracksuit
• Black shorts
• School Purple t-shirt
• School Purple hoodie • Pumps or trainers
Handwriting Presentation
Being proud of their work
Reading & Homework
One of our key priorities is developing reading. We strongly believe reading underpins our children's successes across the curriculum.
Requirement of all children to read at least three times per week. Each child will be issued with a reading record for parents to record their child’s reading each week. This will be checked in school.
Homework is set half-termly and includes a variety of tasks. We ask the children to complete at least 6 activities over the course of the half-term and hand in through Seesaw or by bringing it into school. Each piece will be worth 1-10 house points.
Key Assessments
The multiplication tables check (MTC) is statutory for primary schools in the 2023/24 academic year.
The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether pupils can recall their times tables fluently, which is essential for future success in mathematics. It will help schools to identify pupils who have not yet mastered their times tables, so that additional support can be provided.
The MTC will be administered in school to all eligible year 4 pupils between Monday 3rd June and Friday 14th June.
Reporting
Parents’ evening Thursday 5th October 2023 – focus on the children’s engagement.
Parents’ evening Thursday 21st March 2024
Full reports to parents week beginning 15th July 2024
Academic judgement
Engagement judgement Class teacher comments
Seesaw
At Northbrook Primary Academy, we use Seesaw to communicate with parents and children. Your child’s teacher can send you:
• Photographs,
• Videos
• Notes
• links to websites
• Upload documents
• Important messages or reminders
There are two different ways to access Seesaw both as a parent and as a child, either using a laptop/desktop computer, or through a phone or tablet by downloading the app. Seesaw can be accessed by parents or by children, and each option looks different.
A window into the Northbrook world…and one that we will be working hard to improve further. Our website gives access to the school calendar, school letters our twitter feed as well as much more...
For those parents that use social media it is also a good idea to follow and like us on Facebook and Twitter
www.northbrookpa.org
School Website -
Parent App/Parent Pay
Parent App Connect : This is the app that we use for interacting with you as parents. When we send information home electronically it will come through this app as either a notification or an email. As such it is important you have your notifications turned on so you don’t miss any important information. This could be anything from a reminder about PE days to information about school trips.
Parent Pay: As we are a cashless school all payments are made using Parent Pay. Signing up is simple. You are given a username and password and you go to www.ParentPay.com and enter them to log in. Then you sign up with your information and change your password so it is secure. Once you are signed up the office can start adding you to items to be paid for. This can be anything from bacon or sausage sandwiches all the way up to residential trips.
Free School Meal Entitlement
Your children can qualify for a free school meal if you receive:
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on
• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
To apply, you should contact the South Are Education Office. You will be required to provide your:
Name, Date of birth, National Insurance Number. In addition, the school can get extra funding called pupil premium if you register.
FON – Friends of Northbrook
At the ‘Friends of Northbrook’ we have a team of dedicated helpers made up of parents, carers, grandparents, family friends, siblings, teachers and people from the local community who help organise social events for the children such as film evenings and discos.
We also do lots of fundraising for the school such as holding varies events through out the year along with Christmas and Summer fairs. We are a welcoming bunch of people that work hard to ensure children at our school benefit. If you have a little bit of spare time and would like to join our team then please either come along to one of the meetings or contact the Chairperson Mr Sharkey (l.sharkey@northbrookpa.org). Thank you!
Key dates for the term
Thursday 5th October Parents' Evening – Engagement
Tuesday 17th October Open Day (New Intake) 2:00pm & 6:00pm
Half-term Holidays
Monday 23rd October to Friday 27th October
Monday 30th October INSET Day (School closed to children)
Wednesday 15th November Open Day (New Intake) 10:00pm & 6:00pm
Friday 24th November INSET Day (School closed to children)
Tuesday 12th December 1:30pm & Wednesday 13th
December 4:30pm EYFS/KS1 Christmas Play
Thursday 14th December 1:30pm & 6:00pm KS2 Christmas Performance
Wednesday 20th December Christmas Party & Christmas Dinner
End of Term Holidays
Monday 25th December – Friday 5th January
Afterschool Clubs: Half-term 1
Day Year Activity/time
Staff Lead
Monday Year 5 & 6 Years 2 & 3 Girls' only football (3:15 – 4:15) Recorder Club (Lunchtime)
Tuesday Year 3 & 4
Cheerleading (3:15 – 4:15)
Miss Vanroose-Peer
Mrs Morris
Mrs Goldfarb
Wednesday Year 1 &2 Years 4/5 & 6
Lego club (Lunchtime)
Northbrook Young Voices Choir (3:15 – 4:15)
Mrs Wilson
Mrs Spence
Thursday Year 1 & 2 Year 3 & 4
Friday Year 5 & 6
Art Club – colouring and drawing (Lunchtime)
Dodgeball (3:15 – 4:15)
Basketball (3:15 - 4:15)
Mr Dowd
Miss Vanroose-Peer
Mr Cunniffe
All clubs start at the end of school and finish at 4.15pm. Children must return a letter signed by parents to attend the club and wear appropriate PE clothing such as their PE kit.
your
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Thank you for
continued support