At St Nicholas Catholic Primary School, we want every child to develop into a confident, fluent reader who loves reading. Once children have completed the Read Write Inc. programme, we use our reading assessments to help them choose books that are appropriately challenging while still allowing them to explore their own interests.

How do we choose the right books?

Children who have moved beyond Read Write Inc. have their reading fluency assessed using the Salford Reading Test. This assessment gives us a reading age, which is then used to identify an appropriate Lexile range for each child.

A Lexile range helps us to identify books that are suitably challenging for each child – not too difficult and not too easy. This supports the development of vocabulary, comprehension, confidence and reading fluency.

Choosing a book

Children can choose their take-home reading book from a range of school reading spaces, including:

•  Their class library
• Reading nooks and reading spaces
•  The school Lending Library

Our class libraries are organised by Lexile range so that children can make independent choices within their reading range. Children are encouraged to explore different genres, authors and types of books and to develop their own reading preferences. 

Reading for pleasure

Although books are matched to a child's Lexile range to support appropriate challenge, reading should also be enjoyable. We want children to develop a lifelong love of books and to discover authors, genres and stories that interest them.

Children are encouraged to talk about the books they are reading, recommend books to others and explore a wide range of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, comics and graphic novels. Our approach aims to combine appropriate challenge with choice, enjoyment and independence.

At St Nicholas, we believe vocabulary is fundamental to learning. 

Our core vocabulary is explicitly taught, practised and revisited within each subject, helping children develop secure subject knowledge and use key language confidently. Alongside this, children encounter exposure vocabulary through reading, discussion and learning across the curriculum.

Each half term, subject vocabulary progression maps are shared with families, showing the core vocabulary children are learning and how this develops across the school. You can find these at the bottom of our class page. Use the diagram below to explore how we build vocabulary from exposure to secure, independent use.

During June, all Year 4 children take part in the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC). This is a short, online check designed to see how confidently and fluently children can recall their multiplication tables up to 12 × 12.

The check consists of 25 multiplication questions. Children are given 6 seconds to answer each question, and the whole check usually takes no longer than 5 minutes. They are also given a few practice questions beforehand so that they know what to expect.

The MTC is not intended to be something children should worry about. It helps us understand how secure each child is with their times tables and identify where any additional support may be helpful.

How we prepare in school

Throughout Year 4, children regularly practise their multiplication and division facts through maths lessons, games, quick-fire activities and times table practice. Our aim is to help children build speed, accuracy and confidence, rather than simply preparing them for a test.

All Year 4 children will also have access to DoodleTables and Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS). These can be used both in school and at home to provide regular, engaging practice and help children become increasingly fluent in recalling their multiplication facts.

How you can help at home

Regular, short bursts of practice can make a big difference. Children can use DoodleTables and Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS) at home to practise their multiplication facts regularly and build confidence.

You can also help by asking quick times table questions, practising tables in a mixed order and focusing on any multiplication facts your child finds more challenging. Even 5–10 minutes of regular practice can be very beneficial.

Knowing times tables securely supports many areas of mathematics, including division, fractions, problem solving and written calculations, so developing quick recall is an important part of becoming a confident mathematician.

Physical Education (PE)

Our PE days are:

Wednesdays and Thursdays

Children should come to school wearing their full school PE kit on their allocated PE days. Please ensure that all items of clothing, footwear and other belongings are clearly labelled with your child’s name.

PE is an important part of our broad and balanced curriculum. Lessons are carefully sequenced so that children revisit, practise and build upon their knowledge, skills and vocabulary over time.

Throughout the year, children experience a range of activities designed to develop:

• balance, coordination and agility

• fundamental movement skills

• strength, flexibility and stamina

• throwing, catching and ball control

• teamwork and cooperation

• confidence, resilience and perseverance

• an understanding of rules, safety and fair play

• positive attitudes towards physical activity and healthy lifestyles

PE lessons may take place indoors or outdoors, depending on the activity and weather. Children should therefore come appropriately dressed for the conditions.

We are committed to ensuring that every child can participate successfully in PE. Appropriate support, adaptations and reasonable adjustments are provided according to children’s individual needs.

For safety, earrings and other jewellery must not be worn during PE lessons, and long hair should be tied back. Children are expected to participate unless there is a medical reason preventing them from doing so. Please speak to your child’s class teacher if you have any questions or if your child requires additional support to participate.

As part of our PE curriculum, Year 4 children take part in weekly swimming lessons at Fearnville Leisure Centre every Wednesday. Swimming is an important life skill, and these sessions aim to develop children’s confidence, swimming technique and understanding of how to stay safe in and around water.

National Curriculum Outcomes

By the end of Key Stage 2, children should be able to:

• Swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres.
• Use a range of strokes effectively, such as front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke.
• Perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.

What children need each Wednesday

Children should come to school wearing their PE kit on swimming days.

They will also need to bring:

• A swimming costume or swimming shorts
• A towel
• Goggles – optional
• A swimming cap – optional

Please ensure that all swimming belongings are clearly named and brought to school in a suitable swimming bag.

Throughout the sessions, children will work at an appropriate level to develop their water confidence, swimming skills, stamina and water safety awareness.

At the beginning of each half term, parents and carers receive a Learning Leaflet outlining the key knowledge and skills that children will be learning across the curriculum. A copy of the current Learning Leaflet is uploaded to this class page.

Children also receive an individual Homework Leaflet at the beginning of each half term. This explains the homework expectations and identifies the learning platforms that have been selected for each child to focus on during that half term. As this leaflet is personalised to meet each child’s learning needs, it is sent directly to families and is not uploaded to the class webpage.

Each week, all children will receive:

• a Big Maths activity, designed to practise and consolidate important mathematical knowledge and skills

• a spelling practice activity, linked to the spelling focus children are currently learning

A half-termly spelling overview is also sent home at the beginning of each half term. Spellings and spelling practice are carefully matched to children’s current learning needs; therefore, spelling overviews are not uploaded to the class webpage. If you require another copy of your child’s spelling overview, please ask their class teacher.

Regular practice at home helps children to remember key knowledge, develop fluency and become increasingly confident and independent learners. Thank you for supporting your child with their learning.

Every child receives an individual login sheet containing their usernames and passwords for the online learning platforms they use. Please keep this sheet safe so that your child can access their learning activities at home.

If you require another copy of your child’s login details, please contact the school office or speak to your child’s class teacher.

Our Year 4 children will have the exciting opportunity to take part in a one-night residential visit to Herd Farm. This experience gives children the chance to develop their independence, confidence, resilience and teamwork skills while taking part in a range of fun and challenging activities away from the classroom. For many children, it is a memorable highlight of their time in Year 4!

As part of our enrichment opportunities in Year 3, children will have the exciting opportunity to visit Mission Out Activity Centre in Leeds.

Mission Out provides children with a fantastic range of outdoor and team-building activities designed to encourage communication, cooperation, resilience and problem-solving. During their visit, the children will work together as a team, challenge themselves and develop confidence while enjoying a fun and memorable day outside the classroom.

Children will have the opportunity to experience a range of facilities and activities, including the jumping pillow, an obstacle course, mini-golf and rafting on the water. These activities encourage children to support one another, try new experiences and develop important personal and social skills.

The visit is a wonderful opportunity for children to build friendships, develop independence and create lasting memories while enjoying an exciting day of outdoor learning and adventure.

Further information, including the date of the visit, will be shared with families in due course.